With the two unbeaten teams squaring off, the stakes were high. And New Zealand were typically clinical batting first. There was no desperation and no sense of false urgency, just clinical batting.
India were right on top at 19 for 2, but Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell did not think anything was lost. While Ravindra chanced his arm from time to time, he spent the best part of his time at the crease playing straight. Mitchell looked scratchy, but he was not giving it away.
India played well into New Zealand’s hands, giving them three reprieves. Ravindra slashed Mohammed Shami to his namesake at point and Ravindra Jadeja put down a catch he would otherwise have taken in his sleep. Rachin was on 12, and the game would have turned right then and there.
But, from here on, Ravindra and Mitchell piled on the runs, with two more let-offs helping them. KL Rahul missed a tight chance for caught behind and Jasprit Bumrah let go of a sitter in the deep.
Through all this, the pair added 186 for the fourth wicket, taking the game deep. When Ravindra fell on 75, India had one foot in the door, but New Zealand were still far ahead of the game. Mitchell (130) was holding his end up, but a revival from India with the ball ensured that the Kiwis did not run away with the game.
While New Zealand had done well to attack Kuldeep Yadav early, knowing fully well that India had only five bowling options in the absence of Hardik Pandya, they did not factor for Shami’s glorious return.
Shami closed out the innings in some style, picking up 5 for 54 from his 10 overs in his first outing in this World Cup.
Chasing 274, India got off the traps in style. Rohit was nonchalant, whipping off his toes, hitting back down the ground and punching with panache.
Just when it looked like he was setting his stalls out for a big one, the Indian captain fell, dragging Lockie Ferguson onto his stumps for 46. India had 71 on the board by this time in the start of the 12th over.
Shubman Gill had given Rohit safe company, but even he did not last long, going after a wide one and thickly edging to third man.
The jitters really came on when Shreyas Iyer (33) threw his wicket away, playing a closed-eyes pull to a short ball.
By this time Kohli was controlling the chase like the master that he is. There were no flourishes and little excitement, but the master was in charge. When KL Rahul fell, and Suryakumar Yadav got run out in his first outing in the tournament, Jadeja batted for the first time in this World Cup, but there was still a sense of calm.
With the target in sight, and nerves becalmed. Jadeja played out a gentle drive to give Kohli the strike.
After a 76-run partnership between the two for the sixth wicket, India needed seven from 18 balls and Kohli was on 93, an equal number short of his 49th hundred.
A bunt to the leg side off a short ball took him to 95 and he was one blow away from the hundred and the win.
But it was not to be. An exuberant drive to long-on caught the toeend of the bat and landed safely in the hands of Glenn Phillips. Kohli had finished on 95 from 104, the century was missed but the win was all but sealed.
India had not really been tested in the tournament till they played another team that had not yet been beaten. But, when it counted, they proved that they had what it takes to get over the line.
It was a win by only four wickets, but Jadeja more than made up for his dropped catch with an unbeaten 39 that took the team home.
India now sit pretty on top of the table, and Shami stamped his class on the match. All boxes stand ticked, and all that is left is for Hardik Pandya to return in a timely fashion.
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