Hosts India held their nerve to defend a huge total against a fighting New Zealand to secure a place in the final of the World Cup at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai Wednesday.
Chasing a huge target of 398 runs, the Kiwis managed 327 losing all of their wickets as India sealed a 70-run win in the first semi-final.
The Black Caps lost both openers early as Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra made 13 each before being dismissed by pacer Mohammed Shami.
Skipper Kane Williamson and No 4 Daryl Mitchell then formed a brilliant 181-run counter-attacking partnership for the third wicket to give the visitors some hope.
But Shami struck again twice in the 33rd over to remove Williamson (69) and Tom Latham (nought) to hold the grip for India.
Thereafter, Indian bowlers took wickets at regular intervals to skittle New Zealand out well short of the target.
Mitchell’s heroic 134 off 119 with nine fours and seven sixes went in vain in the end as he did not get enough support to get closer to the huge target.
Shami was the best bowler on the day as the on song right-arm paceman bagged seven wickets conceding 57 runs.
It was an electric atmosphere at the Wankhede as skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat.
Rohit made a blistering start and continued his attacking approach at the top which he has been doing consistently at this tournament.
He scored a quick-fire 47 off just 29 with four fours and as many sixes.
Williamson took a brilliant catch to remove his Indian counterpart in the ninth over but the home side got the momentum they needed from Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer.
In-form Kohli was magnificent with the bat and clubbed a brilliant hundred, his third of the tournament and 50th in One Day Internationals, to leapfrog the great Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 tons.
Tendulkar was in the stand and looked ecstatic when Kohli broke his record.
The little master later posted a heartful message on his social media handle, congratulating Kohli on his feat.
Kohli’s brilliant innings of 117 off 113 was composed with nine fours and two sixes.
Another batter on purple patch, Iyer also smashed a superb hundred as the right-hander posted 105 in quick time off 70 deliveries with four fours and twice as many sixes to lift India to a strong position.
Gill was unbeaten on 80 at the end after retiring hurt initially and Lokesh Rahul hit a useful 39 off 20 to help India post a huge total.
1ST SEMI-FINAL
India 397/4 (Kohli 117, Iyer 105) beat New Zealand 327 in 48.5 overs (Mitchell 134, Shami 7/57) by 70 runs
