World Cup 2023: India Restrict New Zealand To 273 With Shami’s Fiery Fifer

Dharamsala: Playing his first ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 tournament, India pacer Mohammed Shami broke the back of the New Zealand lower order with 4 wickets even as Daryll Mitchell scored 130 to help the Kiwis put up a decent total of 273 at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday.

Shami, who picked a wicket off his first ball when he clean bowled New Zealand’s opener Will Young, broke the partnership, between Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra, who steadied the BlackCaps’ innings after two early witkets, in the 34th over by dismissing the latter for 75 off 87 balls. The partnership went past 150 after Bumrah dropped Mitchell at the boundary and the ball went over for four.

In a rarity, Ravindra Jadeja too had dropped Rachin Ravindra after Shami got the batter to cut a ball towards backward point.

Shami struck twice in the 48th over to remove Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry. Both the batters got clean bowled. This was his third five-wicket haul in ODIs. With this, he has become the first Indian with two five-wicket hauls in ICC ODI World Cup history while overtaking legend Anil Kumble in terms of World Cup wickets for India.

Jasprit Bumrah had joined the party and removed Mark Chapman for six in the 47th over. Kuldeep Yadav also took two wickets, including that of New Zealand captain Tom Lathan.

However, it was Mohammed Siraj, who gave India the first breakthrough with the wicket of Devon Conway, who tried to push a ball off for a boundary but sent it straight into the hands of Shreyas Iyer.

Earlier, India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first in the top-of-the-table clash with New Zealand in Match 21 of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. This is fifth consecutive game in which India is chasing while also aiming for their fifth win on trot.

For the record, New Zealand have never lost to India in any ICC tournament matches in the last 20 years. India have played four games at the venue. They have won two and lost two.