India vs New Zealand, World Cup 2023: Shami's 5/54 helps Men in Blue bowl Black Caps out for 273 in Dharamsala
India vs New Zealand, World Cup 2023: Shami's 5/54 helps Men in Blue bowl Black Caps out for 273 in Dharamsala
Mohammed Shami made the most of the opportunity handed to him on Sunday, grabbing five wickets for 54 runs as India bowled New Zealand out for 273 in their ICC World Cup match in Dharamsala.
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Shami was at the forefront of a spirited fightback from the Indian attack after a brilliant hundred from Daryl Mitchell as well as a fighting 75 from Rachin Ravindra gave New Zealand hope of comfortably going past the 300-mark at one point.
Mitchell and Ravindra shared a mammoth 159-run partnership for the third wicket to rescue the Black Caps from a wobbly start, with the pair also capitalising on several fielding errors committed by the Indians — including three dropped catches.
Not only did Shami break the partnership by getting rid of Ravindra, he also struck twice in the business end of the innings as New Zealand lost six wickets for 30 runs in their last six overs. The 33-year-old pacer collected his third ODI five-for as a result of his effort in the marquee fixture on Sunday.
LIVE: India vs New Zealand, ICC World Cup match in Dharamsala
Shami earlier was drafted into the Indian XI alongside Suryakumar Yadav after all-rounder and vice-captain Hardik Pandya failed to recover from the ankle injury that he had sustained in India’s seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh.
While Surya replaced Pandya in the middle-order, Shami came in place of all-rounder Shardul Thakur.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham, continuing to lead the Kiwis in the absence of regular skipper and talismanic batter Kane Williamson, announced no changes for his side.
Dropped catches
The Men in Blue were off to a terrific start with the ball after skipper Rohit opted to bat. While Jasprit Bumrah started off with a maiden in the very first over, Mohammed Siraj drew first blood shortly after by getting rid of in-form opened Devon Conway, who departed for a nine-ball duck thanks to a superb catch by Shreyas Iyer at square leg.
India, however, were also guilty of fluffing multiple chances, dropping as many as three catches. Among the most crucial of the dropped chances was Ravindra getting a reprieve on 12 after slicing the ball straight to a fellow Ravindra — Jadeja in this case, India’s best fielder by a fair distance no loss.
Jadeja crouched low, only for the ball to spill out of his grasp and leave Shami, who castled Will Young in his previous over, disappointed. Ravindra would go on to add another 63 runs and forge a partnership with Mitchell that could prove decisive.
Wicketkeeper KL Rahul then missed a tough chance off Jadeja’s bowling after Mitchell, fairly well set on 58 in the 30th over, got a thick edge while attempting a drive off the left-arm spinner’s bowling.
Mitchell was dropped again, this time off Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling after a miscued slog towards long off, where the ball not only burst out of Jasprit Bumrah’s hands but rolled away for a four.
India had by far been one of the better fielding sides in a tournament where even the likes of Australia — a side that has consistently set high fielding standards over the years — have been sloppy.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 273 all out in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 130, Rachin Ravindra 75; Mohammed Shami 5/54) vs India
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