Daryl Mitchell’s career-best 130 and a 159-run third wicket stand with Rachin Ravindra (75) saw New Zealand post 273 in their World Cup 2023 encounter against India in Dharamsala. Helping New Zealand rebuild from a precarious 19/2, Mitchell and Ravindra set a solid platform for the late surge but the hosts pulled things back remarkly at the backend with regular wickets, inspired by Mohammed Shami’s 5-54.
Early strikes from Mohammed Siraj and Shami in an excellent PowerPlay upfront had New Zealand in early trouble after being put in to bat. Devon Conway fell without opening his account, trying to flick a full ball on the pads that was intercepted by a diving Shreyas Iyer at square leg. Shami then struck off his very first ball in the tournament, getting Will Young to drag an inside edge onto his stumps. New Zealand had only 34/2 from the Powerplay – third lowest score in that phase this World Cup – helped only by a generous offering of wides in the 10th over from Siraj.
Mitchell then joined hands with Ravindra to together bail New Zealand out with their big partnership. Ravindra had a fair bit of brush with DRS and lifelines, and made India pay. He hadn’t even opened his account when, against Jasprit Bumrah’s advice, India burnt a review early on a LBW call that was turned down on-field. He was given out caught behind on six off Shami but got out of it using a review himself. He was later reprieved in the same over when his namesake dropped a knee-high regulation catch at backward point. Post a 56-ball half-century, he was adjudged LBW but had it overturned when the replays confirmed the ball was pitching outside leg.
The spinners barely got any turn – Jadeja bowled his 10 on the trot without any break while Mitchell laid into Kuldeep Yadav early, not allowing him to settle down as he deposited two in his succeeding overs straight down the ground. He was the face of New Zealand’s counterattack in the middle-overs, raising his second half-century of the World Cup in 60 balls and going on to convert it into a run-a-ball 100 by the 41st over. He also had his fair share of luck with KL Rahul spilling a tough chance behind on 59 and then Bumrah dropping another sitter when he was on 69.
Shami eventually came to India’s rescue as he broke the stubborn stand, triggering the collapse around a well-set Mitchell. After three spilled chances, India finally managed to cling on to one when Ravindra lofted Shami straight into the waiting hands of long-on, bringing curtains on the 159 partnership. Kuldeep returned with an improved show and earned his reward as he trapped Tom Latham LBW. The New Zealand captain was however coerced into burning a review by Mitchell.
This was followed by a 40-ball phase where the hosts didn’t concede a single boundary to the New Zealand power-hitters. Glenn Phillips duly broke the shackles with a six behind square to welcome Siraj back into the attack at death. His cameo was short-lived though, and ended on 23 with a top-edge off an attempted slog that Rohit Sharma pouched safely amidst three converging fielders.
Bumrah opened his account in his penultimate over of the day, courtesy a well-judged catch from Kohli as he charged in and took a low grab to send Mark Chapman packing on just 6. Shami added three more scalps to his tally at death, perfectly executing a couple of yorkers to knock down the off-stump of Mitchell Santner and the leg-stump of Matt Henry off successive balls in the 48th over. Mitchell dented his figures a tad by launching another one onto the sightscreen in the final over but holed out one ball later, giving Shami a five-wicket haul in his first game of this World Cup.
Brief scores: New Zealand 273 all out in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 130, Rachin Ravindra 75; Mohammed Shami 5-54, Kuldeep Yadav 2-73) vsIndia
