New Zealand yesterday survived Ravindra Jadeja’s late onslaught to stun India by 18 runs in a low-scoring thriller and reach the Cricket World Cup final for the second time in a row.
Twice champions India were reeling at 24-4 in their chase for a modest victory target of 240 in what had appeared to be a lop-sided semi-final.
Jadeja (77) then partnered with Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a century-plus stand, but India were bowled out for 221 in the final over and New Zealand are to play hosts England or defending champions Australia in Sunday’s final at Lord’s.
Photo: AFP
Opting to bat first in the rain-hit contest played over two days, New Zealand’s 239-8 looked far from imposing against India’s formidable batting lineup.
However, Matt Henry (3-37) and Trent Boult (2-42) ripped the heart out of India’s top order and spinner Mitchell Santner struck two crucial blows in the middle overs.
Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma, the World Cup’s leading scorer, and Boult trapped Kohli leg by wicket in the next over.
The India captain reviewed the decision, but could not get it overturned.
K.L. Rahul became the third Indian top-order batsman to depart for one, Henry’s second caught-behind victim.
Jimmy Neesham took a left-handed catch to dismiss Dinesh Karthik as India slumped to 24-4 in 10 overs.
Rishabh Pant added 47 runs with Hardik Pandya to somewhat arrest the slide.
Pant made 32 before his wild heave off Santner found Colin de Grandhomme near the mid-wicket boundary.
Pandya, struggling with a hip injury, also made 32 before throwing away his wicket.
Jadeja injected fresh excitement into the match with his brave counterattack that left his team needing 90 runs off the last 10 overs with four wickets in hand.
He and Dhoni (50) kept India afloat in the chase, which was eventually derailed when both fell in successive overs.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had opted to bat at a venue where teams batting first had won all five previous matches.
India’s new ball pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-43) and Jasprit Bumrah bowled with impeccable discipline, while Jadeja was also very economical with the ball.
Resuming on the reserve day at 211-5, New Zealand added 28 runs from the remaining 23 deliveries, as Ross Taylor top-scored with a 74 to go with Williamson’s 67.
Jadeja proved his value as a fielder with a pinpoint throw to run out Taylor and in the next delivery, took a well-judged catch near the ropes to dismiss Tom Latham.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was