India and New Zealand go head-to-head in the first of the Cricket World Cup semi-finals when they clash in Mumbai. The World Cup hosts successfully ended their group stage campaign unbeaten, winning all nine of their matches, and signing off with a thrashing of the Netherlands on Sunday to maintain their tag as the tournament favourites.

Rohit Sharma leads an impressive side with aggressive opener Shubman Gill, legendary batter Virat Kohli and a plethora of attacking bowling options from Jasprit Bumrah to Kuldeep Yadav.

Though they bring all the momentum into the knockout stages India will be nervous for this knockout game. They also topped the group stage standings in England four years ago before losing to New Zealand in the semis at Old Trafford.

New Zealand, meanwhile, started the competition in spectacular fashion with a huge win over England before stuttering towards the knockout rounds following a series of injuries to key personnel. They have reached another white-ball tournament semi-final and have the experience to challenge India today.

Follow all the action from the semi-final below plus get all the Cricket World Cup odds and tips here:

India 84-1 (10) Gill 30, Kohli 4, Ferguson 0-18 (2)

Gill has another boundary, and that was a slow-ball half-tracked delivery and all the batter had to do was helpthe ball on its way.

He follows it up with another four, and that was not the best ball, Ferguson has tried to bang it in short on a slow-paced pitch and Gill has just smashed it to the boundary.

India 75-1 (9) Gill 21, Kohli 4, Southee 1-16 (3)

Ahead of the semi-final stage, Kohli had more runs than any other play in the World Cup so far, but he has come out to the crease after the wicket of the India captain.

And almost immediately there is a big shout for lbw, the ball has raced off the pad towards the boundary, but New Zealand have decided to review…but there is a small spike as the ball went past the bat and Kohli survives.

Wicket! Rohit out for 47! ct Williamson b Southee – India 71-1

Wicket! That was just what New Zealand needed and it was a sensational catch from Kane Williamson.

The Kiwi captain was running backwards and took the catch over his shoulder, and it was a perfect slower ball from Tim Southee, who just let it hang in the air, forcing Rohit to skew the ball into the air rather than cleanly hitting it as he had done before.

India 70-0 (8) Rohit 47, Gill 20, Ferguson 0-9 (1)

After the spin of Santner did not slow down the flow of runs, Williamson has turned to Lockie Ferguson.

But it has not made a difference and it was Gill who has driven this to the cover-point boundary, the opener just had to wait for that and lent on the ball which was straight into the gap.

Another almost-boundary, stopped only by a flying stop from Southee, who dived outstretched and kept it in, it was only a gentle push but it has flown.

India 61-0 (7) Rohit 47, Gill 11, Boult 0-29 (4)

Boult will continue, he has bowled a wide, it was not far away from the pad or bat of Sharma, but it was another extra to the total.

Overall it was a better over from Boult, just the three runs from it.

India 58-0 (6) Rohit 45, Gill 11, Santner 0-11 (1)

New Zealand have turned to spin, and it might have come at the right time as there was not a lot on offer for the seamers.

Rohit has flicked away a boundary to bring up the 50 in the sixth over! It was not far away from the fielder though.

But the next one is nowhere near, that has been launched into the second tier, and he is already closing in on a half-century.

India 47-0 (5) Rohit 34, Gill 11, Boult 0-26 (3)

Rohit has smashed another six, and India are motoring along here. That one was a bouncer, but on a slow pitch it just sat up and the India captain made no mistakes dispatching that!

Gill has not been as attacking as his captain, but he has not started slowly either here, and already has a couple of boundaries.

India 38-0 (4) Rohit 27, Gill 9, Southee 0-21 (2)

Southee has been a bit tighter this over, despite the third ball going for a wide, but the one afterwards was a bit short and Rohit has pulled it with ease to the boundary.

He follows it up with a flicked six over deep square leg, for a long time the fielder on the boundary was interested, but he could only watch as it dropped over his heads in the stands.

India 25-0 (3) Rohit 16, Gill 8, Boult 0-17 (2)

There is a distinct lack of sideways movement for Boult and Southee and that is what they thrive on, especially at the top of the innings.

Rohit has charged Boult and smashed him for six! That was an incredible shot. It is a real statement from the hosts’ captain.

India 18-0 (2) Rohit 10, Gill 8, Southee 0-8 (1)

Tim Southee will bowl from the other end, New Zealand will be looking for an early wicket, while if India can build a strong platform, with their batting line up, there is no limit to the amount of runs they can score.

Gill has his first boundary, not a great delivery from Southee, it was just fired at his pads on the half volley and the India youngster has just calmly flicked it away for four.

The next ball also brought a boundary but it was a bit more lucky, Gill advanced down the pitch but an inside edge flashed past the leg stump and raced to the boundary behind the keeper.

Source: Read Full Article