Penultimate fight for a place to the ICC World Cup 2019 has started. New Zealand and India locked horns in the first semifinal of the tournament in Manchester on Tuesday. However, till filing of this report at 8pm, rain stopped the first semifinal match of the ICC Cricket World Cup. If New Zealand didn't bat again in their innings, India's 20-over score would be 148 and their DLS-adjusted target for 46 overs would be 237 and if the match gets abandoned then there will continuation of play from the reserve day.
If the reserve day also get washed out than India will qualify for the finals and play either England or Australia as they were ahead of New Zealand in the group stage. Before rain came during 46th over of the first innings, Indian bowlers restricted Kiwi batsmen to 211/5 in 46 overs. Apart from Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson, the Black Caps' top order struggled in a fresh pitch offering some seam movement promised to assist India’s impressive pace attack.
Earlier, skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bat first under overcast Manchester skies. All five previous matches in the tournament at Old Trafford had been won by the side batting first, so Williamson's decision at the toss was understandable. However, New Zealand batsmen struggled to find their rhythm and lost opener Martin Guptill, who is having a dismal World Cup, with just one run on the board. They later hobbled to 27/1 off 10 overs against a tight Indian bowling. This was the lowest batting power play score of this World Cup.
After the early setback, skipper Williamson and other opener Henry Nicholls started to get their act together and was looking to rebuild from the slow start. However, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja struck in the 18th over to remove Nicholls (28) and end Kiwis 68-run partnership for the second wicket stand. Indian bowlers rarely bowled any bad deliveries and the Black Cap batsmen struggled to up the run flow. Williamson reached his fifty and along with Ross Taylor were looking to mount a challenging total ahead of strong Indian batting lineup.
However, Williamson was removed by Chahal, leaving New Zealand crumbling at 134/3 after 35.2 overs. Williamson played 95-ball 67 before departing. Indian bowlers continued to bowl with great line and length and gave no chance to Kiwi batsman. Never during the innings it looked New Zealand batsmen have some sort of control over Indian bowlers. In the last six overs, Kiwis added 56 runs.
