Virat Kohli’s crafty 95 has trumped Daryl Mitchell’s rapid 130 as India beat New Zealand by four wickets in a top-of-the-table World Cup clash.
Kohli could not complete the chase but his mature knock helped India to reach a victory target of 274 with two overs to spare on Sunday to maintain their unbeaten run in the tournament and end New Zealand’s.
Mitchell had smashed a rapid hundred before New Zealand were all out for 273 in a clash of the previously unbeaten sides.
Electing to field, India removed both the openers early but were uncharacteristically sloppy in the field, dropping three catches to let New Zealand off the hook.
Mitchell forged a 159-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra (75) and New Zealand, sitting pretty at 3-205 in the 37th over, looked poised for a 300-plus total before Indian bowlers applied the brake.
Mohammed Shami led that effort, claiming 5-54 in his first match of the tournament.
Skipper Rohit Sharma (46) led India’s rollicking start but it was Kohli’s fourth 50-plus score in five innings that helped to inflict on New Zealand their first defeat of the tournament.
After his unbeaten century had led them to a victory over Bangladesh in Pune in their previous match, this time he fell to Matt Henry five runs short of his hundred but he’d already done enough to put his side within five runs of the win.