Tigers remain in contention with win over Afghanistan

New Zealand reached their second World Cup final with a stunning 18-run win over shell-shocked India at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

New Zealand stunned India to reach their second successive World Cup final as they survived Ravindra Jadeja's late heroics to clinch a thrilling 18-run win at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

It was a superb display by the underdog Black Caps, who came into the match on the back of three straight defeats by Pakistan, Australia and England and only qualified for the semi-finals on net run-rate, while India topped the 10-team group stage.

New Zealand will face the winners of Thursday's second semi-final between Australia -- the team that beat them in the 2015 final -- and hosts England in Sunday's title match at Lord's.

Two-time world champions India lost key batsmen Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul for just one run each.

They slumped to five for three in pursuit of a target of 240 and were 24 for four when Dinesh Karthik was out.

New Zealand pacemen Matt Henry (three for 37) and Trent Boult (two for 42) did the damage with the new ball.

India, one of the pre-tournament favourites, were all but beaten at 92 for six when Jadeja came in to bat alongside veteran former captain MS Dhoni.

The pair gave India hope during a World Cup record seventh-wicket stand of 116, all-rounder Jadeja boldly leading the way with 77.

Jadeja hit well-struck sixes off both Jimmy Neesham and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner during a 39-ball fifty.

With 10 overs left, India were 150 for six and needing a further 90 runs off the final 60 balls of the innings.

Jadeja got them closer with a superb straight six off fast bowler Lockie Ferguson and, with five overs left, the target was down to 52.

But with India in sight of an amazing win, left-hander Jadeja's 59-ball innings, featuring four fours and four sixes, ended when he skyed Boult to New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

It was a fine, if ultimately futile, effort from Jadeja, dismissed as a "bits and pieces player" by former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar, after he had also taken one for 34 with his left-arm spin and been brilliant in the field.

With India needing 31 off two overs, Dhoni uppercut Ferguson for six to the delight of the massed ranks of India fans in the crowd.

But going for a second run to keep the strike, the 38-year-old Dhoni, India's 2011 World Cup-winning captain, was just run out by Martin Guptill's direct hit for 50 off 72 balls.

- Shock victory -

With 23 required off the last six balls, tailender Yuzvendra Chahal glanced Neesham for four.

But the match finished with three balls to spare when Chahal edged to wicketkeeper Tom Latham, a review confirming his dismissal and New Zealand's shock victory.

Sharma, who had already made a five hundreds at this tournament -- a record for a single World Cup, began the procession of top-order dismissals when he was caught behind off Henry.

Kohli fell next, lbw to a superb inswinger from left-armer Boult.

Kohli reviewed but replays upheld English official Richard Illingworth's original out decision on umpire's call.

India were then five for three when Rahul was brilliantly caught by a diving Latham after edging Henry.

At that stage, India had lost three wickets for one run in 10 balls.

Neesham then held a brilliant superb one-handed catch at backward point to dismiss Karthik off Henry.

Rishabh Pant holed out for 32 when he was caught at deep midwicket by Colin de Grandhomme following a lofted sweep off Santner.

India suffered another setback when Hardik Pandya, slogging across the line, skyed Santner to Williamson at midwicket as he fell for 32.

Earlier, New Zealand added 28 runs in the remaining 23 balls of their innings to finish on 239-8 after rain had stopped play on Tuesday.

Ross Taylor, who resumed on 67 not out, top-scored with 74 after Williamson had made a masterly 67 in awkward conditions.

(AFP, Manchester)

Dhoni run out

A maginificent throw from Martin Guptill as Dhoni wants two but Guptill's direct hit takes off the bails before Dhoni could scamper back. India's last hope possibly gone after Dhoni run out.

Boult removes Jadeja

Trent Boult came into the attack in the 48th over to pick up the wicket of the dangerman Ravindra Jadeja. All hope rests on Dhoni as India neede 31 runs in 2 overs. Jadeja fell after scoring 77 off 59 deliveries.

Dhoni-Jadeja star in century stand

India have come back into the match courtesy of a 100-run partnership between Jadeja and Dhoni. The partnership cam in just 97 deliveries after India were struggling at 92 for six in the 31st over. India need 42 runs in four overs.

Jadeja smashes fifty

Ravindra Jadeja has been in exquisite touch on a day when most of the top order Indian batsmen have failed miserably. He gets to his fifty off just 39 balls when he clipped away an James Neesham delivery in the 42nd over to take a double. 

Dhoni, Jadeja star in fifty-run stand as India look to fight back

MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja stitched together an ongoing 67-run seventh-wicket stand after India were left struggling at 92 for six in the 31st over. The partnership between the duo has revived some hope for the Indians who have been struggling from the start of today's game. India require another 90 runs from 60 balls with four wickets in hand.

Santner removes Pandya with Kiwis firmly on top

The required run-rate was escalating and Hardhik Pandya, looking to get some momentum into the innings looked to heave Mitchell Santner over mid-wicket only to get holed out as the ball looped up after taking the top edge of the bat. Captain Kane Williamson ran back to take the catch with India in big trouble after losing their sixth wicket. Santner bags his second of the match as Ravindra Jadeja comes to the crease to accompany Dhoni. Pandya leaves after scoring a 62-ball 32. India need a further 146 runs from 19 overs.

New Zealand on top after Pant dismissal

Rishabh Pant goes for a wild heave off a Mitchell Santner delivery over the midwicket but only finds the fielder. India were looking to build a good partnership through Pant and Hardik Pandya after their early slump. The duo had strung together a 47-run stand before Pant lost his pateince and fell prey to a Santner delivery in the 23rd over. India in deep trouble in the first semifinal of the World Cup at Old Trafford in Manchester today.  

India lose four as New Zealand on top

Dinesh Karthik was sent back as Matt Henry gets his third.

Neesham dived to his left to grab a scintillating catch to dismiss Karthik who never looked comfortable on the field. He took 22 balls to open his innings but as soon as looked to get a start, Henry showed his skills to send Karthik back.

KL Rahul nicked one to the New Zealand keeper Latham as India find themselves in trouble.

Top three of the Indian batting line-up could not make themselves comfortable in the middle as the New Zealand seamers run havoc on the field. The batsmen look to have no answers to the bowling spell by Trent Boult and Matt Henry. 

Latham threw himself to his right and grabbed the ball with both hands in front of Ross  Taylor at first slip. It would have been better if Rahul left the ball alone. Instead, he nicked with it. Rohit Sharma was sent back in the same manner.

Dinesh Karthik came out in the middle to rescue struggling India

Virat Kohli sent back as India lose wickets within three overs.

The Indian skipper was sent back by Trent Boult as he was caught leg before wicket. Considered as one of the best chasers of the game, the departure of Virat was a huge blow to the Indians.

Rohit Sharma was sent back to the pavilion by Matt Henry.

Fuller than a good length ball angled in towards off stump as it straightened away aat the very last moment. The line prompted Rohit to play the ball. A huge blow as the in form opener was sent back in chase of 239 runs.

New Zealand post 239 for eight on reserve day

New Zealand posted a challenging 239 for eight in their semifinal against India, which resumed today after being suspended yesterday due to persistent rain at the Old Trafford in Manchester.

After being suspended for persistent rain yesterday, New Zealand resumed today from where they had left off yesterday -- 211 for five in 46.1 overs. With 23 more balls to play, New Zealand added 28 more runs on the board, losing three wickets on the day. Ross Taylor, who resumed the day on 67, was the first one to fall to a run out after scoring 74 off 90 deliveries. After that the Kiwis could only manage 239 for eight with Santner scoring nine off six balls and Trent Boult with an unbeaten run-a-ball 3.

IND v NZ: Play resumes on reserve day

After being suspended due to persistent rain yesterday, the semifinal between India and New Zealand has resumed on the reserve day today at the Old Trafford in Manchester.

Such has been Shakib Al Hasan's brilliance in this World Cup that after a whimpering end to their campaign, Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza kept naming the all-rounder when speaking of the positives. Shakib's performance -- 606 runs and 11 wickets -- actually transcended the results of the team he played for, and Mashrafe said the only regret was that Bangladesh could not take Shakib further.

"I should talk about Shakib; he has been absolutely beautiful. Batted at three, did what he could do. I feel very bad for Shakib," Mashrafe said after the match. "The tournament he had, he deserved to be in the semifinal. Really feel sorry for him. I think it was one of the best performances not just in this World Cup, but in all editions. It is disappointing that a player who played like that is not in the semifinals.

"Mushfiqur [Rahim] batted so well," Mashrafe continued about the positives. "We could not do the right things at the right times. We could not take catches when we needed to, and when we needed to bowl well, the bowlers could not step up."

With this being Mashrafe's last World Cup, there was little to do than look forward to Bangladesh's next World Cup in India in 2023, even though he would not be there. He wished that the core of the team would survive and there would be new players who could step up in favourable conditions.

"When we play in the next World Cup, I am sure if there are new players who come in, the team will go forward even more," Mashrafe said. "I wish and pray that Shakib, Tamim [Iqbal], Mushfiqur and [Mahmudullah] Riyad will be alive and well for the next World Cup so that they can guide the newer players. Since it is in India, I of course cannot say that we will win, but Bangladesh will have a chance.

He was more positive about the next tournament because it would be played in Asia and he believed that a bowling attack that was exposed in England would be more impressive in Asia.

"If you ask me after this tournament, when we play in this part of the world, bowling is a big issue. But if we play in Asia we are a far better bowling side."

Cricket’s global crown will find a new resting place today when perennial bridesmaids England and New Zealand square off in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord’s. By the end of the final, cricket will have first-time world champions for the first time since 1996, when Sri Lanka etched its name into cricketing folklore.

England, the top-ranked ODI side, had been tipped for a maiden trophy before the tournament started, but New Zealand’s second successive final may have surprised some. Today’s final at Lord’s, starting at 10:30 am (3:30 pm Bangladesh time) will pit two contrasting cricketing philosophies against each other -- the pace-setters versus the adapters.

Since being booted from the 2015 World Cup at the group stage, England have undergone a renaissance. Fearlessness has been the mantra for the hosts -- they are arguably the only team capable of accelerating throughout the 50 overs of an ODI. They proved that for the umpteenth time in the semifinal against a formidable Australia. Having bundled their old foes out for 223, openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow did not give much space to Australia’s feted pacers, putting on 124 in just 17.2 overs. Even after their dismissals, England kept accelerating and romped home with 17.5 overs to spare as Joe Root and skipper Eoin Morgan ensured that the pressure on the Aussies does not relent.

Fittingly, England’s hyper-aggression was seeded by none other than New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup. Under Brendon McCullum’s captaincy, New Zealand had displayed the same streak of fearlessness as they romped unbeaten to the World Cup final before the wheels came off against Australia. Morgan had said before that it was their defeat to New Zealand, apart from the Adelaide loss against Bangladesh that sealed their exit, that brought home how far England lagged in terms of being at the cutting edge of ODI cricket.

“I think he has had quite a bit to do with it,” Morgan said at the pre-final press conference at Lord’s yesterday when asked about McCullum, whom he had just chatted with on the way to the press meet. “You could say about world cricket. We are close mates and he’s taught me a lot about leadership and I think in 2015 the way that New Zealand played, very similar to the way they are playing at the moment. They proved to everybody that you can perform at the highest level and get to the top by being yourselves and not trying to be somebody else, or a different team, or be somebody that is a bit of a novelty for everybody else, so that’s quite cool.”

Now, however, New Zealand are the adapters chasing England’s pace. That does not necessarily mean that they will be clear underdogs in the title-decider. They have proven to be remarkably awake to situations on the pitch. While McCullum blazed a new trail in 2015, Kane Williamson’s men are performing a function that has been a reality of New Zealand cricket since inception. Being a small country with a tiny talent pool, recognition of limitations has been their tried and tested method to success. And that is what they have done throughout the World Cup -- be it in pacing their chase against Bangladesh on June 5 and winning by a whisker, or resetting targets when batting in Manchester in the semifinal against India, when they bucked a three-match losing streak to beat the pre-tournament favourites in a match that rain had extended to the reserve day on July 10. Their adaptability has seen them through to the finals despite being the only team other than Afghanistan not to have scored 300 in the edition.

England captain Eoin Morgan and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson will both look to etch their names into history when the sides square off in the World Cup final at Lord’s today. PHOTO: Twitter/AFP

“I think most teams expected scores to be a lot higher than what we have seen, but the reality of it is that they have been quite tough surfaces and there’s been surfaces that have aged throughout perhaps a match on one day,” Williamson said. “Trying to make those adjustments are really important. I think both sides looked at the surface [in the semifinal], thought it was a really good one, and thought perhaps 300 was going to be at play, but after 15 overs or so, we were saying ‘this is really quite difficult and 300 looks like a long, long way away’ so if we are able to perhaps achieve something a little bit more realistic on that surface, then that gives you every chance to win. And we have done it on a number of occasions but we will have to be good at doing that tomorrow.”

The pitch at Lord’s bore a green look and that may favour the Kiwis a little more as their seam attack has been the most consistent in the World Cup so far. Their bowling attack is the only one to have conceded runs at less than five an over and against a side that have scored at more than six an over throughout the tournament, that will probably be the main battle in deciding the new champions.

While England, having won their league match comfortably on July 3, will start as favourites, both sides have shown that the tools at their disposal -- aggression and adaptability -- can win the day. As Williamson said, it will all come down to responding to conditions and realities on the day.