New Zealand reached their second successive World Cup final after dramatically toppling India by 18 runs, Ravindra Jadeja’s swashbuckling 77 from 59 balls coming in a losing cause.
Star batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had misfired at Old Trafford, India’s top three making just one apiece, as they lurched to 24 for four and then 92 for six chasing 240 on the reserve day of this semi-final.
Jadeja’s pyrotechnics gave India a fleeting hope but he departed with 32 required off 13 balls before Mahendra Singh Dhoni was run out for 50 from 72 deliveries as the Asian giants were skittled for 221 from 49.3 overs.
The Kiwis will therefore face England or Australia in Sunday’s showpiece at Lord’s after successfully defending 239 for eight, their watchful approach on Tuesday vindicated following India’s struggles.
Ross Taylor top-scored with 74 from 90 balls as the Black Caps added 28 runs in the remaining 3.5 overs of their innings, deferred until Wednesday morning because of persistent rain on Tuesday afternoon.
India made an abject start to their reply, losing three wickets in the space of 11 balls, including the prize scalps of Rohit and Kohli, who had contributed in excess of 1,000 runs in the group stage.
Jadeja, batting for the first time in the tournament, put on a World Cup record 116 for the seventh wicket alongside the more subdued Dhoni, who was content to defer the big-hitting responsibilities to his junior partner.
Jadeja obliged, clubbing four fours and as many sixes, before holing out to long-off off Trent Boult and though Dhoni attempted to up the ante, the veteran was run out following a direct hit from Martin Guptill in the penultimate over as India’s hopes vanished.
Rohit needed 27 to set a new record for most runs at a single World Cup, overtaking Sachin Tendulkar’s 673 in 2003, but he lasted just four balls before feathering an edge behind after being squared up by Matt Henry.
Kohli was tentative and was soon back in the pavilion, Boult’s inswinger striking the India captain on the knee-roll of his front pad, a review showing the ball would have clipped the stop of the stumps.
India were teetering by this stage and their position worsened when they fell to a scarcely credible five for three, KL Rahul caught in two minds whether to play or leave and only edging to wicketkeeper Tom Latham off Henry.
Dinesh Karthik took 21 balls to get off the mark as a shell-shocked India looked to rebuild but he was on his way when Jimmy Neesham dived to his left to take a stunner inches off the ground at backward point, following a thick outside edge off Henry.
A position of 24 for four after 10 overs was the lowest off the first powerplay in the tournament, beating New Zealand’s score of 27 for one on Tuesday, tilting the balance firmly towards the Kiwis.
Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya are batsmen well known for their flair ahead of any stoicism. Lockie Ferguson saw chances off both go begging, Pant shelled by Neesham and Pandya miscuing into a vacant area on the leg-side ring.
The introduction of the metronomic Mitch Santner was telling and India had added only one run in 16 balls before Pant departed for 32 after wildly slugging the slow left armer to deep midwicket.
Santner had yielded just five runs in his first five overs before the pressure told on Pandya, also out for 32 after an uncontrolled swing across the line took a top-edge, which was pouched by Kane Williamson at midwicket.
India’s situation looked bleak but Jadeja showed no inclination to be cowed, hammering Neesham over long-on before later twice clearing the rope off Santer to leave India needing 81 from nine overs.
Jadeja, batting alongside the more defensive Dhoni, thumped Neesham through midwicket for four before bringing up a counter-attacking 39-ball fifty to the delight of the majority of those inside the ground.
However, with the asking rate skyrocketing, Jadeja took one risk too many, skying a Boult slower ball to Williamson before India lost their last four wickets for 11 balls.
New Zealand were restricted to just one four in the remaining 23 deliveries of their innings, Taylor run out by a direct hit from Jadeja, who took a stunning catch in the deep to account for Latham.
But some hard running in the closing stages of their innings ensured the Kiwis had enough on the board.
