India, dubbed the “blue machine” by Williamson, trounced his team by 70 runs in Mumbai on Wednesday to get to the World Cup final.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has praised India’s record breaking batsman Virat Kohli as “the best in the world and warned India’s opponents that the superstar is getting better.” India, dubbed the “blue machine” by Williamson, trounced his team by 70 runs in Mumbai on Wednesday to get to the World Cup final.
India amassed 397-4, with Kohli scoring his 50th one-day international century before being removed for 117 and Shreyas lyer making 105. Under the Wankhede Stadium floodlights, Mohammed Shami took a remarkable 7 57 as New Zealand, the losing finalists in the last two World Cups and India’s 2019 semi-final conquerors, were bowled out for 327.
Williamson, a world-class batsman in his own right, paid respect to Kohli, who broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI hundreds as the retiring india great watched from the stands at his old home field.
That’s something quite special, I think if you play 50 games, some people would call that a great career, Williamson went on to say. “But to get 50 hundreds and not just that, actually the way he goes about it, it’s actually about winning games for his team.”
‘I mean, he’s the best, isn’t he?” the 33 year old continued. And he appears to be improving, which worries the opponents all around the world.”
Shami attacked throughout the innings on his route to the greatest numbers by a bowler in a World Cup semi-final. He also interrupted a threatening third-wicket partnership of 181 between Daryl Mitchell (134) and Williamson (69) when the Black Caps skipper was caught at deep square leg. That blue machine keeps chugging along, and they were too good for us today. “They thoroughly deserved to win, Williamson remarked
Shami’s return propelled him to the top of the tournament bowling charts with 23 wickets, despite missing the first four games due to an injury to all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
“He (Shami) has been incredible,” Williamson stated. “He’ll bat first, following two outstanding new ball bowlers (Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj).
“He’s without a doubt one of the best operators in the world, with the way he moves the ball and brings the stumps into play It’s been quite phenomenal really, the amount of wickets he’s gotten in such a small amount of games in this tournament.”
Mitchel’s century was his second of the tournament, following a 130 against India’s strong attack in a four wicket pool defeat in Dharamsala.
“He’s a phenomenal player and just the ultimate competitor, he loves the occasion, and he’s been outstanding for us throughout this whole tournament, Williamson said in a statement.
India, unbeaten in ten games, will now face Australia in the final on Sunday in Ahmedabad.
They’re the best team in the world and they’re all playing their best cricket, Williamson added. The way they’ve played throughout this tournament has been incredible,” he continued. They haven’t slowed down…I have no doubt they’ll go into the next game with confidence.
