New Zealand defeated India by 18 runs producing a brilliant bowling performance in the rain-hit first Cricket World Cup semi-final at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
The Black Caps will face the winners of Thursday’s semi-final between England and Australia in Sunday’s final at Lords, reports Reuters.
New Zealand add 28 runs to their overnight score from 23 balls to finish on 239 for eight — a modest total India would have been confident of chasing down with ease.
But the Kiwi bowling attack turned the game around, taking three wickets in the opening 19 balls with tournament top scorer Rohit Sharma, skipper Virat Kohli and KL Rahul all dismissed for one.
From a dire position of 24-4, however, India got themselves back in the game thanks to a superb 116-run seventh-wicket partnership between MS Dhoni (50) and Ravindra Jadeja (77), only to be bowled out for 221 with three balls remaining.
Resuming on the reserve day at 211-5, New Zealand added 28 runs from the remaining 23 deliveries as Taylor top-scored with a gutsy 74.
Williamson won the toss on Tuesday and opted to bat at a venue where teams batting first had won all five previous matches in the tournament.
India's new ball pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-43) and Jasprit Bumrah, both of whom began with maiden overs, bowled with impeccable discipline while spinner Ravindra Jadeja was also very economical with the ball and characteristically superb in the field.
Yuzvendra Chahal, the only specialist spinner in India's side, conceded 63 runs in his 10 overs but claimed the important wicket of Williamson who made 67, his fourth 50-plus score of the tournament including two centuries.
India's trusted five-bowler policy nearly backfired with Hardik Pandya hobbling off the field due to a hip injury before returning to complete his full quota of 10 overs on Tuesday.
Hosts England will play defending champions Australia in the second semi-final on Thursday.
