Team India enjoyed a joyous Diwali, beating the Netherlands by a huge margin to strut into the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-finals with an unblemished record. India won nine of their nine group games, the latest at cruise control, as the Dutch proved no match for the Men in Blue in Bengaluru. (Highlights |Scorecard | Full Coverage)
India set the Netherlands a target of 411 to chase in 50 overs, courtesy of tons from Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, and significant scores from Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. Meanwhile, the Indian bowling unit got the Dutchmen out for a total of 250 in 47.5 overs, sealing a 160-run win, much to the delight of the Diwali-celebrating crowd across the country.
Advertisement
India's triumph occurred at such a comfortable pace, however, that even Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma pitched in with the ball - and claimed a wicket each! Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill also supplied brief cameos from the other end of the pitch, both bowling two overs each, but ended their spells without a scalp to their names.
Kohli, who bowled three overs at the cost of 13 runs, picked up the wicket of Netherlands captain Scott Edwards.
Sharma, on the other end, ensured a premature end to the Netherlands innings by tricking Teja Nidamanuru into throwing away his wicket cheaply while going for a massive shot.
Advertisement
India will face New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-finals on November 15, 2023, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
