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India’s World Cup Run Ends After Top Order Collapse, Jadeja Heroics

A swift 77-run knock by Ravindra Jadeja, in partnership with MS Dhoni, could salvage the India innings after a top-order collapse.

MS Dhoni after being run out by Martin Guptill during the India vs New Zealand world cup semifinal match, at Old Trafford in Manchester on Wednesday. (Photo: PTI) 
MS Dhoni after being run out by Martin Guptill during the India vs New Zealand world cup semifinal match, at Old Trafford in Manchester on Wednesday. (Photo: PTI) 

India on Wednesday lost the ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal match against New Zealand by 18 runs, as a swift 77-run knock by all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and a steady half-century by MS Dhoni failed to salvage the innings after a top-order collapse.

India was all out for 221 in 49.3 overs after New Zealand scored 239/8 in a match that extended over two days due to rain.

New Zealand, thus, have made it to their second successive world cup final, thanks to their fast bowlers Matt Henry (3/37) and Trent Boult's (2/42) who toppled India’s top order comprising Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Captain Virat Kohli—all of who got out for one run each.

The match today at Old Trafford, Manchester, played out very similar to the 2015 World Cup semifinal between India and Australia in Sydney when Kohli got out cheaply and Dhoni was stuck in the middle overs with the lower order for company.

Dhoni (50) was run out by Martin Guptill in the penultimate over, soon after Jadeja holed out to NZ Captain Kane Williamson off Trent Boult while trying to push up the scoring against a steep asking rate.

Coming together at 92/6, Dhoni and Jadeja added 116 runs for the seventh wicket, raising hopes for a victory after India was reduced 5/3 by the fourth over and 24/4 by the 10th over.

Rishabh Pant (32) and Hardik Pandya (32) tried to steady the innings with a 47-run stand with the left-hander hitting some crisp drives through the off-side. The 21-year-old, however, was soon caught by Colin de Grandhomme off Mitchell Santner. Santner snapped up Pandya as well with Williamson pouching him over mid-wicket.

Earlier, New Zealand's struggles continued on a fresh day as they finished on 239/8. Resuming at 211/5, the Black Caps could add only 28 runs to their overnight tally with only a single boundary being hit off the remaining 23 balls.