2019 ICC World Cup in England & Wales May 30 to July 14,2019 - Semifinal 1: India vs New Zealand - Old Trafford, Manchester Tuesday July 09,2019

 

Old Trafford, Manchester Venue stats

One of the oldest grounds in England will host the first semi-final of World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand. The Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester hosted its first Test match in 1884 and it's first One-Day International in 1972 which was incidentally also the second ever ODI match.

1) The inaugural games involved Australia and England on both occasions.
2) Since the 1972 ODI, Manchester has hosted 52 ODIs.
3) There have been 18 hundreds at the venue with Vivian Richards' 189 against England being the highest individual score here.
4) Bob Willis has taken the most wickets at this venue in ODIs.
5) Glenn McGrath's 5/14 vs West Indies in the 1999 World Cup is the best haul by a bowler at the venue.

Recent record and trends
At the ongoing World Cup, Manchester has hosted five matches - including the high-voltage India-Pakistan encounter - with all five matches won by the team batting first. Manchester is a high-scoring venue and the average first innings total here in this time period is 310.

England's total of 397 against Afghanistan in this World Cup is the highest total recorded at this venue. The last game played here was the final league game of the World Cup with South Africa, batting first, beating Australia by 10 runs while defending 325.

Pace vs spin
Pace has ruled the roost in this World Cup with spinners just taking 129 wickets to fall so far this tournament. This stays true with Manchester too, which has predominantly been a pace bowling venue. Post the Champions Trophy in 2017, pacers have taken 82 wickets in seven matches at an average of 26.84 and an economy of 5.67. They have three four-plus wicket hauls and strike every 28th ball on an average. On the other hand, spinners have taken just 21 wickets here in these seven games with an economy of 5.76. The strike rate for them is a much poorer 69.0

Team records
India and New Zealand played West Indies at this venue in this World Cup with both sides winning their respective matches.

India also played Pakistan here and won that game as well quite convincingly. In head to head records, India have a distinct edge over New Zealand having won six out of eight ODIs post the Champions Trophy.

Even overall records favour India. The two sides have faced each other 106 times in ODIs with India winning 51.89% of them.

In CWC, New Zealand have a better record against India having beaten them in 4 out of 7 attempts.

This is the second time India and New Zealand are set to take on in the British Isles through this ICC World Cup 2019 campaign. The rain had its say in the league stage fixture and now both sides clash in the first semi-final at Old Trafford.

This is the ninth time these two sides will come face to face in the marquee event, the previous one being a washout in the league stage. Surprisingly, the last time played each other was way back in 2003. Overall, the Black Caps have a slight edge over India having beaten them four times out of seven games. They also got the better of Men in Blue in the warm-up match of this World Cup.

Details of the previous 7 matches between NZ and India at the CWC's

1975: Glenn Turner turns it in New Zealand's Favour

The first time these two nations came face to face was in the very first World Cup. The match went down to the penultimate over and it was New Zealand who emerged victorious by six wickets.

India looked down and out at one stage with the scoreboard reading 101 for 6 before Syed Abid Ali played a crucial knock of 70 to lead his team to a total of 230 in 60 overs. He found decent support from the likes of Madan Lal and S Venkataraghavan down the order. In reply, Turner led from the front and scored an unbeaten 114 to lead New Zealand to a victory. Brian Hastings and Ken Wadsworth too chipped in but it was the skipper who turned out to the difference between the two teams.

1979: India no match for New Zealand

he Surinder Khanna-led side bowed down to the likes of Sir Richard Hadlee, Gary Troup, Lance Cairns, Brian McKechnie and Bruce Edgar as New Zealand won the game by eight wickets.

For India, Sunil Gavaskar scored 55 runs but that came off 144 deliveries. Brijesh Patel, Kapil Dev and Karsan Ghavri made decent contributions but could only propel India to 182. After bowlers did their job, Edgar managed to remain unbeaten on 84 and found able allies in John Wright and Turner as New Zealand chased down the target with two overs to spare.

1987: India make it two in two in home conditions

India played New Zealand twice in this World Cup and won both the times.

In Bangalore, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Kapil smashed blistering half centuries, while Kiran More slammed 42* off 26 balls to lead India to 252 for 7 in their 50 overs. In response, New Zealand were 146 for 2 at one stage on the back of Ken Rutherford and Andrew Jones before Maninder Singh and Ravi Shastri brought India back in the game with a couple of quick wickets. The two were economical and all New Zealand could manage in their 50 overs was 236 for 8, falling short by 16 runs.

In Nagpur, it was Gavaskar's turn to shine. Chasing 222, Gavaskar blasted a breezy unbeaten century - 88-ball 103*. The right-hander hit 10 fours and three sixes during his stay in the middle and found solid support from K Srikkanth (75) and Mohammad Azharuddin (41*). India chased down the total with nine wickets in hand.

1992: New Zealand get their revenge

Playing in Dunedin, it was New Zealand's turn to return the favour and they did. Sachin Tendulkar's 84 went in vain as fifties from Mark Greatbatch and Jones gave hosts a four-wicket win. Apart from Tendulkar, Azharuddin scored 55 while Kapil smoked 33 off just 16 deliveries. Manoj Prabhakar did pick up three wickets but the target of 231 was never going to be enough as Greatbatch and Jones got the job done for their team without much of a fuss.

1999: Five-wicket win gives New Zealand a semifinal spot

The Black Caps had to win this game to qualify for the semifinals and they were able to it thanks to Chris Cairns, Matt Horne, Roger Twose and wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Parore

All of India's top six batsmen got off to good start but not one of them could convert it into a three-figure score. Ajay Jadeja did manage 76 runs but couldn't provide that firepower in the last few overs. India were restricted to 251 for 6 and Horne and Nathan Astle got New Zealand off to a good start, adding 45 runs for the opening wicket. They did lose a couple of wickets in quick succession but Twose and Horne added 83 runs to dig them out of trouble. Parore then put the finishing touch and got his team over the line.

2003: Zaheer Shines as India Thump New Zealand

The Stephen Fleming-led side once again had to win this game to qualify for the semifinals, but Zaheer Khan along with Ashish Nehra and Javagal Srinath had other ideas.

The left-arm paceman scalped four wickets and with Srinath and Nehra dismantled New Zealand's batting order. Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag and Dinesh also chipped in with a couple of wickets as New Zealand were bundled out for 146. In response, India were reduced to 21 for 3 before an unbeaten 129-run stand between Mohammad Kaif (68*) and Rahul Dravid (53*) led them to a seven-wicket win.

Match Preview

Pitch and conditions

The Old Trafford has hosted five matches this World Cup. The team that batted first has won each of the five. That must say a lot about the surface, and the importance of toss. The pitch for the semifinal, though, is a fresh one which could make life easier for batsmen throughout the game.

The sun was shining over Manchester in the lead up to the game. Tuesday is expected to be slightly cloudy, with chances of the occasional shower.

New Zealand come into the semifinal on the back of three consecutive losses, but even there it was their batting that let them down. The bowlers did have Australia reeling at 92 for 5 at one stage. They triggered a collapse after England's openers put on a big partnership. They did run into Babar Azam's class against Pakistan, but that game could have been very different had they not dropped him early.

If Trent Boult and Matt Henry can give the early breakthroughs, New Zealand have a fiery weapon in Lockie Ferguson to strike in the middle overs. Between Ferguson and Boult, they have 32 wickets in the tournament.

The problem for New Zealand is their batting, especially the openers. Martin Guptill has struggled for runs - he has only 166 from eight innings. Colin Munro has 125 from six, while the man who replaced him for the last two games Henry Nicholls has eight from two. It's like they've just left it to Williamson to do all the work.

The captain has stood up, with 481 runs from seven innings with a bit of support from Taylor, James Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme. But a bit more support from the top won't hurt.

New Zealand have slipped under the radar, as they always do. It's a zone they like to be in. But it would be very wrong to underestimate them.

India will be boosted by the form of the top order

Rohit and Rahul have added 180 and 189 in the previous two matches, giving India the starts they badly need

The five best bowlers for India, with an eye on batting depth, would be Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not giving wickets with the new ball, and Shami is likely to get back despite his death bowling being a worry. Kuldeep Yadav too could make way for Yuzvendra Chahal, especially because India, as Kohli said, believe Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor are the big threats in the New Zealand batting order

New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first

Squads

India: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli(c), Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni(w), Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah.

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Trent Boult

Rain Forces Match to Spill Onto Reserve Day

New Zealand won an important toss on a pitch that was slow and helpful for spinners. Batting second against India's spinners would have been a huge gamble, and they went for the right choice despite conditions being overcast and the possibility of rain later on.

However, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar set the tone with brilliant, probing spells that began with a maiden each. Under overcast skies, they seemed impossible to get away. Kane Williamson (67) and Ross Taylor (67*) scored half-centuries but at a really slow pace as New Zealand's run rate really never crossed the four mark till about the 40th over

On a frustrating day where the clouds played hide and seek, the Indian bowlers dominated proceedings to restrict New Zealand to 211/5 in 46.1 overs before rain arrived in the first semifinal at Old Trafford Stadium, in Manchester. After hours of deliberation and covers coming on and off a number of times, as per the playing conditions the match will now go into the reserve day, that is Wednesday July 10 with New Zealand starting from where they left on 211/5.

Bumrah (8-1-25-1) and Bhuvneshwar (8.1-1-30-1) will bowl the rest of the 3.5 overs and they will hope to restrict the Blackcaps to as low a score as possible.

Here's What Happens If It Rains On Reserve Day As Well

The reserve day came into play only in the knock-out stages of the World Cup 2019. The India vs New Zealand semi-final will continue on Wednesday from where it was left off, and will not be played as a new game altogether.

If the condition doesn't change on the reserve day and it is also a washout then the team with higher points from the league stage will automatically qualify for the final. This means, India will reach the final if rain does not allow the semi-final to be completed on the reserve day.

In case the Australia vs England World Cup 2019 semi-final is washed out on the reserve day, the holders will make it to the final because they have accumulated more points from the league stage.

New Zealand defeats India by 18 Runs, reach final

Scorecard

New Zealand  239/8 in 50 Overs

India                221/10 in 49.3 Overs

Risabh Pant        32(56 Balls 4x4)

Hardik Pandya    32(62 Balls 4x2)

M S Dhoni           50(72 Balls 4x1 and 6x1)

Ravindra Jadeja  77(59 Balls 4x4 and 6x4)

Match Result   New Zealand won by 18 Runs

MOM               Matt Henry(NZ)for his 3/37(10 Overs)

New Zealand reached the World Cup final as they produced the bowling performance of the tournament to edge out a crestfallen India by 18 runs in a sensational match at Old Trafford.

India, chasing 240 to win, were reduced to 24-4 and 92-6 before Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni produced a 116-run partnership to drag the 2011 winners back in contention.

Jadeja in particular was superb but, with 37 runs needed from the final 18 balls, Jadeja hit Trent Boult high into the air and to Black Caps captain Kane Williamson to fall for 77.

Dhoni struck a six off the first ball of the 48th over but was then superbly run out by Martin Guptill to realistically end India's slim chances.

The final wicket - last man Yuzvendra Chahal edging behind - was greeted with shock by an India heavy crowd, as New Zealand gathered into a huddle.

Make no mistake, this was a stunning, surprising, unexpected win by New Zealand, with India heavily tipped from the start to win the tournament

New Zealand in World Cup semifinals in Manchester
vs Eng, 1979: Lost by nine runs
vs Pak, 1999: Lost by nine wickets
vs Ind, 2019: Won by 18 runs

Defeats in World Cup semis
6 New Zealand
4 Pakistan/ India
3 South Africa
2 England
1 West Indies/ Sri Lanka/ Kenya