ICC World Cup 2019: 1st Semi-Final, India vs New Zealand – Jadeja’s rare treble, India’s optimistic comeback and more stats

India’s glorious campaign in the World Cup 2019 came to an end as New Zealand edged past them by 18 runs in the semi-final at the Old Trafford. In the game that went down to reserve day, the Indian team needed to chase a target of 240 to earn a spot in the final. However, they got off to the worst possible start losing their top three with just three runs on the board. Ravindra Jadeja (77) and MS Dhoni (50) lit up the Indian hopes before they got out in the space of five deliveries as the team bundled out for 221.

All the statistical highlights from New Zealand’s victory in the semi-final against India:

Nearly the lowest unsuccessful chase:

240 – The target of 240 is the 4th lowest that India failed to chase in a World Cup game and the lowest post the 1992 edition. India lost by 1 run against Australia chasing 236 in 1992 and by 9 runs chasing 237 in the same edition against England. They fell 47 runs short of the 239-run target set by Sri Lanka in 1975. This is also the 3rd lowest total defended successfully by New Zealand in the World Cup.

A worst possible start:

1 – For the first time in ODI history, a team’s top three scored exactly 1 run in an ODI. KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – all scored exactly 1 run before being dismissed.

1 – This game hosted by Manchester is also the first in ODI cricket where three different openers scored exactly 1 run. Martin Guptill got out scoring one for New Zealand while Rohit and Rahul were caught behind for 1.

3 – The three runs by the top three in this game is the lowest for India in an ODI. The previous lowest aggregate by top three in an ODI for India was four runs in three different matches – vs South Africa in the 2005 Hyderabad ODI, vs Australia in the 2007 Bangalore ODI and vs Windies in the 2009 Kingston ODI.

Jadeja replicates Kapil:

1 – Ravindra Jadeja is the first Indian to score 50+ runs, take 2+ catches and claim at least one wicket; all in a knockout game in the ODI format. Overall, Jadeja is the 9th such player with this treble in an ODI knockout and the 2nd after Aravinda de Silva (vs Australia in 1996 final) to do so in a World Cup knockout.

2 – Jadeja is only the 2nd Indian with 50+ runs, 2+ catches and 1+ wickets in the same World Cup match. Kapil Dev achieved this feat when he scored an unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup.

Nearly another record for Jadeja:

77 – Ravindra Jadeja’s 77-run knock is the 2nd highest individual score by a No.8 or lower position batsman in World Cup. Nathan Coulter-Nile scored 92 against Windies earlier this tournament also at No.8. No Indian before Jadeja scored a CWC fifty batting at No.8 or lower and even 30 runs in a CWC game at No.8.

Dhoni betters Sachin:

38y 2d – At the age of 38 years and 2 days, MS Dhoni became the oldest player to score a fifty in a World Cup semi-final. Previous oldest was Sachin Tendulkar (37y 340d) when he scored 85 in the 2011 semis against Pakistan.

New records for Williamson:

548 – The 548 runs aggregated by Kane Williamson in this tournament are the most by a New Zealand player in a single edition of the World Cup. The previous most was 547 runs by Martin Guptill in the 2015 edition. Kane’s 548 runs are also the most by a captain in a World Cup equaling Mahela Jayawardene’s tally of 548 runs in 2007.

A record partnership:

116 – The partnership between MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja is the highest 7th wicket stand in World Cup. The previous highest was 107 between Amjad Javed and Shaiman Anwar against Ireland in 2015.

116 – The 116-run stand between MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja is the highest partnership for India in World Cup semis surpassing Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly’s 103 against Kenya for the 2nd wicket in 2003.

116 – Dhoni-Jadeja pair’s 116-run partnership is also the highest for 7th or lower wicket in an ODI knockout. Tim Bresnan and Luke Wright added 107 while batting first in the 2009 Champions Trophy semis against Australia.

No.7 and No.8 to the rescue:

2 – Dhoni and Jadeja are only the 2nd set of No.7 and No.8 to score fifties for a team in an ODI knockout. Hemang Badani (60*) and Ajit Agarkar (53) scored fifties in the first of the three finals against Australia in the 2004 VB series played at the MCG.

3 – Only the 3rd time in World Cup that two players batting at No.7 or lower scored fifties in a team’s innings. UAE’s No.7 and No.8 scored fifties against Windies in the 2015 edition game while South Africa’s No.8 and No.9 struck half-centuries in the 1999 edition against Zimbabwe.

Not the ideal day to chase:

1 – In the 11 completed reserve day World Cup matches, the chasing team won only once – England won by 8 wickets while chasing 46 vs Canada in 1975.