India secures first spot in the ICC World Cup 2023 points table with a decisive victory over New Zealand

India won the 2023 World Cup with a resounding victory on Sunday, giving them a two-point advantage at the top of their group. Although the hosts had won their previous games handily, this one on Sunday was supposed to be their hardest test. Even though it turned out to be the case, they managed to chase down the 274 target with two overs remaining.

Virat Kohli led the chase after Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul in his opening match of the tournament prevented New Zealand from reaching a total of almost or over 300. Despite losing a few wickets in the middle overs, Kohli stayed composed and concentrated to help India win.

Daryl Mitchell’s 130 off 127 balls, featuring nine fours and five sixes, gave the Black Caps a lead that was reversed by pacer Shami’s outstanding return of 5/54 in 10 overs. Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra, who each contributed 75 runs, put on 159 runs off 152 balls for the third wicket. Virat Kohli scored 95 runs, five runs short of a century. When it was obvious that India would win, he did attempt to reach three digits. In an attempt to break the record and seal the win, Kohli went for a six, but he was caught close to the boundary. His current ODI half-century total is 69. He could have tied Sachin Tendulkar’s global record of 49 ODI tons with a century.

India leads the table by two points at the top after scoring 10 points. They have a +1.353 net run rate and have won every game they have played. South Africa is in third place with six points from four games and a net run rate of +2.212, while New Zealand is in second place with eight points from five games and a net run rate of +1.481. With four points from their first four games and a net run rate of -0.193, Australia is currently ranked fourth.

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If Pakistan, in fifth place, defeats Afghanistan on Monday, Australia might lose that ranking. Pakistan and Australia are even on four points, but Pakistan’s net run rate of -0.456 keeps them behind the five-time winners. The remaining teams are all tied for second place, with their net run rates determining where they finish. The remarkable Netherlands (-0.790) are ranked seventh, while Bangladesh (-0.784) is ranked sixth. England (-1.248), the reigning champions, are in ninth place, while Sri Lanka (-1.048) is ranked eighth. Afghanistan (-1.250) is currently ranked 10th, but a victory over Pakistan on Monday might move them up to sixth.