Jasprit Bumrah was shocked. He covered his mouth and eyes with both hands.
The Indian fast bowler’s expression mirrored that of 33,000 fans at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. Millions of others watching at home too were in disbelief: Had bowler Mohammed Shami just dropped the World Cup?
India had totalled 397 for 4 in their 50 overs against New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final. But had begun to stutter after Shami required only 10 balls to remove both the openers.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and No. 3 Daryl Mitchell then put up a 141-run partnership that threatened India’s progress to the final.
In a desperate step, India’s captain Rohit Sharma brought Bumrah back for his second spell, after the sold-out crowd had hardly made a squeak for 90 minutes.
Five balls later, Bumrah drew a mistake from Williamson, who pulled hard but did not connect properly. The ball went straight to Shami, who fumbled and dropped the simple catch. The crowd went silent.
“I felt terrible,” Shami said later.
The seam bowler had three overs to dwell on his mistake. He then returned to bowl, with New Zealand needing 179 more off 18 overs.
In a twist of fate, Shami then became the match winner. In three balls, he turned 220 for 2 into 220 for 4 by removing Williamson and then Tom Latham. He returned at the death to put the final touches on India’s win by dismissing Mitchell, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson.
New Zealand were bowled out for 327 in 48.5 overs, and Shami finished with seven wickets, the first time an Indian bowler had achieved that feat in a men’s one-day international.
It was a terrific performance from the 33-year-old, who was the victim of Islamophobic online abuse during the T20 World Cup two years ago, following his expensive spells and dropped catches.
A month ago, Shami wasn’t even in the India team, squeezed out in pursuit of balance. Yesterday, he travelled to Ahmedabad for the final as the leading wicket-taker of this World Cup, with 23 in six games.
Another performance like this one, against Australia or South Africa who were playing in the second semi-final yesterday, and he may well bring India’s decade-long wait for a major trophy to an end.
Indo-Asian News Service
