WTC 2023: India Enters WTC Final With New Zealand's Win Over Sri Lanka By 2 Wickets
WTC 2023: Luck is what is needed at the time when you are hoping for it. Indian cricket team playing the final test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia will be fighting for glory for the second time in the World Test championship Final in June 2023 against Australia.
Despite the 4th test between India and Australia going for a draw, India qualified for the finals the moment New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by the narrow margin of 2 wickets at Christchurch.
This is the second time India qualified for the WTC finals. The first time India did the job was in the inaugural WTC season last session where the Indian team had to face defeat at the hands of New Zealand in Southampton.
New Zealand was chasing 285 runs on the final day but the fortune started chanting New Zealand's name during the initial moments from the start of the game. Clouds were all over the field with a low drizzle which wasn't good for the Sri Lankan side who only needed to win for fate to go on their side.
The game started late due to rain which gave Sri Lanka some hope as the game was reduced to 2 sessions and the Kiwi team still needed 285 runs to win but now in limited overs.
Before this match, the Sri Lankan team was also in the race to play the final and they had to beat New Zealand in both test matches, but every cricket fan knew that this work is going to be very difficult for the Lankan team.
The victory of the Kiwi team eliminated Sri Lanka from the final race and gave India a ticket to the final of the World Test Championship.
Sri Lanka had given New Zealand a target of 285 runs to win this match, which the Kiwi team achieved by losing 8 wickets on the last ball of the match. In this match, former skipper Kane Williamson played an important role in crossing the fleet of the Kiwi team.
Williamson remained unbeaten till the end and scored 121 runs in 194 balls. During this, apart from a single double from his bat, 11 fours and 1 six were also seen.
Apart from Williamson, Daryl Mitchell also contributed significantly to his team's victory by playing a blistering inning of 81 runs in 86 balls which included 3 fours and 4 sixes and also getting 142 run partnership in 157 deliveries.
Due to the century partnership between Williamson and Mitchell, the Kiwi team could think of winning the match and later Williamson took his team to victory in the last over.
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Now the Sri Lankan team is out of the race of the WTC 2023 final but still, they can save this series. In such a situation, if they want to avoid a clean sweep, then they will have to win the second Test at any cost.