India, with 10 points from four matches, will clash with Sri Lanka (11 from four) in the final on Saturday. New Zealand finished their league engagements with seven points.
Paceman Kumar ended with three for 34 as New Zealand, chasing a 224-run target, were shot out for 118 in 30.1 overs - their lowest total against India in One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
India were indebted to Sehwag for posting a competitive total as the hard-hitting opener cracked one six and 16 fours in a 93-ball 110 for his 13th one-day hundred.
India virtually wrapped up the match when they sent New Zealand struggling at 22 for four in the ninth over, with Kumar taking three wickets. Tail-ender Kyle Mills hammered an entertaining 52 for his second half-century in ODIs, but the knock came too late to stop India. Kane Williamson (13), Grant Elliott (11) and Tim Southee (10) were the others to reach double-figures in a disappointing batting performance.
Fast-bowlers Munaf Patel and Ashish Nehra shared five wickets between them as India displayed a much better all-round performance.
Earlier, India were tottering at 66 for four in 13 overs after electing to bat when Sehwag propped up the innings with a 107-run stand for the fifth wicket with captain MS Dhoni (38). Tim Southee, Mills and Andy McKay tested the Indian batsmen with pace and bounce in their lively opening spells to help New Zealand seize the early initiative.
Yet again, India’s middle-order of Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina failed, much to the worry of Dhoni before the final. Southee took two wickets while Mills and McKay grabbed one apiece before Sehwag and Dhoni steadied the innings with their sensible knocks which allowed India a shot at the trophy.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2010.
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