DHARAMSALA, India, Oct 22, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Daryl Mitchell hit a sparkling 
century to guide New Zealand to 273 all out against India in Sunday's top-of-
the-table World Cup clash between two unbeaten teams.

New Zealand lost their openers early after being invited to bat first in the 
Himalayan hill town of Dharamsala but Mitchell (130) and Rachin Ravindra (75) 
put on 159 to get the innings back on track.

The stand was the highest between the two teams at a World Cup for any wicket 
as the pair surpassed the previous best of 136 by Sunil Gavaskar and Kris 
Srikkanth in 1987.

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami helped India pull things back in the final 10 
overs as he returned figures of 5-54 in his first appearance at the 
tournament.

Fellow paceman Mohammed Siraj and Shami took down Devon Conway, for a duck, 
and Will Young, for 17, as New Zealand slipped to 19-2.

The left-handed Ravindra, who is of Indian origin, departed in the 34th over 
but Mitchell kept up the charge to raise his fifth ODI ton.

Ravindra, who was dropped on 12 by Ravindra Jadeja off Shami, made the most 
of the reprieve to reach his third fifty in his 17th ODI.

"It took me a while to get into my rhythm and they bowled really well with 
that new ball up front so it was difficult for us to score," Ravindra said at 
the innings break.

"But after we saw that off, the partnership was able to flow a bit better 
between myself and Daryl and we were able to get a decent score on the 
board."

He added: "We were looking at around 280, knowing that the pitch was keeping 
a little low and it's not easy to start on but they pegged us back nicely at 
the death there with the way they bowled."

Both Ravindra and Mitchell tackled the Indian spinners with aplomb by using 
their feet to perfection and Jadeja went wicketless in his 10 overs.

Mitchell, who survived dropped catches on 59 and 69, stood firm despite 
losing Ravindra and then skipper Tom Latham for five off Kuldeep Yadav, the 
left-arm wrist spinner who took two wickets

Runs dried up for New Zealand, who also lost Glenn Phillips on 23.

Shami was on a hat-trick averted by Lockie Ferguson but he finally ended 
Mitchell's marathon knock on the penultimate ball of the innings for his 
second five-wicket haul in World Cups.

New Zealand lost their final wicket on the last ball of the 50th over with 
Lockie Ferguson run out.

Both teams have won four games each in the round-robin tournament but New 
Zealand top the 10-team table due to superior run-rate.

Brief scores: New Zealand 273 all out in 50 overs (D. Mitchell 130, R. 
Ravindra 75; M. Shami 5-54)