New Zealand reached their second successive World Cup final after dramatically toppling India by 18 runs, Ravindra Jadeja’s swashbuckling 77 from 59 balls coming in a losing cause.

Star batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had misfired at Old Trafford, India’s top three making just one apiece, as they lurched to 24 for four and then 92 for six chasing 240 on the reserve day of this semi-final.

Jadeja’s pyrotechnics gave India a fleeting hope but he departed with 32 required off 13 balls before Mahendra Singh Dhoni was run out for 50 from 72 deliveries as the Asian giants were skittled for 221 from 49.3 overs.

The Kiwis will therefore face England or Australia in Sunday’s showpiece at Lord’s after successfully defending 239 for eight, their watchful approach on Tuesday vindicated following India’s struggles.

Ross Taylor top-scored with 74 from 90 balls as the Black Caps added 28 runs in the remaining 3.5 overs of their innings, deferred until Wednesday morning because of persistent rain on Tuesday afternoon.

Cricket World Cup best pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures TOPSHOT - Indian supporters cheer during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between India and Australia at The Oval in London on June 9, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEDIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images DIBYANGSHU SARKAR AFP/Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures TOPSHOT - India's supporters cheer during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between South Africa and India at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, southern England, on June 5, 2019. 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(Photo by Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEDIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images DIBYANGSHU SARKAR AFP/Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures TOPSHOT - Australia's David Warner fields a ball as he takes part in a training session at The Oval in London on June 8, 2019, ahead of their match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup against India. (Photo by Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEDIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images DIBYANGSHU SARKAR AFP/Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures TOPSHOT - Afghanistan's Ikram Alikhil bats during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Afghanistan and New Zealand at The County Ground in Taunton, southwest England, on June 8, 2019. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USESAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images SAEED KHAN AFP/Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures TOPSHOT - An Afghanistan supporter looks on during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Afghanistan and New Zealand at The County Ground in Taunton, southwest England, on June 8, 2019. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USESAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images SAEED KHAN AFP/Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures TOPSHOT - Indian supporters wear masks of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli as they cheer ahead of the start of the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between India and Australia at The Oval in London on June 9, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEDIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images DIBYANGSHU SARKAR AFP/Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures TOPSHOT - India's Shikhar Dhawan (L) is watched by teammate Rohit Sharma as he plays a shot during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between India and Australia at The Oval in London on June 9, 2019. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images ADRIAN DENNIS AFP/Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures TOPSHOT - Australia's Glenn Maxwell fields the ball during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between India and Australia at The Oval in London on June 9, 2019. 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(Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEGLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images GLYN KIRK AFP/Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures TOPSHOT - Australia's David Warner reacts after being hit by a bouncer during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between India and Australia at The Oval in London on June 9, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEDIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images DIBYANGSHU SARKAR AFP/Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures TOPSHOT - Indian supporters cheer during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between India and Australia at The Oval in London on June 9, 2019. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images ADRIAN DENNIS AFP/Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures TOPSHOT - An Indian supporter looks on during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between India and Australia at The Oval in London on June 9, 2019. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images ADRIAN DENNIS AFP/Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures ***BESTPIX*** BRISTOL, ENGLAND - MAY 28: Ashley Nurse of West Indies appeals for a a wicket during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Warm Up match between West Indies and New Zealand at Bristol County Ground on May 28, 2019 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images) Alex Davidson Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 03: Eoin Morgan of England is bowled by Mohammad Hafeez during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between England and Pakistan at Trent Bridge on June 03, 2019 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX*** David Rogers Getty Images Cricket World Cup best pictures Cricket World Cup best pictures ***BESTPIX*** CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 04: Hamid Hassan of Afghanistan is bowled by Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka to give victory to Sri Lanka during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka at Cardiff Wales Stadium on June 04, 2019 in Cardiff, Wales. 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India made an abject start to their reply, losing three wickets in the space of 11 balls, including the prize scalps of Rohit and Kohli, who had contributed in excess of 1,000 runs in the group stage.

Jadeja, batting for the first time in the tournament, put on a World Cup record 116 for the seventh wicket alongside the more subdued Dhoni, who was content to defer the big-hitting responsibilities to his junior partner.

New Zealand celebrate their victory as the final wicket falls (Getty)

Jadeja obliged, clubbing four fours and as many sixes, before holing out to long-off off Trent Boult and though Dhoni attempted to up the ante, the veteran was run out following a direct hit from Martin Guptill in the penultimate over as India’s hopes vanished.