India beat New Zealand by 44 runs in the Champions Trophy, securing a semi-final against Australia. India scored 249, with Iyer top-scoring at 79. New Zealand fell short at 205, with Williamson scoring 81. Varun Chakravarthy claimed 5 wickets, showcasing India’s spin dominance.
India secured a decisive 44-run victory over New Zealand in the final group match of the Champions Trophy, advancing to the semi-finals against Australia. Batting first, India posted a total of 249 runs, with Shreyas Iyer leading the score with 79 runs, while seamer Matt Henry made a commendable effort for New Zealand with figures of 5-42.
In response, New Zealand struggled against India’s spin attack, getting bowled out for 205 runs. Despite Kane Williamson’s valiant 81 runs, the required run rate escalated, leading to a collapse where the team lost seven wickets for just 72 runs. Varun Chakravarthy claimed 5 wickets for 42 runs, cementing India’s dominance in this match.
The match took place in Dubai, where India chose to play all their matches instead of traveling to Pakistan. They will next face Australia, whilst New Zealand, despite this loss, remains confident heading to their match against South Africa in Lahore.
India’s innings also faced challenges, slipping to 30-3 early on. However, a pivotal partnership of 98 runs between Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer stabilized their innings, allowing Hardik Pandya to contribute effectively towards the end with a quick 45 runs.
New Zealand displayed resilience in the field, highlighted by Matt Henry’s performance, yet India’s spinners exploited the slow pitch expertly, leading to New Zealand’s downfall. With both teams undefeated prior to this match, this encounter tested their abilities under pressure.
Rohit Sharma, India’s captain, emphasized the importance of finishing strong against a formidable opponent, proclaiming, “We played perfect cricket today”. Conversely, Mitchell Santner, the captain of New Zealand, acknowledged the difficulty of batting on the slow surface. Valid criticism also came from former New Zealand wicketkeeper Katey Martin, stating that New Zealand “looked clueless against the spin” during their innings.
India’s strong performance against New Zealand, driven by effective batting partnerships and a highly aggressive spin attack, secured their place in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy. Heading into the next match against Australia, the Indian side shows potential to be formidable contenders. New Zealand’s challenge will be to learn from this defeat as they prepare for their upcoming match against South Africa.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
