With a 44-run win over New Zealand in the last group game in Dubai, Team India sets a semifinal battle with their biggest hurdle in ICC events, Australia. The match was dominated by the spinners, especially the Indians. On the slow track of Dubai, New Zealand invited India to bat first after winning the toss.
Came to bat on a wicket that poses help to spinners. Kiwi pacers swiped up the Indian top order by sending back the top 3 Indian batters to the pavilion in just 6.4 overs when the score was 30 runs. After that, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel formed a 98-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Shreyas played an innings of 79 runs, and Axar scored 42 runs off 61 balls. However, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals, leaving them at 223/7 in 45.5 overs. It was Hardik Pandya’s late fireworks that helped India to reach 249/9 in 50 overs.
On the slow surface of Dubai, New Zealand didn’t get a great start either as they lost their openers in just 12 overs. The Kiwis kept losing wickets at regular intervals; Kane Williamson was the only batter who showed some resilience throughout the New Zealand innings; he was stumped by Rahul on the delivery of Axar, and with this, New Zealand’s only hope of winning the game vanished.
Varun, Kuldeep, and Axar’s spin trio wreaked havoc on the Kiwi batting lineup. Varun took a five-wicket haul to dismantle New Zealand on 205 in 45.3 overs. With this win, India topped their group, and New Zealand finished in 2nd place.
Now India plays Australia on 4th March in Dubai, and New Zealand will fly to Lahore for their semifinal match against South Africa on 5th March.
Scorecard: India vs New Zealand, 12th Match, Group A at Dubai, Champions Trophy
India
Shreyas Iyer– 79 (98)
Hardik Pandya– 45 (45)
Axar Patel– 42 (61)
Matt Henry– 5/42 (8 overs)
Kyle Jamieson– 1/31 (8 overs)
Rachin Ravindra– 1/31 (6 overs)
New Zealand
Kane Williamson– 81 (120)
Mitchell Santner– 28 (31)
Will Young– 22 (35)
Varun Chakravarthy– 5/42 (10 overs)
Kuldeep Yadav– 2/56 (9.3 overs)
Hardik Pandya– 1/22 (4 overs)
