Dubai: The Indian cricket team defeated New Zealand by 44 runs in its last group stage match of the Champions Trophy due to the deadly bowling of Varun Chakraborty. This is India’s first win over New Zealand in the history of the Champions Trophy. Earlier, both the teams clashed in the final of the Champions Trophy in 2000, where India lost.
With this, India has topped its group. Now India will face Australia in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 on March 4 in Dubai. Because Australia is at number two in Group B. New Zealand has been at second place in Group A, now it will face Group B’s number one team South Africa in the second semi-final on March 5 in Lahore.
India defeated New Zealand by 44 runs
Today India and New Zealand match was played at the International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and invited India to bat first. Batting first, India scored 249 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 50 overs. Chasing a target of 250 runs, New Zealand collapsed for 205 runs in 45.3 overs. With this, India won by 44 runs.
Kane Williamson’s innings went in vain
Rachin Ravindra and Will Young came to open the innings for New Zealand. The team suffered the first blow at a score of 17 runs. Hardik Pandya dismissed Rachin Ravindra (6) in the fourth over. After this, Varun Chakraborty bowled Will Young (22) to give India the second success. Kuldeep Yadav sent Daryl Mitchell 17 to the pavilion in the 26th. After this, Ravindra Jadeja showed the way to the pavilion to Tom Latham 14.
Varun Chakraborty also showed his magic with the ball and first dismissed Glenn Phillips 12 and Michael Bracewell 2. After this, New Zealand’s highest run scorer Kane Williamson was caught out by Axar Patel in the 41st over by KL Rahul. Williamson played an innings of 81 runs with the help of 7 fours in 120 balls.
Varun Chakraborty took 5 wickets
After Kane Williamson was out, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner was bowled by Varun after scoring 28 runs. After this, he got his first five-wicket haul in ODI cricket by getting Matt Henry caught out by Virat Kohli on a personal score of 2 runs. Will O’Rourke was out after scoring 1 run and Kyle Jamieson remained unbeaten on 9 runs. Varun took 5 wickets for 42 runs in 10 overs, apart from him Kuldeep Yadav took 2 wickets, while Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja got 1-1 wickets.
Iyer, Hardik and Axar played brilliant innings for India
Earlier, the Indian innings started well and Shubman Gill (2), Rohit Sharma (15) and Virat Kohli (11) were out after scoring runs. After the collapse of Team India’s top order, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel added 98 runs for the fourth wicket. Axar Patel scored 42 runs in 61 balls with 3 fours and 1 six and Iyer played a brilliant innings of 79 runs in 98 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. Hardik played an innings of 45 runs in 45 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. KL Rahul scored 23 and Ravindra Jadeja scored 16 runs. Matt Henry took 5 wickets for New Zealand.
