It’s official! 🇮🇳 India will face 🇦🇺 Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal, while 🇳🇿 New Zealand heads back to Lahore to take on 🇿🇦 South Africa. In a game that was more than just a formality, India flexed its muscles with a dominant 44-run win, thanks to a spin masterclass led by Varun Chakaravarthy.
Spin Magic Turns the Game 🌀
Defending a modest 249, India unleashed a four-pronged spin attack on a sluggish Dubai surface, squeezing the life out of the Kiwi chase. Leading the charge was Varun Chakaravarthy (5/42), who proved unplayable with his bag of tricks. Kane Williamson battled hard for his 81 off 120 balls, surviving multiple dropped catches, but his lone effort wasn’t enough to steer New Zealand home.
The Indian spinners were relentless, sharing 9 wickets for 156 runs, with Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja chipping in. LBW dismissals were the theme of the night as India’s spin quartet targeted the stumps with pinpoint accuracy.
KL Rahul downplays India’s injury concerns ahead of NZ clash
Henry Strikes, Iyer Steadies the Ship 🚢
Earlier, Matt Henry (5/42) rattled India’s top order once again, just as he did in the 2019 World Cup semifinal. With Shubman Gill (LBW), Virat Kohli (caught), and Rohit Sharma (mis-hit pull) all falling cheaply, India was in trouble at 30/3.
But Shreyas Iyer (79 off 96) led the recovery, stitching crucial partnerships with Axar Patel (42) and KL Rahul (39). India looked in danger at 182/6, but Hardik Pandya’s quickfire 45 ensured they reached a competitive total.
Williamson’s Lone Fight Falls Short 🏏
Chasing 249, New Zealand started poorly, with Rachin Ravindra falling early to Hardik Pandya. Then, Varun Chakaravarthy spun a web around the Kiwi batters. He cleaned up Will Young, trapped Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell LBW, and mopped up the tail to complete a maiden ODI five-wicket haul.
Despite Williamson’s gritty knock, the ever-rising required rate forced him to take on Axar Patel, resulting in a stumping dismissal that all but ended New Zealand’s hopes. India’s spin show sealed the deal, confirming a mouthwatering semifinal showdown with Australia. 💥
Brief Scores:
🇮🇳 India 249/10 (50) – Shreyas Iyer 79, Hardik Pandya 45; Matt Henry 5-42
🇳🇿 New Zealand 205/10 (45.3) – Kane Williamson 81; Varun Chakaravarthy 5-42
India won by 44 runs
