Champions Trophy: Chakaravarthy Shines with Fifer as India Defeats NZ by 44 Runs, Prepares for Semis against Australia
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Varun Chakravarthy's remarkable performance, taking 5 wickets for 42 runs, led India to a 44-run victory over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy. This triumph secures India's spot at the top of Group A and sets up a semi-final match against Australia.
Key Takeaways
- Varun Chakravarthy achieved the best bowling figures in the tournament with 5-42.
- India secured victory, finishing as Group A leaders.
- Shreyas Iyer contributed significantly with a score of 79.
- Kane Williamson fought hard for New Zealand, scoring 81.
- India's spin attack proved crucial in maintaining their unbeaten streak.
Dubai, March 2 (NationPress) Varun Chakravarthy spearheaded India’s performance with an outstanding 5-42, the top bowling figures in the current tournament, as India triumphed over New Zealand by 44 runs in the last Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
This victory ensures India finishes atop Group A and sets up a semi-final clash against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday, marking a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final. In contrast, New Zealand will face South Africa in the second semi-final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.
After Shreyas Iyer scored 79 to help India reach 249/9 in their 50 overs, Chakaravarthy outsmarted the Blackcaps with his pace and variations, finishing with 5-42 in his ten overs on his Champions Trophy debut, bowling New Zealand out for 205 in 45.3 overs.
Kane Williamson put up a solitary fight for New Zealand, scoring 81 off 120 balls on a challenging pitch, utilizing nudges, glances, and inside-out shots for boundaries. However, the Indian spin quartet kept the pressure on during the middle overs, enabling Rohit Sharma and his team to maintain their unbeaten streak in the tournament.
India nearly claimed their first wicket in the fourth over when Chakaravarthy dropped a catch off Hardik Pandya’s bowling, allowing Will Young to escape with a four after kicking the ball. Yet, Pandya soon made the breakthrough by getting Rachin Ravindra caught at deep third, where Axar Patel completed a low diving catch.
Even though Young and Williamson struck some boundaries, India contained them effectively, limiting New Zealand to 44/1 during the first power-play. Varun Chakaravarthy, who found substantial turn in his opening over, secured his first wicket by bowling Young out with a googly.
With the Indian spinners extracting considerable turn, Williamson, who was given a life on 32 by Chakaravarthy, and Mitchell chose to play a waiting game, occasionally hitting boundaries during their 44-run partnership for the third wicket. Nonetheless, Kuldeep Yadav broke this partnership with a googly that trapped Mitchell lbw for 17.
Williamson persevered to reach his fifty off 77 balls by nudging Jadeja through fine leg for four, keeping New Zealand in the chase with an inside-out drive against the spinner for another boundary. However, Jadeja quickly responded by trapping Tom Latham lbw for 14.
Jadeja almost dismissed Williamson at 68 had KL Rahul taken the chance. Chakaravarthy then struck twice in two overs, trapping Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell lbw, although replays suggested Bracewell might have been not out as the ball missed the stumps.
The outcome became inevitable when Williamson advanced down the pitch to hit Axar over mid-on but missed the delivery, getting stumped easily by Rahul for a determined 81 off 120 balls. Mitchell Santner struck some late boundaries, scoring 28 off 31 balls, until Chakaravarthy uprooted his off-stump, securing a five-wicket haul that effectively clinched the victory for India.
Brief Scores: India 249/9 in 50 overs (Shreyas Iyer 79, Hardik Pandya 45; Matt Henry 5-42) beat New Zealand 205/10 in 45.3 overs (Kane Williamson 81, Mitchell Santner 28; Varun Chakaravarthy 5-42, Kuldeep Yadav 2-56) by 44 runs.
