Axar dismissed Williamson for 81 in the last group-stage match of the ongoing Champions Trophy.
Chasing 250 to win, the Kiwi innings folded for a paltry 205 in 45.3 overs. It was a listless batting display as only Kane Williamson waged a lone battle with a knock of 81 in 120 balls.
For India, mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy was the wrecker-in-chief with the ball, returning with a five-wicket haul (5-42 in 10 overs). Kuldeep Yadav (2-56 in 9.3 overs), Axar Patel (1-32 in 10 overs), Ravindra Jadeja (1-36 in 8 overs) and Hardik Pandya (1-22 in 4 overs) shared the remaining five scalps among them.
During the second innings, a hilarious and wholesome scene involving Virat Kohli went viral on the internet. The Indian stalwart rushed to touch Axar’s feet after the spin all-rounder claimed Williamson’s wicket.
Williamson, slowly but steadily, was threatening to take the game away from India when Axar got him out stumped on the final ball of his spell, in the 41st over of the innings.
Williamson’s dismissal left Kohli elated as the latter went straight to Axar and gestured towards touching his feet. To this, Axar sat down and stopped him, making both of them break into laughter.
Here’s the video:
With this win, the Rohit Sharma-led side finished at the top of the Group A points table. They will face Australia in the first semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4).
On the other hand, New Zealand will lock horns against South Africa in the second semi-final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday (March 5).