Team India registered a comprehensive 44-run victory over New Zealand in their final group-stage match of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (March 2).
Asked to bat first, the Men in Blue managed to post a modest 249/9 on the board. Following the top-order collapse, Shreyas Iyer rose to the occasion and played a valuable knock of 79 while Hardik Pandya (45) and Axar Patel (42) made notable contributions with the bat.
Matt Henry was the stand-out bowler for the Kiwis, returning with the figures of 5/42 in his eight overs.
In reply, New Zealand’s 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, picking up five wickets by conceding 42 runs in his 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.
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 at the same venue on Tuesday (March 4).
Cricket fraternity lauded the Indian bowlers for defending a modest total against New Zealand in the last group match.
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