India defeated New Zealand by 44 runs to reach the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals against Australia. Varun Chakravarthy starred with 5-42, while Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya contributed significantly to India’s total of 249-9. New Zealand was bowled out for 205 despite Kane Williamson’s 81 runs. The match marks a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final, where Australia triumphed.
In a riveting semifinal match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India triumphed over New Zealand by 44 runs, thereby advancing to face Australia. This matchup serves as a rematch of the 2023 Cricket World Cup final held in Ahmedabad, where Australia emerged victorious. India’s spinner Varun Chakravarthy was instrumental, leading the attack with remarkable figures of 5-42.
India topped Group A after securing victories in all three of their group matches. They will now compete in the first semifinal of the 50-over tournament at the Dubai International Stadium. The tournament’s scheduling required South Africa and Australia to travel from Pakistan to Dubai, with India guaranteed a semifinal spot early on, based on their group performance.
India batted first in the match, posting a total of 249-9, thanks to a solid 79 from Shreyas Iyer and a quickfire 45 from Hardik Pandya. New Zealand’s Matt Henry displayed excellent bowling, achieving figures of 5-42 in his eight overs. Nonetheless, New Zealand struggled to build partnerships and were bowled out for 205 in 45.3 overs, despite a commendable effort from Kane Williamson, who scored 81 runs.
Williamson faced early challenges, surviving two dropped catches before eventually being stumped off an Axar Patel delivery. Early wickets included the dismissal of Rachin Ravindra and the loss of Will Young, which set the tone for India’s bowling dominance. During India’s innings, the team encountered difficulties at 30-3, with Virat Kohli dismissed by a spectacular one-handed catch from Glenn Phillips.
The partnership between Iyer and Patel was pivotal for rebuilding the innings after the initial setbacks, contributing 98 runs for the fourth wicket. Notably, Williamson also exhibited remarkable fielding prowess with another stunning catch to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja. Pandya’s aggressive batting ensured India attained a total that proved sufficient to secure victory against New Zealand.
In summary, India’s victory over New Zealand positions them for a rematch against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals. Varun Chakravarthy’s exceptional performance with the ball and key contributions from Iyer and Pandya were crucial to India’s success. The match highlighted India’s resilience and skill, setting the stage for an exciting semifinal clash.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
