Dubai, UAE – India clinched a 44-run victory against New Zealand in their ICC Champions Trophy group-stage encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. The win bolstered India’s standing in the tournament, while New Zealand fell short despite a resilient effort from their captain, Kane Williamson.
After losing the toss and being put to bat, India put up 249 for 9 in 50 overs. While the batting lineup faced challenges, they managed to set a respectable target. Though details of key contributors from India’s innings are not visible, the total proved to be enough to test New Zealand’s batting depth.
New Zealand’s chase never gained momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. Captain Kane Williamson anchored the innings with a hard-fought 81 off 120 balls, striking seven boundaries. However, he found little support from the rest of the batting lineup.
Will Young scored 22 off 35 balls before falling to Varun Chakravarthy, while Daryl Mitchell (17 off 35) and Tom Latham (14 off 20) failed to convert their starts. The lower order crumbled, with Mitchell Santner’s 28 off 31 being the only notable resistance. New Zealand was eventually dismissed for 205 in 45.3 overs, falling short by 44 runs.
India’s bowlers dominated the match, with Varun Chakravarthy leading the attack with a five-wicket haul (5/42 in 10 overs). His spell ripped through New Zealand’s middle and lower order, sealing the win for India.
Other Indian bowlers also made crucial contributions. Axar Patel (1/32 in 10 overs) and Kuldeep Yadav (1/56 in 9.3 overs) kept the pressure on, while Hardik Pandya (1/22 in 4 overs) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/36 in 8 overs) chipped in with key breakthroughs.
Match Summary
India: 249/9 in 50 overs
New Zealand: 205 all out in 45.3 overs
India won by 44 runs
Venue: Dubai International Stadium
With this victory, India strengthens its position in the ICC Champions Trophy group stage, while New Zealand will need to regroup for the upcoming fixtures.
