Champions Trophy Digest: India top Group A, set up semi-final clash with Australia | Cricket News

India’s Varun Chakravarthy, second from proper, celebrates the wicket of New Zealand’s Will Young with his staff mates. (AP Photo)

India continued their dominant run within the ICC Champions Trophy, securing a snug victory over New Zealand of their remaining group-stage encounter on the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The win ensured India completed on the top of Group A with three wins in three matches, setting up a high-stakes semi-final clash towards Australia. New Zealand, after the loss, completed because the second-placed staff in Group A and can face Group B toppers South Africa.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
India safe semi-final berth with good report
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy returned figures of 5-42 as India defeated New Zealand by 44 runs on Sunday, sealing the top spot in Group A and setting up a semi-final clash with Australia within the ICC Champions Trophy.
India gained all three of their group-stage matches and can play the primary semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday.
“Important to finish on a high,” stated India captain Rohit Sharma after the victory. “New Zealand are a good team playing some good cricket. Very important to get a good result, we played a perfect game.”

India’s fastened semi-final venue raises questions
India have performed all their matches on the Dubai International Stadium as a result of their refusal to tour hosts Pakistan, citing safety considerations.
As a consequence, Australia and South Africa have been compelled to journey to Dubai from Pakistan regardless of not understanding if they’d be enjoying there. India have been pre-assigned to the primary semi-final in Dubai no matter their remaining group standing.
South Africa now must return to Pakistan for his or her semi-final towards New Zealand.

India’s batting resilience overcomes early wobbles
After being put into bat, India posted 249/9, because of a vital 79 from Shreyas Iyer and a late 45-run cameo from Hardik Pandya.
India have been in bother at 30/3 when Virat Kohli, enjoying his three hundredth ODI, fell for 11 to a surprising one-handed catch by Glenn Phillips at backward level.
Iyer and Axar Patel (42) rebuilt the innings with a 98-run stand for the fourth wicket. Pandya supplied a late flourish, hitting 4 fours and two sixes in a run-a-ball knock that pushed India to a aggressive complete.
New Zealand’s Matt Henry stood out with the ball, claiming figures of 5-42 from his eight overs.

Chakravarthy’s record-breaking spell decimates New Zealand
In reply, New Zealand have been bowled out for 205 in 45.3 overs, regardless of Kane Williamson’s valiant 81 off 120 balls.
India’s spinners dominated in useful circumstances. Williamson reached his forty seventh ODI fifty with a boundary off Jadeja, however India’s disciplined bowling assault ensured common breakthroughs.
Chakravarthy’s 5-42 was the all-time bowling figures by an Indian on Champions Trophy debut, surpassing Mohammed Shami’s 5-53 earlier within the event.

Semi-final showdowns await
With their victory, India secured a semi-final clash with six-time world champions Australia in Dubai on Tuesday.
“Australia has a rich history of playing ICC tournaments well, but it is about us and what we want to do well on that particular day,” stated Rohit Sharma. “It will be a great contest, looking forward to that. Hopefully, we can stitch one towards us.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand will face South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday within the second semi-final, because the battle for a spot within the remaining intensifies.