Varun Chakravarthy spearheaded India’s effort with an impressive 5-42, the best bowling figures in the current tournament, as India triumphed over New Zealand by 44 runs in their final Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

This victory positions India at the top of Group A, setting them up for a semi-final clash against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday— a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final. In contrast, New Zealand will face South Africa in the second semi-final at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, with both teams traveling to Lahore together on Monday.

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After Shreyas Iyer scored a solid 79, helping India post 249/9 in their 50 overs, Chakravarthy showcased his skills on Champions Trophy debut, outsmarting the New Zealand batsmen with his pace and variations to bowl them out for 205 in 45.3 overs.

Kane Williamson fought valiantly for New Zealand, scoring 81 runs off 120 balls on a challenging pitch, relying on nudges, glances, and stylish shots for boundaries. However, with the Indian spinners tightening their grip in the middle overs and claiming nine wickets, the match favored Rohit Sharma’s side.

India almost captured their first wicket in the fourth over when Varun Chakravarthy dropped Will Young’s catch at mid-on off Hardik Pandya’s bowling. Just moments later, Pandya made the breakthrough as Rachin Ravindra was caught at deep third after attempting an uppercut.

Despite Young and Williamson managing some boundaries, India kept the pressure as New Zealand reached 44/1 in the first power-play. Chakravarthy made his mark by dismissing Young, who edged a googly onto his stumps.

With India’s spinners spinning the ball effectively, Williamson—who was dropped on 32— and Mitchell played cautiously, occasionally striking boundaries in a 44-run third-wicket partnership. However, Kuldeep Yadav broke the stand by trapping Mitchell lbw for 17 with a well-disguised googly.

Williamson continued to keep New Zealand’s hopes alive, reaching his fifty with a fine tickle off Jadeja, and later sending a boundary over extra cover. But Jadeja struck back, trapping Tom Latham lbw for 14 while attempting a reverse sweep.

Jadeja could have dismissed Williamson on 68, but KL Rahul missed the chance. Chakravarthy then struck twice in two overs, trapping Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell lbw, although replays indicated that Bracewell would have been not out as the ball missed the stumps.

The game swung definitively in India’s favor when Williamson danced down the pitch to attack Axar but ended up getting stumped for a determined 81 runs. Mitchell Santner managed to score 28 off 31 balls before Chakravarthy cleaned him up, securing his five-wicket haul in just his second ODI match.

Earlier, New Zealand bowler Matt Henry produced an outstanding performance, taking 5-42, his third five-wicket haul in ODIs, as he helped limit India to 249/9 in their innings. The Blackcaps effectively utilized the conditions to keep India in check.

Iyer’s 79 proved crucial as he salvaged India from a precarious position, while Axar Patel contributed a solid 42. Hardik Pandya then came through in the end, scoring a quick 45 to help India set a competitive target.

Henry and Kyle Jamieson capitalized on the conditions to challenge the Indian batting lineup with seam and swing. Though Rohit Sharma hit Henry for four and six, the bowler retaliated by dismissing Shubman Gill plumb lbw with an inswinger for just two runs.

Jamieson added pressure when Rohit mistimed a pull, getting caught at midwicket for 15. Virat Kohli, in his 300th ODI, started with two fortunate boundaries before falling to a stunning catch by Phillips at backward point, out for 11.

With the pitch aiding New Zealand’s spinners, India endured a 51-ball stretch without a boundary until Axar swept Santner for four in the 16th over. Iyer then accelerated, sending O’Rourke to the boundary three times in succession with well-timed shots.

Iyer notched his 22nd ODI fifty with a well-constructed 79 off 75 balls, while Axar’s aggression paid off as he sent two fours and a six off Bracewell’s bowling. The partnership ended when Axar, trying to pull a delivery from Ravindra, was caught for 42.

KL Rahul entered the scoring column with a lofted four off Ravindra, while Iyer continued finding boundaries until a short ball from O’Rourke led to his top-edge being caught. Three overs later, Rahul fell for 23, edging a delivery from Santner behind to Tom Latham.

The slog phase kicked off with Pandya and Jadeja hitting Bracewell for six and four, respectively, before Pandya whacked another boundary off O’Rourke. He later connected for a powerful shot off Henry, but Jadeja was dismissed with a spectacular one-handed catch by O’Rourke.

New Zealand maintained tight lengths, keeping Pandya in check until he cut loose in the 49th over, striking back-to-back boundaries off Jamieson before hitting a six over long-on. However, Henry trapped him in the final over, securing his five-wicket haul and leaving India just one run short of 250—a target too strong for the Blackcaps to chase.

Brief Scores: India 249/9 in 50 overs (Shreyas Iyer 79, Hardik Pandya 45; Matt Henry 5-42) defeated New Zealand 205 in 45.3 overs (Kane Williamson 81, Mitchell Santner 28; Varun Chakaravarthy 5-42, Kuldeep Yadav 2-56) by 44 runs.