After Kane Williamson left the game after being out-stunted by KL Rahul, the final league stage match between India and New Zealand appeared evenly matched until the 40th over of the chase, but it ended in the Indian team’s favor. Mitchell Santner, the captain of New Zealand, refilled the Kiwi tank to keep the game going just as the Indians believed that winning was just a formality. The Indian team made a brief but decisive comeback into the game, though, thanks to Varun Chakravarthy, tonight’s hero with the ball, who didn’t let the situation slide.
Santner chose to bowl first during the match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. The team performed remarkably well, taking three wickets in 6.4 overs, and the scoreboard read 30/3 with India’s top order back in the dugout. But from then, Shreyas Iyer carried on having a great time against the BlackCaps, scoring 79 off of 98 deliveries.
Talking Points
1. Chakravarthy churns and turns
The leg-spinner was brought into the game as India’s only change to the Playing XI from the last couple of games where he replaced Rana. Churning and turning the most out of the opportunity, Chakravarthy delivered a match-winning performance, where he completed a five-wicket haul, breaking the resistance offered by BlackCaps’ middle-order. He also earned Player of the Match for this performance of 10-0-42-5.
2. Williamson accepts loss with a smile. Again
Giving it his all, and still being devoid of tasting gold. Such has been the story of Kane Williamson, and it was no different today. With his fighting 81 off 120 balls, Williamson had kept New Zealand in the hunt for so long. Alas, it was not meant to be! When Axar Patel deceived him and the keeper flicked off the bails with ease, it marked the end of the story for the Kiwis.
3. IND vs AUS; NZ vs SA come the semis
The semi-finalists had already been confirmed, however, the oppositions were dependent on the match result from this very game. As India finishing atop, Australia will be up against the formidable Men in Blue attack for the first of the semi-finals in Dubai on Tuesday. South Africa, on the other hand, will be facing New Zealand after finishing the league stage at the top of the table. Both the teams will now travel back to Lahore for the second semi-final at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Who Said What?
Varun Chakravarthy, Player of the Match, said
I did feel nervous in the initial stages. Not played a lot for India in ODIs, so was nervous. As the game progressed, felt better. Virat, Rohit, Shreyas, Hardik everyone was talking to me and asked me to calm down. Found out last night about play. Was expecting to play for the country and looking forward, but was nervous. It was not a rank-turner but if you bowled in the right places, it helped. The way Kuldeep, Jaddu, Axar bowled, even the pacers. it was a total team effort.
Rohit Sharma, India and Winning Captain, said
Very important for us to finish on a high. New Zealand a good side, playing well in the recent past. Axar-Shreyas partnership was important after losing wickets in the first powerplay. They got us to good total, with our quality bowlers, we had the confidence to defend that. Varun has got something different, wanted to try and see what he had to offer. We got to think a little about what to do for the next game, good headache. If he gets it right, very difficult to read him.
Momentum critical in such a short game. Try and win game, try and do everything right. Mistakes happen but correcting that is important. It is going to be a good game. Australia have a rich history of playing well in ICC tournaments. About us to do things right. We have to be focussed on what we need to do on that day. Looking forward to that, hopefully we can stitch one towards us.
Mitchell Santner, New Zealand and Losing Captain, said
“A slower wicket than what we have come up against. India controlled the middle phase. Shreyas batted well and Hardik finished off. Spun more than we thought, spun more than the other games here. Four quality spinners makes it tough. Key for us was wickets in the powerplay. Kane’s form nice for us. South Africa are a quality side. In those wickets with pace and bounce, they have good four pacers.”
India
