India have beaten New Zealand by 44 runs in a low-scoring contest at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to top group A in the Champions Trophy and set up a semi-final tie with Australia in the same arena.
Electing to field, New Zealand restricted India to 9-249 on Sunday with Matt Henry (5-42) leading their superb bowling display, backed up by their characteristic sharp catching.
Shreyas Iyer (79), Axar Patel (42) and Hardik Pandya (45) scored valuable runs but India still had to settle for a below-par total.
Varun Chakravarthy’s fine spin bowling then earned him 5-42, helping India bundle out New Zealand for 205 despite Kane Williamson’s classy 81 for the Black Caps.
It set up a rematch between the World Cup finalists in the first semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday, with New Zealand taking on South Africa in the second semi in Lahore the following day.
Star batter Virat Kohli enjoyed victory in his 300th one-day international, as he became one of only seven Indian cricketers to achieve the feat.
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