- विज्ञापन -
Dubai: India’s spinners called the shots yet again on a slow pitch with just two degrees of turn as they restricted New Zealand to 251/7 in their 50 overs in the 2025 Champions Trophy final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
Electing to bat first, New Zealand began well, before losing their first five wickets to Indian spinners bowling 38 overs collectively, with Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy taking two wickets each, while Ravindra Jadeja had a scalp to his name.
It took half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell (a gritty 63 off 101 balls) and Michael Bracewell (a quickfire 53 not out off 40 balls) to help New Zealand cross the 250-run mark, as the Blackcaps smashed 79 runs in the last 10 overs.
With Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya getting little bit of movement, Will Young and Rachin Ravindra made a watchful start by hitting only one boundary in the first three overs. Ravindar got going by pulling twice and square-driving once to take two fours and a six in a 16-run fourth over off Pandya.
Mitchell hit Shami for two boundaries, before lofting to extra cover and falling for 63. Bracewell heaved Pandya for six, though captain Mitchell Santner was run-out for eight while trying to take a second run. Bracewell reached his fifty in 39 balls as New Zealand crossed the 250-mark, with 12 runs coming off the final over.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 251/7 in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 63, Michael Bracewell 53 not out; Kuldeep Yadav 2-40, Varun Chakaravarthy 2-45) against India
