India will face Australia in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Tuesday after defeating New Zealand by 44 runs in their final group-stage match. New Zealand will head to Lahore to take on South Africa in the second semi-final on Wednesday.
Varun Chakravarthy starred for India, claiming 5 wickets for 42 runs to help his team top Group A on Sunday. South Africa, the Group B leaders, will now face New Zealand in Lahore. Kane Williamson fought hard with 81 runs but was dismissed by Axar Patel, while Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each.
India remains cautious about Australia, who, despite missing key players, remain a formidable opponent. The two sides last met in an ICC 50-over tournament during the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where Australia emerged victorious in Ahmedabad.
Earlier in the match, Shreyas Iyer played a steady innings under pressure, scoring a vital fifty. However, New Zealand’s pacer Mark Henry led the bowling attack, restricting India to a modest 249 for nine. Despite the low total, India’s bowlers ensured a comfortable victory, setting up a high-stakes clash against Australia in the semi-finals.
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