Champions Trophy final: India’s top order stumbles in pursuit of 252-run target

DUBAI: New Zealand set a target of 252 runs for India to win in the ICC Champions Trophy final.

The match between India and New Zealand is being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first.

Batting first, New Zealand posted 251 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their allotted overs, giving India a target of 252 runs to chase.

India’s captain led from the front with impressive innings, scoring 76 runs off 3 sixes and 7 fours. India lost their first wicket at a total of 105 runs when Shubman Gill was dismissed for 31.

New Zealand’s bowlers struck again quickly, removing Virat Kohli for just 1 run. India’s third wicket also fell to Kohli, who had shown glimpses of his usual brilliance.

India’s fourth wicket fell at a total score of 183, with Shreyas Iyer departing for 48 runs. The fifth wicket fell at 203 runs when Axar Patel was dismissed after contributing 29 runs.

Earlier, New Zealand’s innings started cautiously. Their first wicket fell at 57 when opener Will Young was dismissed for 15 by Varun Chakravarthy. The second wicket fell at 69, with Rachin Ravindra scoring 37 before being bowled by Kuldeep Yadav.

Captain Kane Williamson couldn’t stay long at the crease, managing only 11 runs before being sent back at a total of 75 — another victim of Kuldeep Yadav.

New Zealand’s fourth wicket fell at 108, with Tom Latham getting out LBW to Ravindra Jadeja after scoring 14 runs. The fifth wicket fell at 165 when Glenn Phillips was bowled by Varun Chakravarthy for 34.

Daryl Mitchell was the top scorer for New Zealand, making 63 runs before being dismissed at a total of 211. The seventh wicket fell at 239 runs, closing New Zealand’s innings at 251.

At the toss, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner revealed that bowler Matt Henry was ruled out of the final due to injury. He noted the pitch looked good and was similar to the one used in their previous match against India.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged New Zealand’s strength and stated that batting second wouldn’t make much of a difference.

It’s worth mentioning that 25 years ago, in the second edition of the ICC Champions Trophy final in Nairobi, New Zealand defeated India by four wickets, thanks to Chris Cairns’ remarkable century.