Shreyas Iyer Fifty, Varun Chakravarthy Fifer Help India Beat NZ by 44 Runs; Australia Await In Semifinals
Shreyas Iyer's pressure-defying fifty and Varun Chakravarthy's spin masterclass helped India script a 44-run win over New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday to top Group A, setting up the semifinal against Australia in the Champions Trophy. Iyer made a composed 79 off 98 balls under pressure but New Zealand, led by pacer Mark Henry (5/42), managed to stifle India to an under-par 249 for nine. Chasing 250 was not a tall order for New Zealand's capable batting unit but they struggled against India's spin quartet led by Chakravarthy (5/42) to be all out for 205 in 45.3 overs. Kane Williamson's gritty 81 went in vain. India will face Australia, who finished second in Group B, in the first semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday while the Kiwis play South Africa in the other semifinal in Lahore on Wednesday.


