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India To Face New Zealand In ICC Champions Trophy Final

 

GUWAHATI: India will face New Zealand in the upcoming final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as the latter claimed a victory against South Africa in the second semi-final on Wednesday, March 5. The two sides had met earlier in the tournament, with India winning the tie by 44 runs.

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Winning the toss against South Africa, New Zealand opted to bat first, as centuries from Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra propelled the team to a total of 362/6. Rachin scored 108, while Williamson, during his knock of 102, became the first New Zealand batter to surpass 19,000 international runs. The duo stitched together a 164-run partnership.

Additional contributions from Daryl Mitchell (49) and Glenn Phillips (49*) helped the team go past the 350-run mark. South Africa chased the target of 363 until the final stages of the game, but eventually ran out of overs.

India’s rivalry with New Zealand throughout the decades has been an interesting one, with the Kiwis having won their only meeting in this tournament back in 2000. The final, to be held on Sunday, March 9, also presents an opportunity for India to gain one over New Zealand, following their 18-run defeat against the latter in the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final.

India’s Road to Final

India Beat Bangladesh by Six Wickets
India began its campaign with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in Dubai. Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul (5/53) helped bowl out Bangladesh for 228, despite a century from Towhid Hridoy (100). India’s chase was led by Shubman Gill, who remained unbeaten on 101, steering the team to victory.

India Defeat Pakistan by Six Wickets
In the high-stakes clash against rivals Pakistan, India registered a dominant win, effectively eliminating their rivals from the tournament. Pakistan, at one stage 151/2, collapsed to 241 all out, with Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav dismantling their lineup. In response, Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 100 guided India to victory in a one-sided contest.

India Win Against New Zealand by 44 Runs
India then secured a 44-run victory over New Zealand in its final group match. Despite an early batting collapse, Shreyas Iyer’s 79 helped India post 249/9. Varun Chakravarthy starred with the ball, taking 5/42 as New Zealand was bowled out for 205. The win ensured India topped Group A, setting up a semi-final clash with Australia.

Semi-final: India Beat Australia by Four Wickets
In the semi-final clash, India chased down Australia’s 265 with four wickets in hand. Virat Kohli anchored the innings with 84 off 98 balls, while Shreyas Iyer (45) and KL Rahul (42*) provided final contributions. Earlier, Australia’s batting faltered in the final overs, with Mohammed Shami and Varun Chakravarthy picking up crucial wickets.

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