Under pressure, Shreyas Iyer displayed composure to score a half-century. However, New Zealand’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Mark Henry, effectively restricted India to a modest 249 for nine in their Champions Trophy Group A match on Sunday.
Iyer (79 from 98 balls) partnered with Axar Patel (42 from 61 balls) for a valuable 98-run stand for the fourth wicket. Hardik Pandya (45 from 45) also contributed with a rapid innings towards the end, aiding India in recovering from an early top-order collapse.
Henry was the standout bowler for New Zealand, claiming 5 wickets for 42 runs. New Zealand’s fielding was also exceptional, adding to India’s challenges. Unlike recent matches where the top order provided a solid foundation, Iyer had to rebuild the innings from scratch in this game. He executed this role flawlessly, reaching his fifty off 75 balls.
Iyer showcased his natural talent with some impressive shots, including a six off O’Rourke. Axar Patel provided solid support on a slow-paced pitch.
Axar’s dismissal came against the run of play when he attempted a scoop shot against Ravindra and was caught by Kane Williamson.
Iyer missed out on a century when he was caught pulling a delivery from O’Rourke.
KL Rahul, batting at number 6, showed promise with a score of 23 from 29 balls, including a six.
However, Tom Latham took a sharp catch behind the wickets off Mitchell Santner’s bowling to dismiss Rahul. Santner bowled a good spell, utilizing slower deliveries.
These dismissals hurt India’s momentum, but Hardik Pandya’s powerful hitting ensured India reached a total of 250.
Earlier in the innings, India struggled at 30 for 3, losing Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli cheaply.
Rohit Sharma began aggressively but was dismissed while attempting a pull shot.
Henry then dismissed Gill, trapping him leg before wicket. Kohli was caught by Glenn Phillips in the slips off Henry’s bowling.
The partnership between Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel provided much-needed stability to the Indian innings.
