India to Face Australia in Semifinals After Defeating NZ by 44 Runs

• Varun Chakaravarthy takes maiden ODI five-fer as India's spinners dominate
• India's quartet of spinners takes 9 for 156 to restrict New Zealand to 205
• Kane Williamson scores 81 but drops and missed opportunities cost NZ

India has secured a spot in the Champions Trophy semifinals, where they will face Australia. They defeated New Zealand by 44 runs in a match where India's spinners shone, restricting NZ to 205. Varun Chakaravarthy took his maiden ODI five-fer, while India's spinners collectively took 9 for 156.

Kane Williamson scored 81 for NZ, but dropped catches and missed opportunities cost them the match. India's total of 249 seemed modest, but the pitch offered more grip in the second innings, making it difficult for NZ's batters.

India's spinners, led by Varun Chakaravarthy, kept the pressure on NZ's batters, hardly ever leaving the stumps even on a turning track. This resulted in four middle-order batters being trapped in front of the stumps. Williamson tried to hold the chase together but was deceived in the flight and was stumped for 81.

Earlier, Matt Henry took 5 for 42, dismissing India's top order. Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma were all dismissed by Henry, leaving India at 30 for 3. However, Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer put the innings back on track with a 98-run partnership.

Iyer scored a crucial 75-ball half-century, but his insistence on going after the short ball led to his downfall. Hardik Pandya played a crucial innings of 45 lower down the order, forging a 41-run stand with Jadeja. Henry took two more wickets in the final over to finish with a five-fer, but it was eclipsed by Varun Chakaravarthy's performance.