DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Spinner Varun Chakravarthy did most of the damage as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs on Sunday to win Group A and set up a Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia.
Chakravarthy took 5-42 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, his first five-wicket haul in only his second one-day international.
India’s four-spinner attack shared nine wickets between them as New Zealand was bowled out for 205 runs in 45.3 overs after Shreyas Iyer earlier scored 79 runs off 98 balls to anchor India to a competitive 249-9 in 50 overs.
India won all three group games and will play Australia in the first semifinal on Tuesday, also in Dubai.
New Zealand faces Group B winner South Africa in the second semifinal on Wednesday in Lahore, Pakistan.
Star batter Virat Kohli took the field for his 300th one-day international. Kohli became only the seventh cricketer to represent India in 300 or more ODIs. Sachin Tendulkar leads the way with 463 ODIs – the most by any player in world cricket.
Both India and New Zealand had already qualified for the semifinals.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
The Associated Press
