Matt Henry’s Five-Wicket Haul Restricts India to 249/9 Against New Zealand
New Zealand bowled sharply, with Matt Henry taking five wickets for 42 runs. India scored 249 runs for 9 wickets in 50 overs during the Champions Trophy 2025. This strong effort kept their total low. India batted first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. They had a hard time gaining momentum. New Zealand’s bowlers kept their control during the whole innings.
Early Breakthroughs Put India on the Back Foot
New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, won the toss and chose to bowl first. His team then showed great discipline in their bowling and sharpness in the field.
Key Powerplay Moments:
- Rohit Sharma (21) and Shubman Gill (9) dismissed within 6 overs
- Virat Kohli (11) fell to a spectacular catch by Glenn Phillips at backward point
- India reduced to 30/3 inside the first 10 overs
New Zealand quickly countered after Rohit Sharma’s fast start. They stopped India from building early momentum. Kohli, in his 300th ODI, aimed to counter-attack. But he fell to a stunning diving catch by Phillips.
Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel Rebuild with 98-Run Stand
India was in trouble at 30/3. But Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel stepped up. They carefully rebuilt the innings. Their partnership provided stability. Iyer steadied the innings, and Patel made important attacking plays.
Key Stats from the Partnership:
- 98-run stand for the 4th wicket
- Axar Patel scored 42 before being dismissed by Rachin Ravindra
- Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 79 before falling to William O’Rourke
Iyer looked ready for a century. But a bold shot got him out, shifting the momentum back to New Zealand.
Middle-Order Struggles and Matt Henry’s Dominance
Following Iyer’s dismissal, India struggled to accelerate in the death overs. KL Rahul (23) struggled to get going and fell to Santner. Ravindra Jadeja (16) was out too, thanks to a great diving catch by Kane Williamson.
Hardik Pandya fought back with a solid 45 runs. However, India could only score 64 runs in the last 10 overs. New Zealand tightened their grip during this time.
Matt Henry’s Match-Winning Spell:
- 5 wickets for 42 runs in 10 overs
- Dismissed key batters including Kohli and Pandya
- Crucial breakthroughs in the powerplay and death overs
India’s Final Score: 249/9 in 50 Overs
With a low score of 249, India is counting on its bowlers to defend it against a strong New Zealand batting lineup.