DUBAI: Spinner Varun Chakravarthy returned figures of 5-42 as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs on Sunday to set up a semifinal clash with Australia in the Champions Trophy.
India won all three of their group matches to top Group A and will play the first semifinal of the 50-over tournament in Dubai on Tuesday.
New Zealand will take on Group B winners South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday.
India are playing all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan due to security reasons.
Australia and South Africa had to travel to Dubai from Pakistan despite not knowing if they would be playing there, as India were told ahead of the tournament they would play the first semifinal if they qualified no matter where they finished in the group.
South Africa will now have to fly back to Pakistan ahead of their meeting with New Zealand.
Shreyas Iyer’s 79 and a late 45 by Hardik Pandya steered India to 249-9 after being invited to bat first.
New Zealand pace bowler Matt Henry stood out with figures of 5-42 from his eight overs.
Chakravarthy took his first ODI five-wicket haul in just his second match as India bowled out New Zealand for 205 in 45.3 overs despite a valiant 81 by Kane Williamson.
Williamson survived two dropped catches on 17 and 68 in his 120-ball knock before he finally fell, stumped off Axar Patel.
New Zealand lost Rachin Ravindra early as Patel took a superb catch to dismiss the opener for six.
Chakravarthy cut short Will Young’s innings on 22 when he bowled him with a googly.
Williamson stood firm but could not find a long-term partner as Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham were dismissed for 17 and 14 respectively.
India’s spinners dominated in helpful conditions, as Kuldeep Yadav sent back Mitchell and Ravindra Jadeja trapped Latham lbw.
In between the two wickets, Williamson hit Jadeja for a boundary to raise his 47th ODI half-century but India kept taking wickets.
Earlier, India were in trouble at 30-3 when Virat Kohli, playing in his 300th one-day international, fell victim to a stunning one-handed catch from Glenn Phillips.
An airborne Phillips clung on to a fast-traveling ball at backward point to dimiss Kohli for 11 off Henry.
Kohli was left standing in disbelief before trudging off the ground to stunned silence.
Iyer and Patel, who made 42, put on 98 for the fourth wicket to rebuild the innings against a disciplined New Zealand attack.
Another stunning catch, this time by Williamson, who flung himself to his left at backward point to make a one-handed grab close to the ground, dismissed Jadeja for 16 off Henry.
Pandya struck four fours and two sixes in his run-a-ball innings to give India a total which proved to be enough.
Chakravarthy stars as India set up Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia in Dubai
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Chakravarthy stars as India set up Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia in Dubai
- India won all three of their group matches to top Group A and will play the first semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday
- India are playing all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan
DXB Live and Arabian Warrior launch new Dubai urban obstacle racing series
- First edition of ‘The Urbanator’ is set to kick off in March 2026
DUBAI: DXB Live, the integrated event management and experiential agency of Dubai World Trade Centre, has signed an agreement with Arabian Warrior to launch “The Urbanator,” a groundbreaking urban obstacle racing series that will take place against the backdrop of the city’s skyline, districts, and public spaces in March of next year.
Debuting during the Holy Month of Ramadan, The Urbanator will introduce a reimagined obstacle racing format that shifts the sport from rugged outdoor terrains into the vibrant heart of the city, combining sport, culture, and urban exploration.
Participants will take on challenges across architectural landmarks, rooftop climbs, street-level runs, and giant elevated obstacles designed to highlight Dubai’s dynamic urban identity.
The series will feature both daytime and nighttime races, including races aligned with iftar timings, ensuring wide community participation from elite athletes to families, students, corporate teams, and first-time runners. Race routes will stretch approximately 5 km across key districts.
Abdulrahman Abu Al-Shawareb, president of the UAE Obstacle Sports Federation, said: “We congratulate this strategic partnership between DXB Live and Arabian Warrior, which represents a significant step forward in the development of obstacle racing in the UAE. ‘The Urbanator’ series introduces an innovative concept that redefines the sport by bringing it into the heart of the city, reflecting the UAE’s spirit of challenge, innovation, and creating new community experiences.
“The federation is committed to building a comprehensive ecosystem that elevates this sport to world-class standards,” he added. “We will continue to support initiatives that empower local talent, expand participation across the community, and strengthen the UAE’s position as a regional and global leader in urban obstacle racing.”
Khalid Al-Hammadi, executive vice president, DXB Live, said: “We are pleased to enter this partnership with Arabian Warrior, which marks an important milestone in expanding our portfolio of innovative sports events and strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for urban obstacle racing. Bringing this new race format into the heart of the city aligns with our vision to develop inclusive sports experiences that blend entertainment, fitness, and the spirit of challenge, while contributing to Dubai’s leadership in hosting world-class sporting events.”
Nick Cartwright, CEO, Arabian Warrior, said he was “proud” to collaborate with DXB LIVE to launch this concept in Dubai.
“Through this partnership, we aim to deliver an unprecedented sports experience that combines physical challenge with urban exploration,” he said. “We are confident that this initiative will contribute to strengthening the UAE’s position as a leader in modern challenge-based sports.”
The partnership follows the establishment of the UAE Obstacle Sports Federation, a key milestone in supporting the growth of obstacle racing and elevating its standards nationwide.
DXB Live and Arabian Warrior aim to launch the first race in March 2026, followed by a wider expansion of events across the UAE and beyond.
