I’d say that’s enough from me. Many congratulations again to India, a wonderful side packed with class and clutch all-rounders. New Zealand, it’ll happen eventually.
I should add, my criticism of the tournament’s shape is not a pop at the players in that India side. Rohit Sharma remains remarkable at the top of the order – proved today – while that was an outstanding display from the spinners in the first innings. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy are magicians; Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are world-beating all-rounders. I could go on with the rest of them – they’re all outstanding, and you have to be to get into that XI. They’ve won this without Jasprit Bumrah and with Rishabh Pant on the bench. They are the best team in the world.
Rohit Sharma’s been named Player of the Match, while Rachin Ravindra – who still looks gutted – is named Player of the Tournament.
Congratulations to India, commiserations to New Zealand. Of course, it’s been hard to take this whole thing too seriously. India played every match at one venue, with the final taking place away from the host country. I’m not sure it’s a tournament that’ll live long in the memory of most neutrals; that final was decent but it wasn’t exactly a classic.
That looked as if it was going to be a procession after Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill’s century stand but a Glenn Phillips stunner in the field brought New Zealand back, their spinners bringing the dots. Shreyas Iyer (48) and Rahul (34*) were key, two men who were not part of the squad that won the T20 World Cup last year. A reminder of India’s depth.
KL Rahul’s got a decent poker face. He was the brilliant guiding hand at the end of the chase but it wasn’t easy: “I don’t think I can say this on camera but I was shitting myself.”
India win the Champions Trophy
Jadeja finishes the tournament, pulling away to the ropes to complete the job. It’s a four-wicket win and they finish the comp unbeaten. New Zealand fought hard, but India are a quality side.
49 overs: India 254-6 (Jadeja 9, Rahul 34)
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48.5 overs: India 250-6 (Jadeja 5, Rahul 34) Rahul pulls away for one. Two needed from seven.
48.2 overs: India 248-6 (Jadeja 4, Rahul 33) Why are the cameras panning to Jay Shah, the chair of the ICC?
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48.1 overs: India 247-6 (Jadeja 4, Rahul 32) O’Rourke’s yorker is dug out by Rahul behind point, producing two.
India need five from 11.
48th over: India 245-6 (Jadeja 4, Rahul 30) The electric Jadeja eases Indian concerns with a pair of twos.
India need seven from 12 balls.
WICKET! Pandya c&b Jamieson 19 (India 241-6)
It ain’t over! Jamieson rushes Pandya with a short one to catch the edge, the ball lobbing back to the bowler for a simple grab. He wasn’t dropping it this time.
India need 11 from 15 balls.
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47th over: India 240-5 (Pandya 18, Rahul 29) O’Rourke produces an awkward pull from Rahul but the ball lands safely in the leg side for one. A dot follows as Pandya swings hard but the right-hander makes contact not long after, thumping over extra cover for four. And then a chance for a run out! The ball runs to fine leg where Ravindra picks up and throws. But Latham takes down the stumps at the striker’s end when Pandya was struggling to get back to the non-striker’s.
It’s hard to see a way back for New Zealand now.
India need 12 from 18 balls.
46th over: India 231-5 (Pandya 13, Rahul 25) Pandya, who has been winding up for the big hit, nails a six down the ground to begin the over. But boundaries have not come in a flurry this match, so Ravindra gets things to go quiet again.
India need 21 from 24 balls.
45th over: India 220-5 (Pandya 6, Rahul 23) O’Rourke is back and he serves up a loosener, with KL Rahul driving through the offside for four. The gaps are found with the next two deliveries as well but O’Rourke bounces back to ensure there is no serious damage.
India need 32 from 30 balls.
44th over: India 212-5 (Pandya 5, Rahul 16) Santner does turn to Ravindra, New Zealand’s present and future. Pandya takes him for one but a dot follows. A short ball is cut to the deep for one more, the tension rising with every delivery. The tweaker continues to bowl too short but Nathan Smith protects him on the offside rope – Ravindra gets through without a boundary conceded.
India need 40 from 36 balls.
43rd over: India 206-5 (Rahul 14, Pandya 1) These two Indian batters are just waiting for the return of pace as Santner closes out his spell. He offers a rare wide but concedes just three. Does he now turn back to Ravindra, who still has two overs to go?
India need 46 from 42 balls.
42nd over: India 203-5 (Rahul 13, Pandya 0) Bracewell closes out a superb all-round display with a wicket over, his final figures two for 28.
India need 49 from 48 balls.
WICKET! Axar c O'Rourke b Bracewell 29 (India 203-5)
Silence in Dubai as New Zealand get Axar! The southpaw feeds O’Rourke a simple catch at long-off and Sunil Gavaskar, on commentary, is raging at that stroke.
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41st over: India 202-4 (Axar 29, Rahul 12) Santner continues, but Rahul relieves the pressure with a lofted drive down the ground for six. A staggering shot in the circumstances.
India need 50 from 54 balls.
40th over: India 191-4 (Axar 28, Rahul 2) Bracewell is back and tidy, too. There’s just one run off it as this game continues to swing.
India need 61 from 60 balls.
39th over: India 190-4 (Axar 28, Rahul 1) KL Rahul was a cool, calm head in the semi-final chase against Australia. Axar remains with him, the left-hander ending the over with a sweep for six to get the crowd going again.
India need 62 from 66 balls.
WICKET! Iyer c Ravindra b Santner 48 (India 183-4)
Santner’s back, ready to reapply the squeeze. He entices Iyer with flight but strikes with the shorter delivery! Iyer tries to swat away but the ball loops up and Ravindra takes a brilliant tumbling catch at short fine leg.
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“Do you know why Kane Williamson is off the field?” asks Ian Shepherd. “We could really do with his spin bowling tonight...” He’s got a quad strain, which is why Mark Chapman’s out there.
38th over: India 183-3 (Axar 22, Iyer 48) Axar’s been patient but he finds the ropes with a jab through midwicket off O’Rourke. Time for drinks again.
India need 69 from 72 balls.
37th over: India 176-3 (Axar 17, Iyer 46) Phillips continues, but Iyer’s seen enough of him now – a slog-sweep sails comfortably into the crowd. And then a drop! Oh dear, what a moment in this game. It should be a simple grab for Kyle Jamieson at long-on but he spills it as Iyer tries to go big again. That could be the game right there.
India need 76 from 78 balls.
36th over: India 166-3 (Axar 15, Iyer 38) This’ll be interesting. Pace returns, with O’Rourke called upon to, I presume, bump Iyer. It’s Axar who first gets the treatment, but he just about gets the pull shot away safely into a gap.
India need 86 from 84 balls.
35th over: India 161-3 (Axar 13, Iyer 35) Iyer gets annoyed with Axar after they fail to run through a single the former wanted. It’s a good over from Phillips, two off it as Iyer is annoyed again at the end of it, wanting a single but denied it by his partner.
India need 91 from 90 balls.
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34th over: India 159-3 (Axar 12, Iyer 34) Iyer and Axar are getting more comfortable against Bracewell – it’s time, I reckon, for Santner to return.
India need 93 from 96 balls.
33rd over: India 154-3 (Axar 10, Iyer 31) Phillips continues to twirl away, India happy to take him for ones … until he drops short and Iyer swipes away the ball past square leg and the fingertips of Mark Chapman.
India need 98 from 102 balls.
32nd over: India 145-3 (Axar 8, Iyer 24) Iyer swats Bracewell towards deep midwicket but O’Rourke, not for the first time tonight, does a hell of a job on the boundary, clawing the ball away to save two runs.
31st over: India 141-3 (Axar 7, Iyer 21) India’s required rate has climbed, getting closer to a run a ball. Phillips is taken for five singles.
30th over: India 136-3 (Axar 4, Iyer 19) Bracewell concedes three singles, his six overs so far having gone for just 17. He’s been quality all day.
29th over: India 133-3 (Axar 2, Iyer 18) Glenn Phillips, whose catch revived New Zealand, gets a go with his offies. Oh dear, a misfield from Will O’Rourke sees Will Young having to pick up the pieces and he hurts himself in the process.
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28th over: India 128-3 (Axar 0, Iyer 15) Iyer tries to break free, swinging for the hills against Bracewell … Will Young tries his best to haul the ball away at the deep midwicket rope, but his foot made contact with the boundary – it is a much-needed six for India.
27th over: India 122-3 (Iyer 9, Axar 0) Axar Patel is in and he’ll surely try and up the ante, especially if he gets fed a bit of left-arm spin. Ravindra is doing a top job, though, and he produces a wicket maiden. That’s 17 dots in a row!
WICKET! Rohit st Latham b Ravindra 76 (India 122-3)
Brilliant from New Zealand! The pressure of 11 dots tells as Rohit advances down the track to Ravindra for a big hit, misses, and is stumped by Latham. It’s been a stunning turnaround since the drinks break.
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26th over: India 122-2 (Rohit 76, Iyer 9) So very nearly a third wicket! Iyer tries to turn the ball into the leg side but gets an edge back to Bracewell … the ball drops just short of the bowler. It’s a maiden from the offie, making it 11 dots in a row. The DJ blasts some Taylor Swift to ease the tension.
25th over: India 122-2 (Rohit 76, Iyer 9) Ravindra nearly gets the ball to sneak under the sweep shot of Rohit, who is forced to play out five dots after Iyer’s single.
24th over: India 121-2 (Rohit 76, Iyer 8) Bracewell remains tidy, impressive for an offie bowling to two electric right-handers.
23rd over: India 117-2 (Rohit 73, Iyer 7) Ravindra returns as Santner holds himself back, with India taking just a couple of singles off the over. Two wickets and just 14 runs off the last five overs as New Zealand begin to stir.
22nd over: India 115-2 (Rohit 72, Iyer 6) Bracewell has got the ball on a string, finding turn, too. Suddenly the singles feel a bit more scrappy from India.
21st over: India 113-2 (Rohit 71, Iyer 5) Iyer pulls away Santner for four to get the crowd – a sea of blue shirts – shouting once again. An lbw shout follows but it’s a slider from Santner, going down the leg side.
20th over: India 108-2 (Rohit 70, Iyer 1) What did they talk about at drinks?
WICKET! Kohli lbw Bracewell 1 (India 106-2)
And off he goes back to the dressing room! Michael Bracewell strikes with his very first ball, Virat Kohli gone lbw trying to whip the off-spinner into the leg side. The batter reviews but it’s three reds. A mahoosive wicket. Game on!
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19th over: India 106-1 (Rohit 69, Kohli 1) Out comes Virat.
WICKET! Gill c Phillips b Santner 31 (India 105-1)
A stunner from one of the best fielders in the world! Gill tries to tuck into Santner but Glenn Phillips leaps at short extra cover and plucks the ball out of the air, one-handed, at 12 o’clock. He’s ridiculous. New Zealand needed that desperately, but they need plenty more.
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18th over: India 103-0 (Rohit 69, Gill 29) Will O’Rourke does really well at long-on to deny Gill four off Ravindra but this is India’s match at drinks.
17th over: India 100-0 (Rohit 68, Gill 27) A single down the ground brings up a century stand for Rohit and Gill as Santner continues, half of his overs gone before the arrival of the middle order. It’ll surely be time for Michael Bracewell soon, his confidence presumably high after a fine knock with the bat.
16th over: India 97-0 (Rohit 67, Gill 25) Ravindra is guided calmly for four singles, no risks required.
15th over: India 93-0 (Rohit 65, Gill 23) Santner, just a touch short, is pulled away by Rohit for four before the openers knock about ones. I just can’t see a New Zealand victory from here.
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14th over: India 86-0 (Rohit 59, Gill 22) Gill, who has been taking his time, finally cuts loose, gracefully slotting Ravindra down the ground for six to end the over.
13th over: India 76-0 (Rohit 56, Gill 15) Sky Sports’ coverage has stopped – with an apology for the loss of pictures … though we’re now back. Santner concedes five.
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12th over: India 71-0 (Rohit 55, Gill 11) It was around this period of New Zealand’s innings that the top-order wickets tumbled. Ravindra gets Rohit to err … but there’s no slip waiting for the outside edge. Rohit ends up finding the boundary.
11th over: India 65-0 (Rohit 50, Gill 10) Rohit has a half-century off just 41 deliveries, getting there with a single off Santner. That’s the only the run off the over, with turn found at the end of it to beat the bat of Gill.
10th over: India 64-0 (Rohit 49, Gill 10) Rachin Ravindra gets to twirl, too, though he won’t provide the same threat as Santner. Mark Chapman, on as a sub fielder, makes a terrific stop in the covers to deny Gill a boundary. Kane Williamson is off the field for New Zealand, rocking a bib on the bench.
9th over: India 60-0 (Rohit 47, Gill 8) Santner, as predicted, is on to turn the ball away from the right-handers – or just get it to slide on and attack the front pad. It’s a beautiful first over from the left-armer, with Rohit forced into the forward defence, a sign of respect.
8th over: India 59-0 (Rohit 47, Gill 7) Another six from Rohit brings up 50 for India, with Smith struck straight down the ground. Then comes a remarkable lap shot for four before the over ends with a cut to the ropes. Rohit has 47 of India’s 59 runs.
7th over: India 45-0 (Rohit 33, Gill 7) Dropped! Gill whips Jamieson to give Mitchell a chance at midwicket, diving out to his right. But he can’t pull off the one-hander. To make it worse for New Zealand, Rohit pulls away for four to continue his domination of this opening stand.
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6th over: India 39-0 (Rohit 28, Gill 6) So much for that quiet period. Nathan Smith is introduced into the attack and Rohit skips down the pitch to thump over long-on for six. I reckon it won’t be long before we see Mitch Santner take the ball.
5th over: India 31-0 (Rohit 21, Gill 5) After that early Rohit blitz, things have calmed down just a bit. Gill nearly breaks free against Jamieson with a cut to end the over but finds the man at cover.
4th over: India 30-0 (Rohit 20, Gill 5) Another leg-side wide arrives from O’Rourke before Rohit is treated by a doc. Rachin Ravindra cuts off a boundary after Gill swats away off his hip. There’s an lbw shout to close the over but O’Rourke’s angle is taking the ball away from leg stump.
3rd over: India 25-0 (Rohit 20, Gill 1) A quieter over as Rohit dominates the strike. His younger partner, Shubman Gill, has faced just a couple of deliveries.
2nd over: India 22-0 (Rohit 18, Gill 0) Jamieson from one end, another hulking quick from the other: Will O’Rourke steams in and delivers back-to-back leg-side wides before Rohit flicks away a full delivery for four. The same stroke brings him two more, with O’Rourke failing to find the right channel. When the quick does find the line outside off, Rohit drives through the covers for four. The veteran is racing away.
1st over: India 9-0 (Rohit 8, Gill 0) Trademark Rohit: Jamieson goes short with his second ball and India’s captain pulls him away for six. The next ball is clipped nicely for a couple, nine the damage from the over.
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Time for the chase. Kyle Jamieson has the ball, Rohit Sharma the strike. Early wickets are required to make this a proper contest.
Shankar Mony writes in:
I am an Indian fan, but more a cricket fan. I am finding all these repeated statements of India’s advantage a bit tedious. I completely agree that playing in one ground and not having to travel is a massive advantage. But people have to understand that this arrangement was NOT because of the BCCI’s financial power, but because of the relationship between India and Pak politically. It was not too long ago that England cancelled a whiteball series due to security. Teams like NZ, who everyone loves, and SL, who are also beloved, have had explosions and shootings to cope with. However unsatisfactory it is that India is not in Pak, surely safety is more important. I agree with some other analysts who said India should hve played in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai, or the other teams should have had bigger squads. The BCCI is a bully and the long term signs from cricket outside the Big 3 is gloomy. But this particular imbalance has a bit of nuance to it. Go Kiwis!
My frustration here is that the BCCI – correct me if I’m wrong – has not released a public statement/press release explaining the actual reasoning for not travelling to Pakistan. That in itself is a demonstration of power.
Rachin Ravindra tucked in during the powerplay, Michael Bracewell had fun at the death. But Daryl Mitchell had it tough, unable to lay into India’s spin quartet during the middle overs. Chakravarthy and Kuldeep, the two wrist spinners, shared four wickets while Axar and Jadeja, the two left-armers, went at under four an over. It’s not turned a great deal – they were just too accurate.
New Zealand set India target of 252
50th over: New Zealand 251-7 (Bracewell 53, Smith 0) Shami closes the innings, with Bracewell finding four off the first ball before Nathan Smith is greeted with a fierce, tailing yorker that floors the No 9. Bracewell ramps a ball way outside off to run two and reach a crucial half-century off just 39 balls. A cracking knock that helps New Zealand past 250. But with no Matt Henry to call upon, I’m not sure it’ll be enough against this Indian batting lineup.
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WICKET! Santner run out Kohli/Rahul 8 (New Zealand 239-7)
Hardik Pandya returns, having not bowled since the 20th century. Bracewell gets a proper hold of him, heaving away over the leg side for six. Jadeja – everything everywhere all at once (in the field) – pulls off a diving stop in the deep to stop a boundary. Santner is run out off the final ball of the over, keeping Bracewell at the striker’s end for the last set.
49th over: New Zealand 239-7 (Bracewell 42, Smith 0)
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48th over: New Zealand 227-6 (Bracewell 35, Santner 4) Excellent work from Ravindra Jadeja at third means New Zealand can’t run two, his flat, bullet throw not one to take a chance on. Santner and Bracewell can’t get under Shami’s full deliveries but Bracewell gets inventive, walking across his stumps to flick the ball to the fine-leg rope.
47th over: New Zealand 216-6 (Bracewell 27, Santner 2) Kuldeep concedes one off his first four balls before Bracewell tries to go inside-out over extra cover – the ball lands safely in the field to produce just a couple.
46th over: New Zealand 212-6 (Bracewell 24, Santner 1) The skipper is in, with two southpaws to give it a swing at the backend.
WICKET! Mitchell c Rohit b Shami 63 (New Zealand 211-6)
Daryl Mitchell finds the rope, pulling away Shami to deep midwicket. The quick is the target for New Zealand and he’s heaved away by Mitchell behind square on the leg side for another four. But then comes the wicket, a pace-off delivery hit to Rohit at cover. Mitchell fought hard against an onslaught of spin.
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45th over: New Zealand 201-5 (Bracewell 24, Mitchell 53) Chakravarthy, hobbling from a blow to the foot a few overs go, delivers his final over and remains unhittable. His movement into the right-hander has caused so much grief today – he finishes with two for 45 off 10 overs, limping off the field after collecting his hat.
44th over: New Zealand 196-5 (Bracewell 21, Mitchell 51) Mohammed Shami is back, a sight that will be welcomed by New Zealand after the excellence of India’s spinners. But Mitchell, trying to stand tall and heave away, can’t find the middle. Bracewell is cut off on the leg side boundary so he decides to go over it – Shami is pulled away by the southpaw for a much-needed six.
43rd over: New Zealand 184-5 (Bracewell 11, Mitchell 50) A boundary after long last as Bracewell sweeps Kuldeep away for four – but it’s still only six off the over.
42nd over: New Zealand 178-5 (Bracewell 6, Mitchell 50) Ian Smith makes things clear on comms: someone has to go big now for New Zealand. Out comes the forward defence from Mitchell to Chakravarthy. The next ball is a walloped straight drive, but Chakravarthy’s foot gets in the way, causing the bowler a bit of bother. Mitchell reaches his half-century from 91 balls but there’s plenty of work still to do – he remains unable to cut loose.
41st over: New Zealand 175-5 (Bracewell 5, Mitchell 49) Bracewell and Mitchell get in each other’s way while trying to run a single; Jadeja’s throw misses the stumps at the non-striker’s end, with Bracewell a goner if it had hit. Mitchell continues to play deft sweeps, the big shot still waiting to come out. They take just three off Kuldeep.
40th over: New Zealand 172-5 (Bracewell 3, Mitchell 48) Ravindra Jadeja’s mechanical work comes to a close – blindfold him and he’d still land it on a spot. Mitchell and Bracewell work the ones and Jadeja finishes his 10 overs with figures of one for 30. Immaculate.
39th over: New Zealand 168-5 (Bracewell 1, Mitchell 46) Kuldeep beats the bat of Bracewell with a beaut and concedes just three.
38th over: New Zealand 165-5 (Bracewell 0, Mitchell 44) At what point does Mitchell go for it? Is he capable of going for it, having played conservatively for 80 deliveries while not looking at his best?
WICKET! Phillips b Chakravarthy 34 (New Zealand 165-5)
Phillips handles Chakravarthy nicely, carving away for a couple of twos. He’s not the man to go after … and then comes the wicket. Sorry, Glenn. The googly does for Phillips, the stumps knocked back. It was a wicked delivery from the unreadable bowler.
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37th over: New Zealand 161-4 (Phillips 30, Mitchell 44) Axar gives the ball some air-time, and Mitchell gets down to sweep for one. Phillips nearly offers a grab by throwing his hands out for the drive. Five runs come off the over, this partnership now worth more than 50.
Nathan Green writes in: “Not exactly a great advertisement for the game. To be fair though, it’s not a rank turner. Just four very good bowlers being made to look unplayable.”
36th over: New Zealand 156-4 (Phillips 28, Mitchell 41) Another drop! The fourth of the innings by my count. Phillips pulls Jadeja over the leg side, Shubman Gill is there for the dive by the ropes at deep midwicket and … he can’t hold on.
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35th over: New Zealand 153-4 (Phillips 26, Mitchell 40) Mitchell survives as Rohit drops a one-hander at midwicket inside the ring. Again, it was another stroke from Mitchell where he couldn’t find his usual power.
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34th over: New Zealand 149-4 (Phillips 25, Mitchell 37) Mitchell just can’t seem to find the middle even when he sets up for the big leg-side shot. Jadeja bowls another very Jadeja over.
33rd over: New Zealand 147-4 (Phillips 24, Mitchell 36) Axar bowls another very Axar over.
32nd over: New Zealand 143-4 (Phillips 22, Mitchell 34) Phillips is trying his best to revive New Zealand here, pulling away Jadeja for four. The No 6 plays from quite deep in his crease, so he’s quick on to anything just a tad short.
31st over: New Zealand 138-4 (Phillips 18, Mitchell 33) Axar’s parsimonious work continues – he’s gone for just 16 off his five overs.
30th over: New Zealand 135-4 (Phillips 17, Mitchell 32) Mitchell is showing signs of trying to up the ante, wanting to swat away anything dragged down, but he still only has one boundary from 59 deliveries.
29th over: New Zealand 131-4 (Phillips 16, Mitchell 29) Phillips is beginning to add some aggression to New Zealand’s innings, punching Kuldeep off the back foot through the covers for four.
28th over: New Zealand 126-4 (Phillips 12, Mitchell 28) Ravindra, my guy, please slow down – I can’t type this quickly. Just three off another rapid over from the left-armer.
27th over: New Zealand 123-4 (Phillips 10, Mitchell 27) Finally, an almighty thump! Phillips sees Kuldeep flight one up and sends it down the ground for a straight six. The comeback begins …
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26th over: New Zealand 116-4 (Mitchell 26, Phillips 4) Jadeja and Axar should time their overs and have a little competition. The former races through his to concede a couple. Phillips isn’t going to try and whack it from the off, recognising that there’s still plenty of time here.
25th over: New Zealand 114-4 (Phillips 3, Mitchell 25) We’re halfway through the innings; even 250 would be a top achievement from here.
24th over: New Zealand 110-4 (Phillips 1, Mitchell 23) Glenn Phillips is in, a little too early for New Zealand’s liking.
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WICKET! Latham lbw Jadeja 14 (New Zealand 108-4)
Jadeja gets Latham this time round. He threatened it minutes ago and this time the lbw is plumb, with Latham failing to make contact with a sweep. New Zealand opt for a review, a call that’s more to do with the match situation rather than the actual delivery. It’s three reds; India are in complete control.
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23rd over: New Zealand 107-3 (Latham 14, Mitchell 21) Chakravarthy catches Mitchell off balance with a hooping inswinger, and even when the tweaker gets the length wrong the movement can save him – Mitchell can’t cause any damage from a full toss.
22nd over: New Zealand 104-3 (Latham 14, Mitchell 18) Jadeja finds the front pad of Latham and the spinner’s very excited … it looks out to me. Paul Reiffel says no so India go upstairs … it’s shown to be going over the stumps. Great call from the umps.
21st over: New Zealand 102-3 (Latham 13, Mitchell 17) I, once again, must report on not much. Boundaries have become non-existent due to India’s tight lines. Chakravarthy hops in and concedes just one.
20th over: New Zealand 101-3 (Latham 12, Mitchell 17) Ravindra Jadeja is fourth in India’s queue of spinners, which is quite frightening. He concedes two singles as New Zealand reach three figures. What would Santner be happy with? 260-270?
19th over: New Zealand 99-3 (Latham 11, Mitchell 16) Chakravarthy returns, the churn of singles continues. India’s tweakers refuse to offer anything loose.
18th over: New Zealand 95-3 (Latham 8, Mitchell 15) There’s a run-out shout from India at the non-striker’s end as Rohit Sharma hits … but Daryl Mitchell was comfortably home. Axar’s round-arm havoc is turned away for five singles. New Zealand still have a decent run rate of 5.28. The boundaries have dried up but they’ll have done well if they keep knocking the spinners around for ones and twos.
17th over: New Zealand 90-3 (Latham 5, Mitchell 13) Mitchell, watching the turning ball like a hawk, deftly laps Kuldeep towards fine leg for a couple to close another economical over.
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16th over: New Zealand 85-3 (Latham 3, Mitchell 10) Blink and you’ll miss it. Axar runs through his overs quicker than I can type. Just two off it.
15th over: New Zealand 83-3 (Latham 2, Mitchell 9) Singles bookend another disciplined Kuldeep over. Time for drinks.
14th over: New Zealand 81-3 (Latham 1, Mitchell 8) Mitchell provides some resistance with a sweep to the boundary off Axar.
Tim Reah writes in: “I can’t wait for the next ICC tournament in Australia…with NZ insisting that they play all their games at the Basin. How enough is this different from a home final for India?”
13th over: New Zealand 77-3 (Latham 1, Mitchell 4) To state the obvious, New Zealand need a partnership here – the speed of it isn’t too important, particularly after their quick start.
WICKET! Williamson c&b Kuldeep 11 (India 75-3)
A huge moment in this final. Williamson gets forward to try and smother the spin and pick up a leg-side single; he ends up returning a catch to the relentless Kuldeep. New Zealand have lost three wickets for 18 runs.
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12th over: New Zealand 75-2 (Williamson 11, Mitchell 3) Axar Patel is next up in India’s spin playlist, running through his set quickly to concede just a couple.
11th over: New Zealand 73-2 (Williamson 10, Mitchell 2) Daryl Mitchell gets off the mark by tucking the ball around the leg-side corner for one. Mitchell, you may recall, hit two hundreds against India at the 2023 World Cup.
WICKET! Ravindra b Kuldeep 37 (New Zealand 69-2)
Ooops. Kuldeep Yadav enters the match and begins with a googly to flummox Ravindra, the stumps rattled, both openers gone.
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10th over: New Zealand 69-1 (Williamson 9, Ravindra 37) The remarkable Chakravarthy continues. His battle with Williamson should be fun; the No 3 reads the drift nicely to pick up a leg-side single. New Zealand will be pretty chuffed with that powerplay.
9th over: New Zealand 64-1 (Williamson 6, Ravindra 35) Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s greatest, meets Mohammed Shami with a backfoot punch through the covers for four.
8th over: New Zealand 58-1 (Williamson 1, Ravindra 34) Rohit called in Chakravarthy early knowing a wicket was required. The spinner has obliged.
WICKET! Young lbw Chakravarthy 15 (New Zealand 57-1)
Ravindra is given out on the field, caught down the leg side by Rahul off Chakravarthy. The batter reviews and the replay shows he was nowhere near it. And then Ravindra is dropped once again! He slog-sweeps Chakravarthy, doesn’t get a clean connection, and Shreyas Iyer, running around at deep midwicket, can’t hold on when diving forward. But here’s an actual, real, genuine wicket! Chakravarthy tosses one up and hits Young straight on the pad, with no review required. India finally have some joy.
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7th over: New Zealand 51-0 (Young 15, Ravindra 29) Shami looks more threatening against Ravindra when going around the wicket, producing an lbw shout early in the over. A touch too high. And then a drop! Ravindra tries to play through the leg side but the ball ends up going back to Shami, who can’t hold on in his follow through. The quick’s done some damage to his little finger and requires some brief medical attention. Young ends the over with a well-placed thump through the leg side, bringing up New Zealand’s fifty.
6th over: New Zealand 46-0 (Young 11, Ravindra 28) Rohit Sharma calls for Varun Chakravarthy, an admission of how well New Zealand have begun. The mystery tweaker begins awkwardly, his first ball running down the leg side and all the way to the boundary. Ravindra gets the sweep out to collect a couple.
Tom Weldhen writes in: “It’s a travesty that the BCCI rules world cricket with such impunity and gets to do whatever it wants. Really feel for the Pakistani fans, who turned up in great numbers for games not involving Pakistan. I’m sure everyone who is not Indian in world cricket hopes the kiwis can do it and it would be hella funny if they do!”
5th over: New Zealand 37-0 (Young 10, Ravindra 25) A stunner from Ravindra: he flicks a ball on off stump through midwicket, along the carpet, for four. Ravi Shastri and Nasser Hussain are gushing on comms. Mohammed Shami responds well, going around the wicket to find the outside edge … but the ball runs away to the boundary.
4th over: New Zealand 26-0 (Young 8, Ravindra 16) Pandya, key in this side as the only bit of seam support for Shami, begins well until dropping short – Ravindra hits a staggering pull over deep midwicket for six. A gorgeous punch through point follows for four, the crowd silent. Another pull, for four more, ends the over. He’s special, this kid.
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3rd over: New Zealand 10-0 (Young 7, Ravindra 2) Ravindra and Young can’t lace Shami to the boundary but they still run hard, taking four off the over.
“The only thing crueler than Henry missing out on the final is Pakistan the host country missing out on the final,” writes Nathan Green. “Oh wait, that’s farcical.”
2nd over: New Zealand 6-0 (Young 4, Ravindra 1) Hardik Pandya shares the new ball and begins with a leg-side wide to the in-form Rachin Ravindra. Four dots follow before Ravindra sneaks a single with a bunt into the covers.
1st over: New Zealand 4-0 (Young 4, Ravindra 0) Shami begins with a delicious outswinger to beat the bat of Young. The India quick is tight with his line … until the final ball of the over. Young sees some width and calmly carves behind point for four.
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India take to the field, Rachin Ravindra and Will Young follow. Mohammed Shami skips in …
New Zealand choosing to bat first can be explained by the difficulties they had chasing against India at this venue during the group stage. Interestingly, the Black Caps batted first in their 2015, 2019 and 2021 World Cup final defeats, too. Eeeek.
The teams
Nathan Smith replaces Henry which at least extends New Zealand’s batting depth. India are unchanged from their semi-final win over Australia.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke
New Zealand win the toss and will bat first
Ravi Shastri bellows into the mic before the coin flies. New Zealand win it and choose to bat first. Mitch Santner breaks the big news: Matt Henry, the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, has been ruled out after sustaining a shoulder injury in the semi-final against South Africa. A massive blow.
Preamble
The people I’m thinking of at the moment? The game’s obsessives in Lahore, the people who’d waited decades for a major tournament to come to Pakistan, the ones who shower as much love upon visitors as they do their own. That their own men exited quickly was disappointing; that they’ve had their final shipped off to Dubai is farcical.
India are a hell of a side regardless of conditions. But they have clearly benefited from not having to travel during the tournament, spending weeks examining a favourable square. Those who argue otherwise are kidding themselves. Rohit Sharma’s men begin as overwhelming favourites.
Enter New Zealand, a side looking to make that final step after a decade of near misses in white-ball cricket. Aside from the lost 50–over World Cup finals in 2015 and 2019, there was defeat in the T20 equivalent in late 2021. Mitchell Santner has led brilliantly in his first tournament as captain, his team packed with variety and still beholden to the old-world brilliance of Kane Williamson at No 3. They are up against it … but so were Australia 16 months ago.
I’ll be here to guide you through the entire game and, yes, I’ll cheer up eventually. Drop me a line with your thoughts, queries, song requests, whatever makes you happy.
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