Shreyas fifty, Varun’s fifer help India beat NZ by 44 runs; Australia await in semifinals

DUBAI: Shreyas Iyer’s pressure-defying fifty and Varun Chakravarthy’s spin masterclass helped India script a 44-run win over New Zealand here on Sunday to top Group A, setting up the semifinal against Australia in the Champions Trophy.

Iyer made a composed 79 off 98 balls under pressure but New Zealand, led by pacer Mark Henry (5/42), managed to stifle India to an under-par 249 for nine.

Chasing 250 was not a tall order for New Zealand’s capable batting unit but they struggled against India’s spin quartet led by Chakravarthy (5/42) to be all out for 205 in 45.3 overs. Kane Williamson’s gritty 81 went in vain.