Champions Trophy: Matt Henry Shines In Powerplay Again As New Zealand Strikes Early Against India

March 2, 2025: New Zealand pacer Matt Henry once again proved to be a thorn in India's side during the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy clash, showcasing his ability to dominate the powerplay. Henry, a consistent threat against India in ODIs, added two more wickets to his tally on Sunday, dismissing two key Indian batters: Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli.

Henry’s impeccable record against India in the early stages of the game now boasts an impressive 10 wickets in 48 overs at an average of 20.20, a strike rate of 28.8, and an economy rate of 4.20. These numbers underline his effectiveness with the new ball, particularly in the powerplay.

The Kiwi pacer made an immediate impact in this crucial match by dismissing the in-form Shubman Gill for just 2 runs. Gill, who had been in stellar form, couldn’t get going and fell early, providing New Zealand with an early breakthrough. Henry then struck again, sending Virat Kohli back to the pavilion. Kohli, who looked solid at the crease, was dismissed when Glenn Phillips took an outstanding acrobatic catch at point.

Earlier in the match, New Zealand's captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to make the most of the early conditions at the Dubai International Stadium. This match, the final group stage encounter for both teams, was critical in deciding the semifinal matchups, with South Africa and Australia having already secured the top spots in Group B.

New Zealand had a strong start to the tournament, with victories over Pakistan and Bangladesh, while India has been equally dominant, winning their matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan. However, India's progress was slowed by Henry’s deadly spell early in the innings.

As the first 20 overs came to a close, India found themselves at a precarious 78/3. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel, however, showed resilience, building a partnership of 49 runs and stabilizing the Indian innings after the early blows. Both Iyer and Patel remained at the crease, determined to guide India to a competitive total despite the challenging circumstances.

The match continues to unfold, and as India seeks to rebuild, they will look to the likes of Iyer, Patel, and the remaining batters to post a total that can put pressure on New Zealand’s disciplined attack. With the semifinal spots on the line, every run will be crucial for India as they aim to stay in the hunt for the Champions Trophy title.

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.

New Zealand (Playing XI): Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O'Rourke.