India vs New Zealand 1st Innings Highlights, Champions Trophy 2025: Matt Henry Picks 5-Wicket Haul, India Set New Zealand Target of 250
Champions Trophy
The much-awaited Champions Trophy 2025 clash between India and New Zealand kicked off with an exciting opening innings on a thrilling pitch at The Oval in London. The stage was set for what promised to be an intense battle between two cricketing giants, and it didn’t disappoint. After winning the toss, New Zealand opted to bowl first, and the decision quickly seemed to pay dividends as the Indian top order was tested early on by a fiery New Zealand bowling attack led by Matt Henry.
Early breakthroughs by New Zealand
New Zealand’s decision to bowl first proved to be a calculated one as Matt Henry, in particular, displayed his class with the ball. The fast bowler from Canterbury was at his best right from the start, swinging the ball both ways and causing trouble for the Indian batsmen. India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, who have been in fantastic form, looked to get off to a solid start. However, the New Zealand bowlers had other plans.
Henry struck in the 5th over, sending Shubman Gill back to the pavilion for a well-made 22. It was a delivery that swung late, finding the outside edge, and the ball flew into the safe hands of Tom Latham behind the stumps. New Zealand had struck early, and it was clear that India had to rebuild carefully.
Rohit Sharma, the experienced Indian opener, remained steady at the crease. However, the pressure mounted as Matt Henry continued to extract movement off the surface. The pressure told in the 12th over, where Henry got one to rise and angle into Sharma, who edged it to the slip fielder. Rohit was dismissed for just 33, and New Zealand had reduced India to 55-2.
Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer try to stabilize
With the top order in trouble, the responsibility now rested on two of India’s best batsmen – Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. Both players are known for their ability to construct innings in difficult conditions, and they did not disappoint. Kohli, in particular, looked in sublime touch, playing his trademark cover drives and flicks, while Iyer showed his composure, working the ball into gaps and rotating strike efficiently.
However, the partnership was short-lived. As they looked to counter-attack and steady the ship, Matt Henry delivered another beauty to dismiss Shreyas Iyer for 29. It was a ball that nipped back into Iyer, and he was caught in front of the stumps. New Zealand’s dominance was becoming evident, as they now had India on the back foot at 95-3.
Kohli was still standing firm, but with the scoreboard pressure mounting, the Indian middle-order was soon under pressure. Hardik Pandya came in to join Kohli at the crease, and the pair managed to add some crucial runs. Pandya, known for his aggressive batting, looked to accelerate the innings, but it was clear that New Zealand’s bowlers were making life difficult for the Indians.
Matt Henry’s magical 5-wicket haul
The 25th over saw the turning point of the match, as Matt Henry came back into the attack to further tighten his grip on the Indian innings. After having already taken the crucial wickets of Sharma, Iyer, and Gill, Henry was on a mission to complete his five-wicket haul. His spell was a masterclass in fast bowling, with the ball swinging both ways, varying his pace, and extracting bounce from the pitch.
Hardik Pandya, attempting to cut loose, found himself trapped LBW by one such delivery from Henry. He fell for 17, leaving India at a precarious 123-4. The situation became more dire for India as New Zealand’s bowlers continued to dictate the terms.
Henry’s relentless spell continued, and it wasn’t long before he struck again. He got the big wicket of Virat Kohli in the 33rd over, dismissing the Indian captain for 56. The delivery was a perfect example of Henry’s skill, as he swung the ball late and Kohli was caught off guard, edging it to second slip. It was a crucial wicket, and with it, New Zealand now had India in trouble at 142-5.
Lower-order resistance and India’s fightback
With the top-order back in the pavilion, it was now up to India’s lower-order batsmen to try and stabilize the innings. Rishabh Pant, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman, came in to join Ravindra Jadeja at the crease. Both players knew the importance of building a partnership and pushing India to a defendable total.
Pant, known for his fearless batting, attempted to break free, hitting a few boundaries. However, New Zealand’s disciplined bowlers continued to frustrate India’s lower order. Ravindra Jadeja, the calm and collected left-hander, tried to hold one end up. But it was clear that Matt Henry had been the standout performer, as he returned to dismiss Pant for a quickfire 21, further tightening the noose around India’s neck. With Pant’s dismissal, India was 175-6, and the target of 250 seemed further away.
The tail-enders, including Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Shami, couldn’t last long against Henry’s barrage, and the New Zealand fast bowler wrapped up India’s innings with his fifth wicket – Shardul Thakur for 5 – bringing an end to India’s innings at 198 all-out in 47.2 overs.
New Zealand’s chase
New Zealand set out to chase a target of 250, a target that many felt was more than achievable given the conditions and the firepower in their lineup. However, it was Matt Henry’s sensational bowling performance that stole the show. His 5-wicket haul played a pivotal role in breaking the back of India’s batting order, leaving them with a steep total to defend.
India’s chances of winning now lay on the shoulders of their bowlers, especially the pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, who will be looking to extract early breakthroughs in the New Zealand chase. The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to what has already been an action-packed day of cricket.
In summary, Matt Henry’s remarkable 5-wicket haul helped New Zealand bowl India out for 198, with the Kiwis now needing to chase down 250 to win the match. As the game progresses, it’s clear that New Zealand’s bowlers will continue to be a force to reckon with, while India’s bowlers will need to rise to the occasion to defend their modest total.
India vs New Zealand 1st Innings Highlights, Champions Trophy 2025: Matt Henry Picks 5-Wicket Haul, India Set New Zealand Target of 250
The much-awaited Champions Trophy 2025 clash between India and New Zealand kicked off with an exciting opening innings on a thrilling pitch at The Oval in London. The stage was set for what promised to be an intense battle between two cricketing giants, and it didn’t disappoint. After winning the toss, New Zealand opted to bowl first, and the decision quickly seemed to pay dividends as the Indian top order was tested early on by a fiery New Zealand bowling attack led by Matt Henry.
Early breakthroughs by New Zealand
New Zealand’s decision to bowl first proved to be a calculated one as Matt Henry, in particular, displayed his class with the ball. The fast bowler from Canterbury was at his best right from the start, swinging the ball both ways and causing trouble for the Indian batsmen. India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, who have been in fantastic form, looked to get off to a solid start. However, the New Zealand bowlers had other plans.
Henry struck in the 5th over, sending Shubman Gill back to the pavilion for a well-made 22. It was a delivery that swung late, finding the outside edge, and the ball flew into the safe hands of Tom Latham behind the stumps. New Zealand had struck early, and it was clear that India had to rebuild carefully.
Rohit Sharma, the experienced Indian opener, remained steady at the crease. However, the pressure mounted as Matt Henry continued to extract movement off the surface. The pressure told in the 12th over, where Henry got one to rise and angle into Sharma, who edged it to the slip fielder. Rohit was dismissed for just 33, and New Zealand had reduced India to 55-2.
Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer try to stabilize
With the top order in trouble, the responsibility now rested on two of India’s best batsmen – Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. Both players are known for their ability to construct innings in difficult conditions, and they did not disappoint. Kohli, in particular, looked in sublime touch, playing his trademark cover drives and flicks, while Iyer showed his composure, working the ball into gaps and rotating strike efficiently.
However, the partnership was short-lived. As they looked to counter-attack and steady the ship, Matt Henry delivered another beauty to dismiss Shreyas Iyer for 29. It was a ball that nipped back into Iyer, and he was caught in front of the stumps. New Zealand’s dominance was becoming evident, as they now had India on the back foot at 95-3.
Kohli was still standing firm, but with the scoreboard pressure mounting, the Indian middle-order was soon under pressure. Hardik Pandya came in to join Kohli at the crease, and the pair managed to add some crucial runs. Pandya, known for his aggressive batting, looked to accelerate the innings, but it was clear that New Zealand’s bowlers were making life difficult for the Indians.
Matt Henry’s magical 5-wicket haul
The 25th over saw the turning point of the match, as Matt Henry came back into the attack to further tighten his grip on the Indian innings. After having already taken the crucial wickets of Sharma, Iyer, and Gill, Henry was on a mission to complete his five-wicket haul. His spell was a masterclass in fast bowling, with the ball swinging both ways, varying his pace, and extracting bounce from the pitch.
Hardik Pandya, attempting to cut loose, found himself trapped LBW by one such delivery from Henry. He fell for 17, leaving India at a precarious 123-4. The situation became more dire for India as New Zealand’s bowlers continued to dictate the terms.
Henry’s relentless spell continued, and it wasn’t long before he struck again. He got the big wicket of Virat Kohli in the 33rd over, dismissing the Indian captain for 56. The delivery was a perfect example of Henry’s skill, as he swung the ball late and Kohli was caught off guard, edging it to second slip. It was a crucial wicket, and with it, New Zealand now had India in trouble at 142-5.
Lower-order resistance and India’s fightback
With the top-order back in the pavilion, it was now up to India’s lower-order batsmen to try and stabilize the innings. Rishabh Pant, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman, came in to join Ravindra Jadeja at the crease. Both players knew the importance of building a partnership and pushing India to a defendable total.
Pant, known for his fearless batting, attempted to break free, hitting a few boundaries. However, New Zealand’s disciplined bowlers continued to frustrate India’s lower order. Ravindra Jadeja, the calm and collected left-hander, tried to hold one end up. But it was clear that Matt Henry had been the standout performer, as he returned to dismiss Pant for a quickfire 21, further tightening the noose around India’s neck. With Pant’s dismissal, India was 175-6, and the target of 250 seemed further away.
The tail-enders, including Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Shami, couldn’t last long against Henry’s barrage, and the New Zealand fast bowler wrapped up India’s innings with his fifth wicket – Shardul Thakur for 5 – bringing an end to India’s innings at 198 all-out in 47.2 overs.
New Zealand’s chase
New Zealand set out to chase a target of 250, a target that many felt was more than achievable given the conditions and the firepower in their lineup. However, it was Matt Henry’s sensational bowling performance that stole the show. His 5-wicket haul played a pivotal role in breaking the back of India’s batting order, leaving them with a steep total to defend.
India’s chances of winning now lay on the shoulders of their bowlers, especially the pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, who will be looking to extract early breakthroughs in the New Zealand chase. The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to what has already been an action-packed day of cricket.
In summary, Matt Henry’s remarkable 5-wicket haul helped New Zealand bowl India out for 198, with the Kiwis now needing to chase down 250 to win the match. As the game progresses, it’s clear that New Zealand’s bowlers will continue to be a force to reckon with, while India’s bowlers will need to rise to the occasion to defend their modest total.
