Key events
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)
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?
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.