New Zealand Financial News

Shreyas Iyer and a fiery cameo by Hardik Pandya towards the end powered India to a solid total of 249/9 on a tough Dubai wicket during their ICC Champions Trophy final group stage match on Sunday. After India collapsed to 30/3, the middle order held the innings together for India. India needs to defend 250 runs to end the group stage with three wins in three matches. After NZ won the toss and elected to bowl first, India was dealt an early setback, as Shubman Gill was trapped leg before wicket by Matt Henry for just two in seven balls. India was 15/1 in 2.5 overs.

For India, Virat Kohli is set to make his 300th ODI appearance, and he will be eager to make a mark after his match-winning century against Pakistan. Shubman Gill currently leads India’s batting charts in the tournament with 147 runs, while Mohammed Shami has been the standout bowler with five wickets to his name. On the New Zealand side, Tom Latham is leading the run-scoring charts with 173 runs, supported by Rachin Ravindra and Will Young. The Kiwi bowling unit, led by Michael Bracewell and William O'Rourke, has also been effective, each picking up five wickets in the tournament.

India will aim to go into knockouts unbeaten when they face New Zealand in the final group encounter at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai today. Both India and New Zealand have qualified for the semifinals from Group B while Australia and South Africa have made it through from Group B.

India’s cricketers, however, can’t wait to get back on the field. For starters, they all spend enough time in Dubai so there’s little allure. But, more importantly, it would have been a week since their win against Pakistan when India take on New Zealand in their final group stage match of the Champions Trophy. The result of the match itself is of little consequence.

Virat Kohli is set to play his 300th ODI on Sunday, and New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips said the Indian batting icon's «legacy» will shine through the years while «inspiring» generations of young cricketers. Kohli will become the seventh Indian player to achieve the feat after Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, Mohammed Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh. «Obviously, he's an incredible player. And to know him a little bit personally myself is awesome,» said Phillips, who once played alongside Kohli at IPL side Royal Challengers Bengaluru. «He's an incredibly hard worker, and what he's done for the sport, but also for Indian cricket and also people coming through the game as youngsters now is absolutely fantastic,» he said on Saturday, ahead of New Zealand's Champions Trophy clash against India.

New Zealand on Saturday called up two local left-arm wrist spinners to bowl to senior batter Tom Latham and all-rounder Michael Bracwell at the nets to prepare for a possible contest against India's Kuldeep Yadav in their Champions Trophy match here. Kuldeep, the left-arm wrist spinner, mainly operates in the middle overs where Latham and Bracwell often bat. «It's (the DICS pitch) playing a little bit slow and there's obviously a good deal of turn. I think it's going to be an interesting match-up,» said New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips in the pre-match press conference here. «They (India) have got three quality spinners, and it's all about rotating the strike and taking the game deep.»

England for 179, the lowest total of the tournament, in their final Group B match here. Already eliminated from the semifinal race, England needed a victory by at least 207 runs to give Afghanistan a chance of qualifying based on the run-rate. However, Marco Jansen (3/39) stole the show with the new ball, taking three crucial wickets, and Wiaan Mulder (3/25) and Keshav Maharaj (2/35) applied the pressure in the middle overs as South Africa confirmed their knockout berth, irrespective of the match's result. It remains to be seen who finishes on top of Group B and that will decide who India and New Zealand will play in the knockout stage.

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

New Zealand used high-level talks in Beijing to raise concerns about the surprise deployment of Chinese warships off its western coast, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Thursday.

A top White House official has proposed expelling Canada from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network as Donald Trump increases pressure on the country he talks about turning into the 51st U.S. state.

Virat Kohli said his plan was to attack the pacers and take less risk against the spinners in the high-pressure Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan here on Sunday and having steered the team home with a sparkling hundred, his 36-year-old body is happy to get a week-long break before the next game. India's six-wicket win against arch-rivals has almost sealed a semifinal spot for the side and all but knocked the hosts out of the tournament.

Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Following Kohli’s century which marked India’s win, Mahindra Group’s chairman shared his appreciation for the cricketer on X.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will once again be the centre of attention. The middle order, reinforced by Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, adds further firepower to an already strong unit.

Former Pakistan captain and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), RAMIZ RAJA, who knows the nation’s cricket inside out, spoke to BORIA MAJUMDAR about all things ailing Pakistan cricket and if they can challenge India in Dubai today. Excerpts: A strong Pakistan team, one that can challenge India, is needed for a good contest. But their recent performances, including the last match against New Zealand, have been disappointing. Do you think this team will be able to give India at least a fight?

Ricky Ponting believes Pakistan's chances of success in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have taken a significant hit following their 60-run loss to New Zealand in the opening match.

Dark Sky Parks officially recognized by DarkSky International, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as the ultimate destination for travelers seeking a celestial escape.

Babar Azam's performance will be on the radar, especially how he fares against the quality Indian spinners in the Champions Trophy blockbuster clash between the two sides in Dubai on Sunday.

Rohit Sharma's men aiming to seal a semifinal spot and Mohammad Rizwan's team desperate to avoid early elimination from the tournament. While India are on a high after claiming a measured six-wicket win over a sprightly Bangladesh, Pakistan are evidently tense after the 60-run loss in the tournament-opener against New Zealand.

India and Pakistan here on Sunday, fast bowler Haris Rauf has said that his team will take the game against Rohit Sharma's side just like any other match, and aim for victory to stay in contention. Pakistan, after being beaten by New Zealand in the opener at Karachi, need to beat India to stay in contention for a place in the knockout stage of the eight-team tournament.