<p>Dubai: Shepherded by a brilliant Kuldeep Yadav (2/40), Indian spinners aced the conditions but well-timed fifties by Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell steered New Zealand to a competitive 251 for seven in the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> final here on Sunday.</p><p>Daryl Mitchell (63, 101 balls) and Bracewell (53 off 40 balls) navigated the Blackcaps through a turbulent middle phase after they opted to bat first.</p><p>However, the start made by New Zealand did not justify the total that they eventually managed.</p><p>They raced to 69 for 1 in 10 overs despite losing Will Young to Varun Chakravarthy (2/45), who came to bowl as early as the sixth over. The introduction of Kuldeep 11th over changed the complexion of the game.</p><p>With his first ball, Kuldeep consumed Rachin Ravindra, who failed to read a wonderfully concealed googly that disturbed his stumps.</p><p>It also ended a good 57-run opening stand, in which Ravindra, who punished Hardik Pandya for a six and two fours in row, was dropped on 28 by Mohammed Shami off his own bowling.</p><p>In the very next over, Kane Williamson’s forward prod off the left-arm wrist spinner eventuated in a return catch as the Kiwis slipped to 75 for three in 12.2 overs.</p><p>The four-pronged Indian spin attack assumed control of the proceedings from that point, and New Zealand could not find a boundary for the next 81 balls.</p><p>That tedious sequence was broken when Glenn Phillips hammered Kuldeep for a six over long-off.</p>.Mumbai Indians take on in-form Gujarat Giants with eye on top spot on WPL points table.<p>Kuldeep and Varun, who at times breached the 100 kmph barrier, found appreciable turn off the deck.</p><p>Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, however, relied more on quickness to cramp Kiwis batters for space.</p><p>Both the methods of operation were equally effective on the day as the Indian tweakers conceded just 144 runs in the 38 overs bowled between them.</p><p>Chakravarthy also mixed his endless ensemble of tricks and accounted for Phillips to end a promising 57-run alliance for the fifth wicket</p><p>Phillips could not nullify a 93 kmph googly, and was bowled while looking to cut the ball past square of the wicket.</p><p>However, New Zealand might still have hoped for a total in the vicinity of 260 as Mitchell, who cleverly milked the field for singles and twos, brought up his fifty in 91 balls.</p><p>His twin boundaries off Shami in the 46th over indicated a late charge by the Kiwis. He also stitched a useful 46-run partnership with Bracewell, who played some hefty shots, for the sixth wicket</p><p>But the veteran pacer had the last laugh as Mitchell’s feeble attempt to launch him over the covers ended in the hands of Rohit Sharma.</p><p>Bracewell's enterprise meant that the Kiwis would get 50 runs in the last five overs.</p>
<p>Dubai: Shepherded by a brilliant Kuldeep Yadav (2/40), Indian spinners aced the conditions but well-timed fifties by Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell steered New Zealand to a competitive 251 for seven in the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> final here on Sunday.</p><p>Daryl Mitchell (63, 101 balls) and Bracewell (53 off 40 balls) navigated the Blackcaps through a turbulent middle phase after they opted to bat first.</p><p>However, the start made by New Zealand did not justify the total that they eventually managed.</p><p>They raced to 69 for 1 in 10 overs despite losing Will Young to Varun Chakravarthy (2/45), who came to bowl as early as the sixth over. The introduction of Kuldeep 11th over changed the complexion of the game.</p><p>With his first ball, Kuldeep consumed Rachin Ravindra, who failed to read a wonderfully concealed googly that disturbed his stumps.</p><p>It also ended a good 57-run opening stand, in which Ravindra, who punished Hardik Pandya for a six and two fours in row, was dropped on 28 by Mohammed Shami off his own bowling.</p><p>In the very next over, Kane Williamson’s forward prod off the left-arm wrist spinner eventuated in a return catch as the Kiwis slipped to 75 for three in 12.2 overs.</p><p>The four-pronged Indian spin attack assumed control of the proceedings from that point, and New Zealand could not find a boundary for the next 81 balls.</p><p>That tedious sequence was broken when Glenn Phillips hammered Kuldeep for a six over long-off.</p>.Mumbai Indians take on in-form Gujarat Giants with eye on top spot on WPL points table.<p>Kuldeep and Varun, who at times breached the 100 kmph barrier, found appreciable turn off the deck.</p><p>Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, however, relied more on quickness to cramp Kiwis batters for space.</p><p>Both the methods of operation were equally effective on the day as the Indian tweakers conceded just 144 runs in the 38 overs bowled between them.</p><p>Chakravarthy also mixed his endless ensemble of tricks and accounted for Phillips to end a promising 57-run alliance for the fifth wicket</p><p>Phillips could not nullify a 93 kmph googly, and was bowled while looking to cut the ball past square of the wicket.</p><p>However, New Zealand might still have hoped for a total in the vicinity of 260 as Mitchell, who cleverly milked the field for singles and twos, brought up his fifty in 91 balls.</p><p>His twin boundaries off Shami in the 46th over indicated a late charge by the Kiwis. He also stitched a useful 46-run partnership with Bracewell, who played some hefty shots, for the sixth wicket</p><p>But the veteran pacer had the last laugh as Mitchell’s feeble attempt to launch him over the covers ended in the hands of Rohit Sharma.</p><p>Bracewell's enterprise meant that the Kiwis would get 50 runs in the last five overs.</p>