Matt Henry concluded the Champions Trophy as the tournament’s top wicket-taker, despite being unable to play in the final match.
Mitchell Santner, the captain, admitted that they missed Henry’s presence in the final. Henry was very eager to participate in the Champions Trophy final, especially after his five-wicket haul in the previous game against India in Dubai. He was the leading wicket-taker in the entire tournament. Even after injuring his shoulder while catching Heinrich Klaasen in the semi-final against South Africa, he showed resilience by returning to bowl two more overs and field.
Unfortunately, this injury prevented him from playing in the final against India, an opponent against whom he has historically performed well. In his past 11 ODIs against India, Henry has taken 21 wickets with an average of 21.00 and an economy rate of 4.48. During the final in Dubai, India’s run chase faced some difficulties in the middle overs, but they eventually secured victory with four wickets remaining and an over to spare.
Santner confirmed that Henry was indeed missed in this crucial game. Nathan Smith, who replaced Henry, bowled only two overs in the final. Henry underwent a fitness test just before the match and was visibly upset when he didn’t pass.
Santner mentioned that the team’s sentiment was to “do it for him” as Henry had put in immense effort to be ready for the final. It was particularly disheartening for Henry and the team that he got injured just before such a significant event, despite trying everything to recover.
New Zealand faced additional challenges throughout the tournament. Unlike India, who played all their five matches in Dubai, New Zealand had to travel between Dubai and three different venues in Pakistan, making them the only team to play across four locations in the Champions Trophy.
Rachin Ravindra, who was named Player of the Tournament with 263 runs and three wickets, also sustained a head injury while attempting a catch in Pakistan before the Champions Trophy. Kyle Jamieson joined the team as a late replacement for Lockie Ferguson, who was injured during the ILT20.
Santner acknowledged that perfect conditions are rare in such tournaments with tight schedules. However, he expressed satisfaction that various players received opportunities and performed admirably. He conveyed his pride in the team, highlighting the adaptability required due to injuries and player rotations.
He praised Rachin Ravindra for his quick recovery from a head injury and immediate impactful performance, as well as Kyle Jamieson for his strong contribution upon joining the team.
Despite New Zealand’s fielding errors while defending a score of 253, Santner believes the first innings was decisive. After a strong start of 57 runs without loss in the first 7.4 overs, New Zealand quickly lost Will Young, Ravindra, and Kane Williamson, falling to 75 for 3 in 12.2 overs. Varun Chakaravarthy initiated the breakthrough, followed by Kuldeep Yadav dismissing both Ravindra and Williamson within his first seven deliveries.
Santner reflected that after their initial strong batting performance, they were aiming for a total score of around 275 or 280. He credited Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy for their excellent bowling, which effectively restricted New Zealand’s scoring momentum, especially during the middle overs.
ऋतिका चंद्रमोहन