Champions Trophy 2025 SF 2: New Zealand Thrash South Africa To Qualify For Finals

 

New Zealand made it into the finals of the Champions Trophy 2025 with a resounding win over South Africa in the 2^nd semi-finals played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 5^th March.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santer won the toss and decided to bat first. Will Young and Rachin Ravindra began off to a flying start putting pressure on South African new ball bowlers namely Ngidi and Marco Jansen. Rachin showed his class with some brilliant strokes to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Ngidi got the breakthrough by dismissing Will Young by providing a simple catch to Markram. At the end of the first 10 overs, New Zealand scored 56 for 1.

After the field restrictions, Williamson struggled initially before keeping the momentum going along with Ravindra. The stylish Rachin hit boundaries with ease, reaching his fifty off 41 deliveries. Kane Williamson also played with an attacking approach not allowing the South African bowlers to settle.

Rachin and Williamson made the batting look easy keeping the scoreboard ticking with singles and hitting boundaries with ease. Williamson also completed his fifty off 61 deliveries. Rachin showed his class smashing South African bowlers all over the park and reached a well-deserved century off 93 deliveries. Rabada eventually struck dismissing Rachin with a simple catch to Klassen. Williamson and Rachin Ravindra added 164 runs for the 2^nd wicket.

Kane Williamson ensured another superb knock, completing his century off 91 balls. He was soon dismissed and caught at short fine leg by Ngidi. Rabada struck to dismiss Latham bringing back South Africa into the game.

Mitchell upped the ante with lusty blows against Lungi Ngidi changing the momentum in favor of New Zealand. Glenn Phillips struggled initially before launching an assault on the SA pace bowlers. Ngidi got rid of Mitchell with an easy catch to Rabada at deep midwicket. Mitchell and Phillips added 57 runs for the 5^th wicket.

Glenn Phillips made the batting look easy keeping the scoreboard ticking with lusty hits while Micheal Bracewell joined the party against struggling South African bowlers. Ngidi dismissed Bracewell, caught by Rickleton. Bracewell and Phillips added 46 runs for the 6^th wicket. It was a sensational batting effort as New Zealand posted 362 for 6 in 50 overs.

Chasing a mammoth total of 363 runs to win, it was a cautious start for the South African team as Temba Bavuma struggled against disciplined bowling by Jamieson and Matt Henry. Matt Henry got the breakthrough by getting rid of Rickleton providing a simple catch to Bracewell at covers. Rassie Van der Dussen and Bavuma looked in good touch putting the bad deliveries away for boundaries. At the end of the first 10 overs, South Africa scored 56 for 1.

Temba Bavuma and Dussen steadied the ship with positive strokes as the run rate looked steep. Bavuma upped the advantage, reaching fifty-off 64 deliveries while Dussen completed a half-century of 51 deliveries. Santer got the much-needed breakthrough dismissing Bavuma with a simple catch to Williamson at a backward point. Bavuma and Dussen added 105 runs for the 2^nd wicket.

Aiden Markram joined the party with attacking shots while Dussen made the batting look easy. New Zealand captain Santer produced a beauty to dismiss Dussen. Dussen and Markram added 36 runs for the 3^rd wicket.

Santer struck again to get rid of dangerous Klassen with a simple catch to Matt Henry at long-on to leave South Africa in trouble. The New Zealand bowlers showed their class picking wickets at regular intervals. David Miller delayed his attacking approach while Mulder, Jansen & Maharaj could not contribute much.

Miller completed fifty off 46 deliveries while Rabada struggled to time the deliveries. Henry struck to dismiss Rabada leaving SA on the brink. Miller and Rabada added 38 runs for the 9^th wicket.

Miller enjoyed his time in the middle hitting big shots by completing the century off 67 deliveries. On the other hand, Ngidi got to face 2 deliveries. Miller and Ngidi added 56 runs for the final wicket. New Zealand restricted South Africa to 312 for 9 in 50 overs.

For his all-around efforts with 108, 1 for 20 & 2 catches, Rachin Ravindra was named the player of the match award.

New Zealand 362 for 6 in 50 overs (Rachin Ravindra 108, Williamson 102, Ngidi 3/72) beat South Africa 312 for 9 in 50 overs (Miller 100*, Dussen 69, Santer 3/43) by 50 runs.

   

 

 

New Zealand beat SA in the 2nd SF of CT 2025 to set up finals with India on 9th March