New Zealand surge into Champions Trophy Final

Khel Today Bureau

Lahore: Centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson inspired New Zealand to a 50-run victory over South Africa and a place in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Final.

The two hundreds, combined with a flurry of late boundaries from the lower order, helped the Kiwis reach a total of 362 for six – the highest in the tournament to date.

Despite a quickfire ton from David Miller and half centuries from South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen (69) and Temba Bavuma (56), the 1998 winners fell short in their pursuit, meaning a repeat of the 2000 final is set for Dubai on Sunday.

New Zealand began their innings well, claiming at least one boundary in five of the first seven overs on the way to 48 without loss.

Will Young was the first wicket to fall after mistiming a Lungi Ngidi slower ball, skying a simple catch to Aiden Markram at mid-off for 21.

Williamson joined Ravindra at the crease and showed his class early on, driving Ngidi to the fence at the end of the tenth over.

The pair looked comfortable in the early exchanges, taking the total past 100 as Ravindra plundered three boundaries – one of which a fine pull shot to bring up his 47-ball fifty – from Wiaan Mulder in the 18th over.

Ravindra brought up his second century of the competition with a neat clip into mid-wicket, while Williamson was dropped on 56 by Heinrich Klaasen having gone to his half century the over prior.

The 164-run stand was ended when Ravindra edged through to Klaasen for 108 to give Kagiso Rabada his first scalp.

Williamson went to his 15th ODI ton by ramping Mulder for four – the second 50 runs of his 91-ball effort came off just 30 balls – before being dismissed by the same bowler four balls later attempting the same shot.

The Kiwis scored 110 runs from their last 10 overs as Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips both helped themselves to scores of 49 – the latter getting there from just 27 deliveries as he provided some late-innings impetus.

With a record ICC Men’s Champions Trophy run-chase ahead of them, South Africa lost Ryan Rickelton inside five overs to Matt Henry for 17 with Bracewell taking the catch at cover.

Proteas skipper Bavuma and Van der Dussen put on a-run-a-ball century stand with both players reaching their fifties by the end of the 22nd over, with the score 125 for one.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner removed his opposite number shortly after when Bavuma found Williamson at backward point for 56 after charging down the wicket.

The spinner then took the two crucial wickets of Van der Dussen and Klaasen in six balls – bowling the former with a beautifully flighted ball for 69 and having the latter caught by Henry, running in from the straight boundary, for three – to shift the game firmly in his side’s favour.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as Ravindra had Markram caught and bowled for 31 and Bracewell had Mulder caught by Ravindra on the leg-side for eight, leaving South Africa 200 for six, still 163 runs from victory with 14 overs left.

Phillips further chipped away at the South African batting line-up, claiming the wickets of Marco Jansen – lbw for three – and Keshav Maharaj for one thanks to Latham’s take behind the stumps.

Henry picked up his tenth wicket of the tournament – placing him top of the leading wicket-taker standings – in the form of Rabada for 16 to leave South Africa 256 for nine with four and half overs remaining.

Miller played a lone hand at the end, crashing the ball to all parts of the ground on the way to a 67-ball century, but his innings was little more than a consolation as South Africa ultimately fell 50 runs short.

ICC Men’s Champions Trophy semi-final 2, New Zealand v South Africa, Lahore

New Zealand: 362/6, 50 overs (Rachin Ravindra 108, Kane Williamson 102; Lungi Ngidi three for 72) def.

South Africa: 312/9, 50 overs (David Miller 100*, Rassie van der Dussen 69; Mitchell Santner three for 43)

Result: New Zealand won 50 by runs.