New Zealand reach Champions Trophy final after beating South Africa

New Zealand have reached the Champions Trophy 2025 final after beating South Africa by 50 runs in the second semifinal at Gaddafi Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Wednesday.

Now, Kiwies will face India in the grand finale on March 9 in Dubai. 

Chasing a formidable target of 363 runs, the Proteas could only manage 312 in their allotted 50 overs, extending their string of failures in the knockout stages of major tournaments.

With this victory, New Zealand has booked a spot in the final of the Champions Trophy for the first time in eight years. 

South Africa’s chase got off to a shaky start, losing their first wicket at just 20 runs when Ryan Rickelton was dismissed after scoring 17 runs.

Captain Temba Bavuma played a cautious inning in pursuit of the massive target, scoring 56 off 71 balls.

 He was supported by Rassie van der Dussen, who contributed 69 runs.

The duo shared a crucial 105-run partnership, briefly igniting hopes of a South African comeback.

However, after their dismissals, only David Miller put up a fight, while the rest of the batting lineup crumbled under pressure.

New Zealand’s bowling attack proved to be clinical, with captain Mitchell Santner leading the charge by taking three wickets.

Matt Henry and Glenn Phillips also played a vital role, claiming two wickets each.

With this dominant victory, the Kiwis have set up a high-stakes clash with India in the final, where they will look to claim their second Champions Trophy title. 

Earlier, Williamson and Ravindra centuries power New Zealand to set a mammoth 363 runs target to South Africa.  

New Zealand posted 362-6 in their allotted 50 overs.

This historic total, achieved after winning the toss and opting to bat first, broke Australia’s previous Champions Trophy record of 356 runs.

The opening pair of Rachin Ravindra and Will Young provided New Zealand with a solid start, putting together a partnership of 48 runs before Young was dismissed for 21 runs.

Then, experienced player Kane Williamson joined Ravindra at the crease. The duo formed a significant partnership, adding 164 runs and putting New Zealand in a commanding position. Ravindra scored an impressive 108 runs off 101 balls, hitting 13 fours and one six.

At his dismissal, New Zealand were 212-2 in 33.3 overs.  Williamson forged another 39-run partnership for the third wicket with Daryl Mitchell, laying a solid foundation for a strong finish.

The talismanic batter continued his excellent form in the tournament, scoring his 15th ODI century before being dismissed for 102 runs. His flawless knock included ten fours and two sixes.

In the last ten overs of the innings, the Black Caps accumulated 110 runs, thanks to cameos from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips.

Mitchell was caught just one run shy of a half-century. He struck four fours and one six in his 37-ball 49. On the other hand, Phillips remained unbeaten with his blazing 49 off 27 balls, featuring half a dozen fours and one six.

South Africa’s bowlers struggled against New Zealand’s aggressive batting approach. Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets, while Lungi Ngidi took three, preventing an even bigger total.

With the winner of this semi-final set to face India in the final on March 9 in Dubai, both teams entered this match in strong form. South Africa remained unbeaten in the group stage, while New Zealand suffered just one defeat, against India.

Historically, South Africa holds an edge over New Zealand in ODIs, winning 42 of their 73 encounters, compared to New Zealand’s 26 victories. However, with a record-breaking total on the board, the Kiwis have given themselves a strong chance to challenge the Proteas and book a spot in the final.

India, who secured their place in the final after a thrilling four-wicket win over Australia in the first semi-final in Dubai, will now face the winner of this contest. Due to India’s hybrid model participation in the tournament, the Champions Trophy final will be played in Dubai instead of Pakistan.

As the semi-final continues, South Africa now faces the daunting task of chasing 363 runs to keep their title hopes alive.

The South African side, led by Temba Bavuma, finished first on the table after winning two of their two completed matches in Group B, while one was abandoned due to rain. 

They ended with five points and a healthy net run rate of +2.395.

Although they are in top form, they still might be depending on the fitness of their regular skipper, Temba Bavuma, who missed the last game against England due to an injury. Aiden Markram led the side in his place instead.

They are full of confidence, with plenty of all-rounders on their side who can take the game away from the opposition in a jiffy.

The return of Heinrich Klaasen has undoubtedly boosted their chances.

Conversely, the New Zealand team, under the leadership of Mitchell Santner, has proved to be quite effective in conditions under which they will play at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium today. 

They finished second in Group A after winning two of their three matches while losing the one against India.

Kiwis qualified for the semi-finals after beating Bangladesh and host Pakistan from their group. The Black Caps lost to the Indian team by 44 runs after failing to chase down 250, where Kane Williamson was the top performer for them with 81.

Teams 

South Africa (Playing XI): Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

New Zealand (Playing XI): Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O'Rourke