New Zealand's captain Mitchell Santner led his team to victory over South Africa, securing their place in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 finals with a decisive 50-run win at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on March 5, 2025. Santner's captaincy was pivotal as he not only chose to bat first but also took three important wickets, which helped turn the tide of the match.
The semi-final clash began with Santner winning the toss and opting to bat first, an empowering decision as the Kiwis aimed to set a high target. They did not disappoint, with New Zealand posting a massive total of 362 runs for six wickets. The highlight of their innings was the phenomenal performance by Rachin Ravindra, who scored 108 runs off 101 balls, and Kane Williamson, who made 102 runs off 94 deliveries. This match marked Ravindra's fifth century across ICC events, underscoring his rising status as a formidable player at just 25 years old.
After their innings, New Zealand's bowlers had one objective: to defend the massive total. South Africa's innings began shakily, with opener Ryan Rickelton dismissed for just 15 runs by Matt Henry. The Proteas struggled to build their momentum, and things took a turn when skipper Temba Bavuma could only contribute six runs before falling to Santner. Bavuma lost his wicket to Santner’s crafty delivery, which turned sharply, catching the edge and providing Williamson with the catch.
Despite these setbacks, Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller looked to stabilize the innings. Van der Dussen made it to 69 runs before Santner struck again. He bowled van der Dussen, who struggled to time his shot against Santner's turning deliveries, falling victim to his bowler's mix of pace and spin. Aiden Markram also contributed to the chase, scoring 31 runs, but it was Ravindra’s caught-and-bowled dismissal of him for Markram's wicket, which left South Africa reeling at 191 runs for 5 wickets.
Ravindra's all-round performance was particularly commendable as he backed up his batting feat with his bowling, taking the fifth wicket and helping to compound the pressure on South African batters. Davids' innings came to life, providing South Africa with hope as he single-handedly led with his innings, top-scoring with 100 runs off 67 balls, but his efforts were not enough to reach the elusive target.
The nail-biting chase saw South Africa scuttling to 312 runs for nine wickets at the end of their innings, failing to meet the massive target and offering New Zealand the chance to celebrate their return to the Champions Trophy finals after more than 16 years. The Kiwis' last appearance at this level came during the 2009 edition of the Champions Trophy.
When asked about the match, Santner expressed satisfaction with not only reaching the finals but also acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by their upcoming competitor, India. “It feels great to be back at the final,” he stated, reflecting on the challenge presented by South Africa and the remarkable achievements of his players.
Vaunting New Zealand's strong performances throughout the tournament, Santner also praised the contributions from Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell, who supplemented the bowling attack effectively by taking key wickets at pivotal moments. Their performance consistently kept the pressure on South Africa, which led to build-up of wickets.
South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma, reflecting on the match, admitted the difficulty of chasing down such a massive total and conceded, “We needed one or two batters to repeat the efforts of the New Zealand top order.” He acknowledged the Kiwis’ pressure and capitalisation during the middle overs, noting the pivotal partnerships his side failed to build, particularly with him and van der Dussen.
This thrilling encounter, where North meets South once again, sets the stage for New Zealand as they prepare to face India for the title on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Dubai International Stadium, starting at 9 AM GMT. Fans are anticipated to huddle for what promises to be another exciting clash.
With this win, New Zealand not only marked their highest total of 362 runs in Champions Trophy knockout matches but also raised expectations for glory. Fans and the team alike are hopeful for the ultimate victory this time around, having finished as runners-up previously.