The Champion Trophy semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa, held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5, 2025, was a clash brimming with anticipation. With both teams in excellent form, it was New Zealand that rose to the occasion, posting a huge total and defending it successfully to move into the final.
New Zealand’s Innings: A Commanding Total
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first in the Champion Trophy semi-final, a decision that set them up for a commanding performance. They posted a massive total of 362/6 in their 50 overs. The backbone of their innings was Rachin Ravindra, who scored a brilliant 108 off 101 balls, and the ever-reliable Kane Williamson, who contributed 102 runs off 94 balls. Their partnership ensured New Zealand stayed on course for a big total.
Contributions came from Daryl Mitchell (49 off 37 balls) and Glenn Phillips (49* off 27 balls) towards the end, adding much-needed acceleration to the total. The Kiwis set an imposing target of 363, demonstrating excellent depth in their batting lineup in this Champion Trophy semi-final.
Here’s the breakdown of New Zealand’s innings:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Young | 21 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 91.30 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 108 | 101 | 13 | 0 | 106.93 |
| Kane Williamson | 102 | 94 | 10 | 1 | 108.51 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 49 | 37 | 4 | 3 | 132.43 |
| Tom Latham (wk) | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Glenn Phillips (not out) | 49* | 27 | 6 | 2 | 181.48 |
| Michael Bracewell | 16 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Mitchell Santner (c) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 200.00 |
With such a high target, South Africa faced an uphill battle in this Champion Trophy semi-final.
South Africa’s Chase: A Brave Effort but Falling Short
South Africa’s chase started with promise, as both Temba Bavuma (56 off 71 balls) and Rassie van der Dussen (69 off 69 balls) gave them a solid foundation. However, the pressure of the mounting required run rate proved too much as New Zealand’s bowlers continued to chip away at key wickets.
The match’s turning point came when David Miller produced a valiant 100* off 67 balls, playing a superb knock in an attempt to bring South Africa back into the game. But despite Miller’s efforts, wickets fell at the other end, and South Africa could only muster 312/9 in their 50 overs, falling short by 51 runs. This ensured that New Zealand triumphed in the Champion Trophy semi-final.
Here’s the breakdown of South Africa’s innings:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Rickelton | 17 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 141.67 |
| Temba Bavuma (c) | 56 | 71 | 4 | 1 | 78.87 |
| Rassie van der Dussen | 69 | 69 | 4 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Aiden Markram | 31 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Heinrich Klaasen (wk) | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
| David Miller (not out) | 100* | 67 | 10 | 2 | 149.25 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 8 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 61.54 |
| Marco Jansen | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 16 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 72.73 |
| Lungi Ngidi (not out) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
Key Moments
- Player of the Match: Kane Williamson for his fantastic century (102), which was crucial in setting a daunting target.
- Top Scorers:
- New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra (108) and Kane Williamson (102).
- South Africa: David Miller (100*).
Bowlers’ Performance
New Zealand’s Bowlers:
- Matt Henry (7 overs, 43 runs, 2 wickets, 6.10 economy rate): Henry played a vital role in breaking the key partnerships and took crucial wickets.
- Mitchell Santner (10 overs, 53 runs, 2 wickets, 5.30 economy rate): Santner’s accurate and disciplined bowling helped keep the pressure on South Africa throughout the innings.
- Rachin Ravindra (5 overs, 21 runs, 1 wicket, 4.30 economy rate): Ravindra’s steady spell was a key part of the New Zealand bowling attack.
South Africa’s Bowlers:
- Lungi Ngidi (10 overs, 72 runs, 2 wickets, 7.20 economy rate): Ngidi was the best bowler for South Africa but was unable to slow down New Zealand’s aggressive batting.
- Kagiso Rabada (10 overs, 70 runs, 2 wickets, 7.00 economy rate): Rabada bowled well, but his efforts were not enough to defend such a high target.
- Keshav Maharaj (10 overs, 65 runs, 0 wickets, 6.50 economy rate): Maharaj was economical but couldn’t break the key partnerships that were necessary to stem the flow of runs.
Conclusion
This Champion Trophy semi-final was a classic display of New Zealand’s all-round strength. With a dominant batting performance led by Ravindra and Williamson, followed by disciplined bowling, New Zealand proved too strong for South Africa. Despite a brilliant century from David Miller, South Africa could not chase down the target, falling short by 51 runs.
As a result, New Zealand advances to the final of the Champion Trophy, where they will compete for the prestigious title. South Africa, despite their efforts, will have to look back at missed opportunities but can take pride in their fighting spirit.
Stay tuned for the final showdown in this Champion Trophy semi-final as New Zealand eyes the trophy!
