Champions Trophy 2025: South Africa vs New Zealand, Semi-final 2 - Who Said What?

New Zealand claimed a 50-run victory over South Africa in the second semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. They will now be taking on India in the final of the ninth edition of the marquee ODI tournament on Sunday, March 9.

Composed centuries off the bats of Rachin Ravindra (108) and Kane Williamson (102) lay the platform for Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips to rack up crucial 49-run knocks off 37 and 27 deliveries, respectively. Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the bowlers from the Proteas' bowling unit, claiming a three-wicket haul while conceding 72 runs in his 10-over quota.

Coming to the run-chase, Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen stitched up a vital stand for the second wicket. Both of them got to their respective fifties, and seemed like a big threat. However, a brilliant spell from Mitchell Santner was enough to place the opponents on the back foot. A valiant David Miller held the fort on his own to play an outworldly knock in a losing cause, racking up a well-deserved ton on the final delivery of the game. 

Talking Points

1. Rachin Ravindra's love affair with ICC events continues

Rachin's classic 101-ball knock meant he had more centuries (5) in ICC ODI tournaments than a list of legends of the game like Sanath Jayasuriya, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, and Steve Waugh, to name a few.

2. Mitchell Santner's web of destruction proves brutal for South Africa

Santner's guile was too hot to handle for South Africa. He dismissed the well-set Bavuma and van der Dussen before picking up the big wicket of Heinrich Klaasen. Santner's exquisite 10-over spell yielded figures of 3/43.

3. David Miller delivers another knockout gem

Be it the semi-finals of the 2015 and 2023 editions of the Cricket World Cup or the final of the T20 World Cup 2024, Miller has always stood tall. This game was yet another display of his sheer brilliance. Unfortunately, like previous exhibitions, this knock too came in a losing cause. Miller's 67-ball ton was the fastest in the history of the tournament.

Also Check: Twitter Reactions: South Africa choke again as New Zealand prepare themselves for India in Dubai finale

Who Said What?

Player of the Match, Rachin Ravindra

Winning captain, Mitchell Santner

It's a pretty good feeling, today we were challenged by a good side, we will head to Dubai where we already faced India earlier. We will rest and will go again. It was holding a bit in the first innings but Rachin and WIlliiamson set the stage and the guys finishing it put the icing on the cake. We took wickets in the middle overs and made it tough for the opposition. What we speak as a group is to apply pressure and take wickets in the middle. Michael Bracewell bowled really well in the last game to take a 4-fer. It was really pleasing for me to take three scalps today. It makes my job easier, we have four all-rounders who can bowl spin and they can bat as well. Rachin's five overs were great, have to wait and see how Matt Henry's shoulder is. It's a bit sore, we have to wait for a couple of days and see. (On Williamson) He keeps doing it, that partnership was massive for us, he was able to keep going in the middle phase, South Africa challenged us but we were able to cash in and score 360. We felt 320 might not be enough. (On their loss against India in Dubai) Being there and being put under pressure was good. I think the bowlers bowled well to chip wickets at the top. I think winning the toss will be nice as well.

Losing captain, Temba Bavuma

(On the target) I do think it was above-par. Probably if it was 350, we would have backed ourselves to chase the score. We had one or two partnerships today but we needed me or Rassie to go on and emulate what two of their batters did. They really put us under pressure from the word go, the way they were able to pierce the off-side at the start and the way they played in the middle overs. Kudos to them, credit to their batters, Rachin and Williamson and even the batters who came in, Mitchell and Phillips. We were 125/1 and me and Rassie were still batting. Unfortunately, we weren't able to set that foundation for them. A bit of a soft dismissal for me and a better dismissal for Rassie and we left too much for them in the end. Like I said in the beginning, like I mentioned that we were 125/1, we had to be more decisive, not give an opportunity for the opposition to come back and being ruthless. We needed to take care of the key moments in the game.