ICC Champions Trophy 2025: New Zealand beat South Africa in semifinal

In the Champions Trophy semifinals on Sunday, New Zealand defeated South Africa by a score of 50 runs to advance to the final.

Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson stomped on the Gaddafi Stadium to record a scorching 362-6 victory on Wednesday, which New Zealand won with a score of 362-6.

Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma both struck half-centuries, but South Africa managed 312-9, while David Miller smashed an unbeaten 100 off 67 balls, which was brought up off the final ball of the match.

Mitchell Santner, the captain of New Zealand, used seven bowlers but produced a powerful 3-43.

New Zealand immediately took to the top.

After New Zealand won the toss and batted first, Ravindra finished with a 101-ball 108th ace, while Williamson hit 102 with 94 balls on a batting-friendly pitch.

The Black Caps plundered 110 runs in their final 10 overs and 66 in their final five when Daryl Mitchell hit 49 off 37 balls and Glenn Phillips hit a 27-ball 49 not out.

Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand celebrates his century [Akhtar Soomro/Reuters]

As Ravindra and Will Young (21) put on 48 for the opening stand, South Africa’s bowling lineup struggled right off the bat.

A stunning 164-run stand between Ravindra and Williamson put the New Zealanders on course for a massive total, as the pair scored effortlessly with some delightful strokes.

Ravindra scored a two off Kagiso Rabada to complete his fifth ODI hundred, all of which came in ICC events.

Williamson’s 15th ODI hundred came with a ramped boundary, which is his third three-figure total in as many games against South Africa.

New Zealand's Kane Williamson (R) celebrates after scoring a century (100 runs) as his teammate Daryl Mitchell watches during the ICC Champions Trophy one-day international (ODI) semi-final cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5, 2025. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) — As Daryl Mitchell watches on [Aamir Qureshi/AFP] New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, right, celebrates his century-corcoring feat.

Rabada finally put an end to the partnership by letting go of Ravindra who was abandoned. Overall, Ravindra hit 13 fours and one six.

After hitting 10 fours and two sixes in the 40th over, Williamson hit Wiaan Mulder into Lungi Ngidi.

After South Africa briefly dragged things back to give themselves hope of limiting the score to under 350, Mitchell and Phillips gave the score some extra life.

Ngidi, a fast bowler, finished with 3-72, while Rabada, a 2-70, bowler, came in at the end.

Cricket - ICC Men's Champions Trophy - Semi Final - South Africa v New Zealand - Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan - March 5, 2025 South Africa's David Miller and Lungi Ngidi look dejected after the match REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro — After the game, Akhtar Soomro and Lungi Ngidi share varying emotions with one another [Centurion South Africa’s David Miller, right] [Reuters]

The Proteas hope to still reach the final after Australia successfully chased England 356-5 in the group stage in Lahore, which is the previous highest Champions Trophy total.

Hope was resurrected by a century-stand for the second wicket between van der Dussen and Bavuma, which provided a strong groundwork for the chase.

The Proteas batters were always under pressure, but when six wickets fell for 57 runs, the game was up.

Although Miller’s record of carrying out this task was too significant, Miller’s century demonstrated what is still possible in big-hitting cricket today.

Perhaps Miler’s remarkable striking would have been the perfect boost to propel his team to the final had the middle order been able to hold their nerve during the collapse.