NZ overpower SA to make Champions Trophy final

Lahore, ICC Champions Trophy semi-final

New Zealand 362-6 (50 overs): Ravindra 108 (101), Williamson 102 (94), Ngidi 3-72

South Africa 312-9 (50 overs): Miller 100* (67), Van der Dussen 69 (66), Santner 3-43

By a score of 50 runs, New Zealand won.

After centuries from Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra, New Zealand dominated the Champions Trophy final with a thumping 50-run victory over South Africa.

In a superbly timed one-day innings, the Black Caps chose to bat first in Lahore and set a tournament-record 362-6.

It was bolstered by Ravindra and Williamson’s 164-run partnership for the second wicket, which recorded their fifth and fifteenth ODI centuries, respectively.

Despite both falling short of three figures shortly after, New Zealand persevered and plucked 110 runs from the final 10 overs thanks to Glenn Phillips’ unbeaten 49 from 27 and Daryl Mitchell’s big hitting.

South Africa attempted to resemble the Kiwis’ pitch despite having a daunting total, which couldn’t possibly have been friendlier to the batters.

Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen, Proteas’ skipper, put on 105 for the second wicket in a strong start to the chase.

They were unable to carry on, with Mitchell Santner, the captain of New Zealand, dismissing them both, along with the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen, in a brilliant move during the middle overs.

South Africa had to keep attacking despite the wickets stumbling and, despite David Miller scoring a 67-ball century from the final ball of the match, they came in far short on 312-9.

The 50-over innings approach that New Zealand employs is essentially the same.

Build a base after the first 35 or 40 overs, leaving enough wickets for an incredible assault in the final innings.

A straightforward strategy that, if properly used, is difficult to stop. New Zealand’s Lahore performance was so close to perfect.

Of course, it requires players to play with both technique and temperament in order to determine when to move up and which bowlers to target.

Williamson has excelled in this position for more than ten years, and while Ravindra, a 34-year-old man, is showing no signs of slowing down, New Zealand look to have a natural successor.

New Zealand controlled the proceedings throughout the 26 overs when the pair were at their best.

When they wanted to quietly tick over with one and twos, they did it while remaining prepared to put away the bad ball, and after acknowledging the high surface, they upped the ante and seamlessly converted five or six-an-over into sevens and eights.

Ravindra, a stylish left-hander, was in charge throughout his innings, but he was fairly consistent in his scoring, with his first fifty balls coming in 47 and his second in 46.

With Ravindra’s quick scoring, Williamson was confident that he would be able to catch up and start slowly for the Black Caps.

Klaasen put down a catch behind the stumps, diving to his right, and Williamson made it pay for it by giving him a life on 56.

After Ravindra’s dismissal, he needed just 30 more to complete his half-century, combining his customary classical strokes with some creative scoops and ramps.

South Africa demonstrated that getting it right, especially in a chase, is much easier said than done, even if New Zealand highlighted the benefits of building an innings towards a big finish.

All the way through the chase, the Proteas stayed right where New Zealand was at the same stage, ensuring a thrilling conclusion.

However, Bavuma and Van der Dussen faced Santner just as the run-rate was starting to rise.

With his left-arm spin, the New Zealand captain found a questioning line and length and subtly varied his pace. He was as disciplined as ever.

A flighted delivery that dipped late and turned enough to create a leading edge that looped backwards, and Van der Dussen was bowled by a flatter ball that darted in at leg stump to strike middle and leg, which was undone.

Klaasen was caught at long-on in Santner’s next over, and the game was over in the 29th when Santner made the 23rd over.

The Black Caps continued to use spin, with Ravindra receiving Aiden Markram bowled and caught before Phillips and Bracewell both collecting wickets off-spin.

The group’s “discussions are about applying pressure, being aggressive with the ball, and attempting to take wickets,” they say. If you don’t get them out during a chase like that, they’ll eventually catch up.

Rachin Ravindra, the player of the match, said: “It’s always a great feeling to make a team contribution. I couldn’t be happier to see how emphatically we won in the semi-finals.