New Zealand secure place in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final

Friday, 7 March 2025 03:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner led by example, taking three crucial wickets against South Africa to help his side to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

They will face India in Dubai on Sunday (starting at 9 a.m. GMT).

It looked like South Africa might stage a challenge to New Zealand’s huge total of 362/6, with Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma forming a big-hitting hundred partnership for the second wicket.

Then Santner got involved, removing both of them plus Heinrich Klaasen (caught by Matt Henry) to leave the Proteas with an uphill struggle.

Despite David Miller’s best efforts, coming in at No 6 and top-scoring with 100, South Africa finished on 312/9 – meaning the Black Caps won by 50 runs.

Henry had taken the first wicket of the innings, luring opener Ryan Rickelton to play to Michael Bracewell for 17.

And Rachin Ravindra took the fifth with a sharp caught-and-bowled of Aiden Markram for 31 off 29 balls.

Bracewell removed Wiaan Mulder and Glenn Phillips began to mop up the tail, trapping Marco Jansen lbw and then tempting Keshav Maharaj to edge behind to Tom Latham.

He played a part in Kagiso Rabada’s dismissal too, catching him off a Henry ball in the 46th over, leaving South Africa with more than 100 required for the last wicket.

Earlier, Ravindra had made a key contribution with the bat – making a century, as did Kane Williamson – as New Zealand set a big total of 362/6.

Only twice in One-Day International history has a total that big been successfully chased down in the second innings – and both times it was South Africa who did it.

Ravindra fell for a well-played 108 off 101 balls – caught by Klaasen off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada – with Williamson making 102 off 94 before being caught by Lungi Ngidi off Mulder.

Will Young had been the first wicket to fall, caught by Markram off Ngidi, leaving New Zealand on 48/1.

But Ravindra and Williamson created an excellent partnership, brought to an end only in the 34th over.

Latham managed only four before he was bowled by Rabada, and then Daryl Mitchell fell agonisingly short on 49 off 37 balls, with four fours and one six.

Bracewell was out on the penultimate ball of the innings having made 16 off 12 deliveries.

And Phillips missed out on taking the strike for the last ball of the innings, meaning he also missed out on a half-century, finishing with 49 off 27 balls – including six fours and a maximum.

Captain Santner had the last word, with two scampered from that last delivery.

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