Champions Trophy: New Zealand beat South Africa, reach third final
What's the story
New Zealand beat South Africa at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium to reach the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final.
The Black Caps successfully defended 362/6, now the highest-ever total in the tournament. NZ were bolstered by skipper Mitchell Santner's spell.
Earlier, centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson set the tone of NZ's innings.
The Kiwis have now reached their third Champions Trophy final
NZ innings
NZ set batting records to reach 362/6
Ravindra and Will Young added 48 runs after NZ elected to bat.
Ravindra found support from Williamson thereafter, with the duo taking NZ past 210. While Ravindra departed after completing his ton, Williamson marched forward with Daryl Mitchell.
Mitchell (49) and Glenn Phillips (49*) took the onus post ton-up Williamson's departure.
NZ slammed 100-plus runs in the final 10 overs to reach 362/6.
SA innings
SA falter in middle overs despite fine start
SA lost opener Ryan Rickelton early, but Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen added a 105-run stand to stay alive.
Although Bavuma's knock came to a halt, van der Dussen took SA past 160. However, Santner dismissed him and Heinrich Klaasen to turn the tide.
The Kiwi spinners eventually triggered SA's middle-order collapse. David Miller's 100* went in vain, as SA compiled (312/9).
Fsinal
Third Champions Trophy final for NZ
New Zealand have reached their third Champions Trophy final.
They won the 2000 edition after beating India in the final. NZ were also the runners-up in 2009, losing the final to Australia.
The Black Caps would now face India in the 2025 Champions Trophy final in Dubai.
India, who remain unbeaten, defeated Australia in the semi-final. They also beat NZ in the group stage.
Bavuma
Highest score for SA skipper in CT semi-final
Although SA lost the match, Bavuma led from the front with a 71-ball 56 (4 fours and 1 six). He was dismissed by Santner in the 23rd over.
Bavuma recorded the highest score by a Proteas skipper in the Champions Trophy semi-final.
The only other instance of SA reaching the CT semi-final came in 1998 when they won the tournament.
Rassie
Van der Dussen's fifty goes in vain
Van der Dussen once again showcased his brilliance after opener Rickelton departed.
He played his shots in his century-plus stand with Bavuma. However, Santner knocked him over for a 66-ball 69 (4 fours and 2 sixes).
Van der Dussen, 36, has likely played his final Champions Trophy match. He has raced to 2,657 ODI runs at an average of 50.13.
Total
Highest-ever total in Champions Trophy
As mentioned, New Zealand's 362/6 is now the highest-ever total in Champions Trophy history.
They went past Australia, who scored 356/5 while chasing 352 (351/8) against England earlier in the tournament.
According to Cricbuzz, NZ registered the third-highest team total in ICC ODI tournaments knockouts. This bettered Australia's 359/2 against India in the 2003 ODI World Cup final in Johannesburg.
Ravindra
Ravindra bolsters NZ with fifth ODI ton
Ravindra's brilliant 101-ball 108 (13 fours and 1 six) was pivotal to NZ's record-breaking total.
He fell in the 34th over when Kagiso Rabada found his bat's edge off a wide off-cutter drive. The latter departed after slamming his fifth ODI ton.
In 32 matches (28 innings), Ravindra owns 1,196 runs at 44.29. He now owns nine fifty-plus scores in ODIs.
Williamson
Williamson stitches another incredible knock
While Ravindra continued with his endearing strokes, Williamson kept the scoreboard ticking by taking singles.
The latter also punished the poor deliveries to find occasional boundaries. Williamson, who was later joined by Mitchell, raced to his century off 91 balls.
Williamson fell to Wiaan Mulder after failing to execute a scoop shot. He slammed 102 off 94 balls (10 fours and 2 sixes).
Feats
Fifth ton in ICC ODI tournaments
Ravindra hammered his fifth century in ICC ODI tournaments, the most for NZ. He slammed a match-winning 112 against Bangladesh earlier in the ongoing tournament.
Ravindra has become the first NZ player with multiple tons in a Champions Trophy edition.
Overall, he has joined Chris Gayle, Sourav Ganguly, Saeed Anwar, Herschelle Gibbs, Upul Tharanga, Shane Watson, and Shikhar Dhawan on this elite list.
Information
Second-fewest innings to five ODI hundreds for NZ
As per Cricbuzz, Ravindra has taken the second-fewest innings to five ODI hundreds for New Zealand. Devon Conway leads the show with 22 innings. Ravindra has reached five ODI tons in 28 innings. He broke Daryl Mitchell's tally of 30 innings to five tons.
Information
Another feat for Ravindra
Besides scoring a ton, Ravindra also dismissed Aiden Markram with his spin-bowling. As per Cricbuzz, he is now the only Kiwi player with a hundred and a wicket in both World Cup and Champions Trophy.
Opponents
Second-most ODI tons for NZ against a side
Williamson now has the second-most ODI tons for NZ against a side. He is behind Nathan Astle (5 vs India) and Ross Taylor (5 vs England).
As per Cricbuzz, only Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and David Warner have more ODI tons against South Africa.
Williamson has hundreds in three successive ODI innings against SA, the first NZ player to do so against a side.
Milestone
First Kiwi player with 19,000 runs across formats
Williamson also completed 19,000 runs in international cricket, becoming the first Kiwi player with this feat. He reached this landmark with his 27th run.
Overall, Williamson is the 16th player with 19,000 international runs. He also went past Australia's David Warner, who retired with 18,995 runs across formats.
Only two batters from NZ other than Williamson have 15,000-plus runs across formats.
Partnership
Highest partnership for NZ in Champions Trophy
The 164-run stand between Ravindra and Williamson is now the highest for NZ in Champions Trophy history.
According to Cricbuzz, the previous-highest partnership in this regard was 163 between Nathan Astle and Scott Styris against USA in 2004 (The Oval).
Ravindra and Williamson also recorded the highest stand against SA in the tournament. The previous-highest was 163 between Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah (2009).
Milestones
Other notable milestones achieved
David Miller, who scored a fighting ton, raced to 1,000 ODI runs in Asia.
With his second wicket, Kagiso Rabada completed 50 wickets on Asian soil in the format. His counterpart Matt Henry also raced to as many wickets in Asia.
In the first innings, New Zealand opener Will Young completed 4,500 runs in List A cricket.