Lahore, March 6, 2025 – New Zealand won a big match against South Africa yesterday, March 5, 2025. It was the second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The game happened at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. New Zealand scored a huge total of 362 runs. South Africa could only make 312 runs. This means New Zealand won by 50 runs. Now, they will play India in the final.
The match started with New Zealand batting first. Their captain, Mitchell Santner, chose to bat after winning the toss. Openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra began well. But South Africa’s bowler Lungi Ngidi got Young out early. Then, Ravindra and Kane Williamson took charge. Both players hit centuries. Ravindra made 100 runs, and Williamson scored 100 too. Their partnership was strong and gave New Zealand a good start.
Later, Glenn Phillips came in. He played fast and scored runs quickly. Phillips made 49 runs off just 37 balls. Daryl Mitchell also helped with a quick 49. New Zealand finished with 362 runs for 6 wickets in 50 overs. South Africa’s bowlers tried hard. Kagiso Rabada took 2 wickets. But they could not stop New Zealand’s big score.
South Africa started their batting with hope. Captain Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen batted well at first. They made a partnership to steady the team. But New Zealand’s bowlers fought back. Mitchell Santner was the star. He took 3 wickets in the middle overs. One big moment was when he got Bavuma out. This broke South Africa’s flow.
After Bavuma left, South Africa lost more wickets fast. Heinrich Klaasen tried to fight with some big shots. He scored 50 runs. But it was not enough. New Zealand’s bowlers kept the pressure on. Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke also took wickets. South Africa ended at 312 runs for 9 wickets. They fell 50 runs short of the target.
Fans at Gaddafi Stadium cheered loudly. The crowd saw a great game. New Zealand’s batting was too strong for South Africa. Experts say the centuries by Ravindra and Williamson were key. Phillips’ quick runs at the end also made a big difference. South Africa’s coach, Rob Walter, said his team did not bowl well early. He admitted New Zealand played better.
This win is big for New Zealand. They have reached the Champions Trophy final. Their next match is against India. India won their semi-final against Australia on March 4. The final will be on March 9, 2025, in Dubai. New Zealand has won the Champions Trophy once before, in 2000. South Africa won it in 1998. Both teams have a history of strong play.
Here is a table with the match details:
| Team | Score | Wickets Lost | Top Scorer | Best Bowler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 362 | 6 | Rachin Ravindra (100) | Mitchell Santner (3) |
| South Africa | 312 | 9 | Heinrich Klaasen (50) | Kagiso Rabada (2) |
New Zealand’s players are happy. Williamson said the team worked together well. He praised Ravindra and Phillips for their efforts. South Africa’s captain, Bavuma, said they will learn from this loss. He wished New Zealand luck for the final.
Cricket fans are excited for the final. New Zealand vs. India will be a big match. Both teams are strong. The game in Dubai will decide the champion of 2025. Yesterday’s semi-final showed New Zealand’s power. Can they beat India too? We will find out soon!
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