Ravindra, Williamson Tons Set up Final Date with India in Dubai

By showcasing all-round skill, New Zealand defeated South Africa in the second semifinal in Lahore, thus securing a spot in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025. New Zealand, spearheaded by Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson’s centuries, managed to post an intimidating 362 score. New Zeland’s score was almost defended successfully, but the margin of victory was narrowed down to just 50 runs after David Miller demolished the target effortlessly. The score was marked at 67 runs off the bat in a heartbeat – the fastest in Champions Trophy history. Read More Latest Blogs Here

Very early on, South Africa was already behind in the contested chase. Kyle Jamieson began with a maiden and Matt Henry asked some questions. In the sluggish phase, Ryan Rickelton was the first to go after he attempted to slice an off cutter and ended up hitting it directly to cover. First ball of the innings, Rassie van der Dussen scored a boundary and Temba Bavuma who had 3 run on 18 balls, unshackled the score with a beautiful on drive that rolled to the boundary.

We were thinking 300, and then Kane started to accelerate – Ravindra

After the first eight overs, South Africa only managed to score 36 runs, but they improved that in the next PowerPlay with Bavuma and van der Dussen hitting a few boundaries. The same could not be said when it came to spinners. South Africa were able to target William O’Rourke, but they could not do anything with Michael Bracewell’s consistent bowling. Things did not get any easier once mitch Santner joined the game, completing the nightmarish scenario for South Africa.

With how strong the two spin bowlers were starting, South Africa did reasonably well to keep themselves in the game when both set batters reached their half-centuries. But when Santner took both of their wickets within a few overs, everything fell apart. Slowing the pace down tremendously, Santner was able to get some turn from this surface and clean out Bavuma before getting through van der Dussen’s defense.

During that stage, South African was in dire need of a predicament defying performance from Heinrich Klaasen to win the game in an extraordinary fashion. Yet again the captain of New Zealand showed up for his team and won the much hyped battle against the free-spirited South African wicket-keeper batter who came over to slog but instead popped up a simple catch to long on. Because of this, it was all too easy for Bracewell, who finished his spell with a wicket and then others like Ravindra and Glenn Phillips, who

By that stage, the contest was dead and buried. The only bit of interest that remained was regarding Miller and whether or not he decided to light up the skies with a few big ones. Even with the conclusion being accepted by most, Miller’s batting performance shocked the opposition and small audience remaining. Miller’s batting had him at an impressive 47 off of 43 by the end of the 46th over. He set a strike for a majority of the next 24 deliveries, subsequently resulting in Jamieson and O’Rourke remaining at the receiving end of a barrage of boundaries. Dra. Miller, the South African batter needed 18 runs from the last six balls to reach a well earned century. With only two runs needed off the last ball, he finished the innings as most heroes do. When at one stage the loss margin looked to be beyond 100, his savage batting helped minimize that loss significantly.

Earlier that day, New Zealand did well to bat efficient and put up a massive total. Ravindra looked in great touch right from the start and while South Africa, for a brief period, managed to take down the run rate by getting rid of Will Young, New Zealand gained control with Williamson came onto bat.

While batting with Williamson, Ravindra was in no mood to spare him and started slaughtering the ball for boundaries at will. The duo single-handedly took down Keshav Maharaj too, hoiking him for a six each after which he had no hope of containing the pair. Together, the two batters reached milestones with Williamson scoring his fifty off 61 balls while Ravindra, for the fifth time in his ODI career, completed a century – a remarkable achievement as all five tons came during ICC tournaments.

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After Rabada went off, it became easier for Williamson to score while Daryl Mitchell was content at the other end. The former captain displayed his signature scoop shot and it paid off, allowing him to score his second fifty in only thirty-one balls. However, he soon followed with the same shot that cost him greatly as the New Zealand team entered the death overs without either of the two set batters. For a time, it looked like South Africa would be able to take advantage until Mitchell and then Phillips shattered that dream scoring a staggering eighty-three runs off the last six overs, ensuring New Zealand a spot in the finals.

Brief scores: New Zealand 362/6 in 50 overs (Rachin Ravindra 108, Kane Williamson 102, Glenn Phillips 49*; Lungi Ngidi 3/72) beat South Africa 312/9 in 50 overs (David Miller 100*, Rassie van der Dussen 69; Mitchell Santner 3/43) by 50 runs