Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson made optimum use of the conditions that have been quite familiar to them in the recent times, and scored effortless centuries as New Zealand stormed into the final of the Champions Trophy, defeating South Africa by 50 runs.
At the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, an unchanged New Zealand opted to bat and rode on Rachin’s 108 (101b, 13×4, 1×6) and Williamson’s 102 (94b, 10×4, 2×6) to put up a mammoth 362 for 6, before spinners Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips eventually paved the way for the team’s final date with India, despite David Miller’s unbeaten 67-ball-100 .
It was a cautious start by New Zealand as Rachin took his time before hammering three boundaries in an over from Marco Jansen, while his opening partner Will Young chipped in with a couple of boundaries before falling to Lungi Ngidi.
AS IT HAPPENED – SA vs NZ CT 2025 SEMFINAL
However, New Zealand rebuilt with Rachin and Williamson anchoring the innings. With the surface not aiding the bowlers, Rachin made the most of reprieves and took on Wiaan Mulder for three fours in an over, while Williamson too accelerated the scoring with a six off Keshav Maharaj and a rare scoop against Kagiso Rabada.
En route to their 164-run partnership for the second wicket, Rachin brought up his fifth ODI ton before falling to Rabada, while Williamson reached his 15th ODI century with a scoop.
He couldn’t carry on, however, falling to Mulder in the 40th. Nevertheless, New Zealand managed to add 110 runs in the final 10 overs, riding on quick cameos from Darryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips.
With a mountain to climb, South Africa lost opener Ryan Rickelton early. Captain Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen reignited Protean hopes with a 95-run partnership, with both scoring fifties. Despite a tall total, the duo looked confident as they paced their innings perfectly and frustrated the New Zealand bowlers until the 22nd over.
However, things changed quickly as Santner dismissed Bavuma and van der Dussen in quick succession. With a middle-order collapse, South Africa lost six wickets in no time before Miller entertained the crowd with a flurry of boundaries and added 56 runs for the last wicket.
In the end though, South Africa could not evade another ICC event heartbreak.
The scores: New Zealand 362/6 in 50 overs (Rachin Ravindra 108, Kane Williamson 102; Lungi Ngidi 3/72) bt South Africa 312/9 in 50 overs (David Miller 100 n.o., Rassie van der Dussen 69, Temba Bavuma 56; Santner 3/43); Toss: New Zealand