Who Said What in the Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-final 2 between South Africa and New Zealand?

At the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, New Zealand defeated South Africa by 50 runs in the second semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025.

On Sunday, March 9, they will now play India in the championship match of the prestigious ODI tournament’s ninth edition.

Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips scored vital 49-run knocks off 37 and 27 deliveries, respectively, after Rachin Ravindra’s (108), and Kane Williamson’s (102), centuries were scored. The Proteas bowling unit’s standout player was Lungi Ngidi, who took three wickets while giving up 72 runs in his allotted 10-overs.

Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma put together a crucial stand for the second wicket as the run-chase approached. They both appeared to be serious threats as they reached their respective fifties. But Mitchell Santner’s outstanding spell was sufficient to put the opposition on the defensive. David Miller, who earned a well-earned tonne on the game’s last delivery, bravely held the fort by himself to play an incredible knock in a losing cause.

Talking Points

1. Rachin Ravindra’s passion for ICC events is still going strong.

Rachin had more hundreds (5) in ICC ODI competitions than a number of cricketing greats, including Steve Waugh, Jacques Kallis, Brian Lara, and Sanath Jayasuriya, to mention a few, thanks to his iconic 101-ball knock.

2. South Africa finds Mitchell Santner‘s network of ruin to be cruel.

South Africa could not stand Santner’s trickery. Before taking Heinrich Klaasen’s crucial wicket, he got rid of the solid Bavuma and van der Dussen. Santner produced figures of 3/43 during his brilliant 10-over stretch.

3. David Miller produces yet another incredible masterpiece.

Miller has consistently performed well, whether it was in the Cricket World Cup semifinals in 2015 and 2023 or the T20 World Cup final in 2024. This game was just another example of his extraordinary talent. Regretfully, this knock was unsuccessful, just like earlier exhibitions. In the tournament’s history, Miller’s 67-ball tonne was the fastest.

Who Said What?

Player of the Match, Rachin Ravindra

Winning captain, Mitchell Santner

It’s a pretty good feeling, today we were challenged by a good side, we will head to Dubai where we already faced India earlier. We will rest and will go again. It was holding a bit in the first innings but Rachin and WIlliiamson set the stage and the guys finishing it put the icing on the cake. We took wickets in the middle overs and made it tough for the opposition. What we speak as a group is to apply pressure and take wickets in the middle. Michael Bracewell bowled really well in the last game to take a 4-fer. It was really pleasing for me to take three scalps today.

It makes my job easier, we have four all-rounders who can bowl spin and they can bat as well. Rachin’s five overs were great, have to wait and see how Matt Henry’s shoulder is. It’s a bit sore, we have to wait for a couple of days and see. (On Williamson) He keeps doing it, that partnership was massive for us, he was able to keep going in the middle phase, South Africa challenged us but we were able to cash in and score 360. We felt 320 might not be enough. (On their loss against India in Dubai) Being there and being put under pressure was good. I think the bowlers bowled well to chip wickets at the top. I think winning the toss will be nice as well.

Losing captain, Temba Bavuma

(On the target) I do think it was above-par. Probably if it was 350, we would have backed ourselves to chase the score. We had one or two partnerships today but we needed me or Rassie to go on and emulate what two of their batters did. They really put us under pressure from the word go, the way they were able to pierce the off-side at the start and the way they played in the middle overs. Kudos to them, credit to their batters, Rachin and Williamson and even the batters who came in, Mitchell and Phillips.

We were 125/1 and me and Rassie were still batting. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to set that foundation for them. A bit of a soft dismissal for me and a better dismissal for Rassie and we left too much for them in the end. Like I said in the beginning, like I mentioned that we were 125/1, we had to be more decisive, not give an opportunity for the opposition to come back and being ruthless. We needed to take care of the key moments in the game.