New Zealand edge past South Africa to face India in Champions Trophy final

Gulf Today

06-03-2025

Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson struck hundreds as New Zealand eased to a 50-run win over South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday to set up a rematch with India in the Champions Trophy final.
Ravindra made 108 off 101 balls and Williamson hit 102 off 94 deliveries as New Zealand posted a Champions Trophy record 362-6 before restricting South Africa to 312-9.
David Miller finished unbeaten on 100 but his 67-ball innings came in vain with the game already well out of reach, as South Africa suffered their fifth Champions Trophy semi-final defeat after those in 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2013.
They won the first edition of the tournament in Bangladesh in 1998, when it was named the ICC KnockOut Trophy.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner excelled with the ball and took 3-43 with his left-arm spin, breaking a 105-run partnership for South Africa's second wicket by removing rival skipper Temba Bavuma for 56.
Bavuma started slowly before steadying the innings with Rassie van der Dussen, who scored a fluent 69 before being deceived by a beautiful delivery from Santner.
Santner then dealt a critical blow when he dismissed Heinrich Klaasen for three, caught by a diving Matt Henry at long-on, dashing South Africa's hopes of pulling off the highest chase in the tournament's history.
Ravindra (1-20) had Aiden Markram caught and bowled for 31 while Glenn Phillips chipped in with 2-27 as South Africa crumbled against spin.
Earlier, Ravindra and Williamson set the foundations for a big total on a batting-friendly Gaddafi Stadium pitch after New Zealand won the toss and batted first.
Daryl Mitchell clubbed 49 off 37 balls and Phillips smashed a 27-ball 49 not out as the Black Caps plundered 110 runs in the last 10 overs and 66 in the last five.
South Africa's bowling line-up struggled right from the start as Ravindra and Will Young (21) put on 48 for the opening stand.
It was followed by a magnificent 164-run partnership for the second wicket between Ravindra and Williamson that put the New Zealanders on track for a massive total, as the duo scored at will with some delightful strokes.
Ravindra completed his fifth ODI hundred -- all coming in ICC events -- from 93 balls with a two off Kagiso Rabada.
Williamson reached his 15th ODI hundred with a ramped boundary, his third three-figure score in as many matches against South Africa.
It was Rabada who finally ended the partnership by dismissing Ravindra caught behind. Ravindra hit 13 fours and one six in total.
Williamson chipped Wiaan Mulder into the hands of Lungi Ngidi in the 40th over after hitting 10 fours and two sixes.
Mitchell and Phillips added some late impetus after South Africa had briefly dragged things back to give themselves hope of limiting the score to under 350.
Fast bowler Ngidi finished with 3-72, while Rabada ended with figures of 2-70.
Meanwhile, Pakistan cricket fans and former players seethed Wednesday after the host country's already disappointing Champions Trophy suffered one last blow: no final.
"It's totally unfair," said Moeed Ali Khan, a private car driver outside Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium to watch the second semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand.
"I am disgusted, neither our team is in the final nor is the final in Pakistan."
Pakistan celebrated on Feb.19 when the country began staging its first major international cricket tournament in three decades. But it was all downhill after that.
The hosts lost the opening match to New Zealand and their title defence was over with a comprehensive defeat to arch-rivals India. Their dead-rubber final group match, against Bangladesh, was washed out.
This Sunday's final was scheduled for Lahore, but with one big caveat: not if India reached the title decider.
By defeating Australia in the first semi-final on Tuesday, India did just that.
India have played all their games, including the Australia clash, in Dubai after refusing to visit neighbouring Pakistan because of political tensions. The final will also be at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan only agreed to the so-called hybrid model of hosting on the condition that they will also not send their team to India for upcoming ICC events.
The arrangement, which saw other teams shuttle in and out of the UAE while India stayed put, underlined India's outsized influence over cricket.
"We accepted this arrangement, so what is the fuss?" asked Abdul Samad, a cricket fan.
"When you do not have power you have to bow down and this is the bargain Pakistan had to do.
"No regrets for me. Our team and our cricket is lagging behind so we had to make a compromise."
Others in Pakistan are not so pragmatic.
"No final in Pakistan after such a heavy investment on the venues is a blow," former captain Rashid Latif told AFP.
"Pakistan is at the lowest level in terms of finances and team-wise as well, which is a double loss."
Pakistan reportedly spent the equivalent of 16 million dollars to upgrade the three venues in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi.
The country will reportedly get six million dollars in hosting fees from the ICC.
But finances could be hit with the lack of interest in the 50-over tournament after the home team's early exit.
Three of the matches in Pakistan were hit by bad weather and empty seats at games were noticeable.
"India have improved enormously and that has been evident in this event," said Latif, reflecting on what has happened on the pitch.
"But I think politics has lowered the cricket a great deal."
He added: "I think had they come to Pakistan and lifted the trophy in Lahore it would have been great."
Latif says the repercussions of the split hosting will last beyond the Champions Trophy.
"This problem of one team not coming to another country and in future Pakistan not going to India will hit world cricket badly," he said. "It needs to be addressed quickly."