On March 9, New Zealand will play India in the Champions Trophy final, which will be a rematch of their last group stage encounter.
New Zealand defeated South Africa by 50 runs on Wednesday to guarantee their place in the 2025 Champions Trophy final in Lahore, thanks to centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.
NZ would reach a record-breaking 362, the highest total in Champions Trophy history, with an all-around exhibition of firepower from their batting ranks.
David Miller put up a valiant, undefeated century, but Mitchell Santner, the captain of New Zealand, would destroy SA in the chase with a brilliant spell of 3/43, ultimately losing by 50 runs.
India and New Zealand will now play each other again in the Champions Trophy final on March 9, which will be a repetition of their last group stage encounter.
From the beginning, the Kiwis were in control, winning the toss and choosing to bat first.
After Will Young was lost early in the innings, Ravindra and Williamson were at the crease, and they cut, diced, and walloped their way through the innings to get their dominant hundreds. The ensuing riot was unstoppable.Throughout the entire middle-overs, the South African bowlers were left in a state of helplessness and misery. As the final ten overs drew closer, however, the Proteans had a glimmer of optimism thanks to two goals from star pacer Kagiso Rabada.
However, the Kiwis reached 362 runs at the end of their innings, the greatest total in Champions Trophy history, thanks to a scorching performance from players like Mitchell and Phillips, who each scored 49 runs.
South Africa fought hard in the early stages of their chase, with captain Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen scoring fifty of their own and a superb 105-run partnership.However, Santner’s cunning spin would soon overwhelm the pair, leaving South Africa in a precarious position at 161-3. After the defeats, the Proteans would struggle to establish any lasting alliances as wickets fell frequently and with relative ease.
With a brilliant 100* from 67 balls, David Miller would do his best to weather the storm and keep the South Africans in the chase. However, SA would miss the objective by 50 runs, and the veteran would not have the backing of the other end.
