SA vs NZ, CT 2025 semifinal highlights: Kiwis win by 50 runs, to face India in final

It's an end of road for South Africa in the Champions Trophy 2025 as they lost to New Zealand by 50 runs in the semifinal. David Miller scored fighting 100* off 67 balls but it was not worth it as Proteas were restricted to 312/9 in 50 overs. 

Century! Though South Afric were losing, David Miller still managed to get his hundred. Miller scores his century on the last ball of the match! The South African team stands up to applaud his brilliant innings. It was a full delivery outside off, and Miller stretched out to hit it. 

FIFTY! David Miller stands all as he registered half-century under pressure in South Africa's 363 run-chase. A slow ball outside off, Miller waits for it and smashes it straight over the bowler for a powerful four.

South Africa needs 99 runs off 18 balls to win. 

SA: 264/9 in 47 overs (Miller 52, Ngidi 1)

WICKET! Matt Henry dismissed Kagiso Rabada for 16 at 256/9. A short ball outside off, Rabada goes for the pull over mid-wicket but doesn't hit it cleanly. Phillips at deep mid-wicket takes a safe catch.

South Africa needs 104 off 24 balls. 

SA: 259/9 in 46 overs (Miller 47, Ngidi 1)

WICKET! Glenn Phillips dismissed Keshav Maharaj for 1 at 218/8. Maharaj tries to play a pull shot to a short ball on leg stump but it did not connect well. The ball brushes his glove and goes behind to the wicketkeeper. Latham reacts quickly, moves to his left, and takes a sharp catch with both hands. Maharaj walks off immediately after the catch is taken. South Africa needs 137 runs off 54 balls to win. 

SA: 226/8 in 41 overs (Miller 29*, Rabada 4*)

WICKET! Glenn Phillips dismissed Marco Jansen for 3 in the 38th over. There was an LBW appeal, but the on-field umpire says NOT OUT. Glenn Phillips looks interested, and Mitchell Santner decides to take DRS. Marco Jansen attempts a reverse sweep but misses and gets hit on the front pad. UltraEdge confirms no bat involved. Wow! Ball Tracking shows all three reds, and the umpire’s decision is overturned to OUT.

South Africa need 144 runs off 66 balls. 

SA: 217/7 in 39 overs (Miller 25, Maharaj 1)

WICKET! Michael Bracewell helped New Zealand to further dent South Africa's chances of chasing down 363-run target as he dismissed Wiaan Mulder for 8 at 200/6. Mulder goes for a slog sweep to a delivery that is slow and pitched on a length outside off. However, two things go against him—he's hitting towards the longer boundary and into the wind. As a result, he doesn't get enough power or height on the shot. Ravindra moves forward a few steps at deep square leg and takes an easy catch.

South Africa need 161 runs off 78 balls to win

SA: 202/6 in 37 overs (Miller 13*, Jansen 1*)

WICKET! Aiden Markman was dismissed by Rachin Ravindra for 31 at 189/5 in 33rd over. A shorter delivery on middle and off stump, with some turn and grip, making it slightly slow off the surface. Markram tries to punch it but mistimes the shot, lobbing it straight to Ravindra, who takes a reverse-cup catch in his follow-through.South Africa need 172 runs from 96 balls. 

SA: 191/5 in 34 overs (Miller 10*, Mulder 1*)

Mitchell Santner put South Africa under pressure after dismissing Rassie van der Dussen (69) and Heinrich Klaasen (20) and reduced the Proteas to 167/4 in their 363-run chase. South Africa need 189 runs to win from 120 balls. 

SA: 174/4 in 30 overs (Markram 25*, Miller 1*)

WICKET! Temba Bavuma dismissed Mitchell Santner for 56 at 125/2. Bavuma was getting frustrated and tried to score faster. He attempted a big shot but ended up slicing the ball, sending a thick edge straight to Kane Williamson at backward point, who took an easy catch. South Africa need 235 runs to win. 

SA: 128/2 in 23 overs (van der Dussen 51*, Markram 1*)

FIFTY! Temba Bavuma registered his 7th ODI fifty. Pitched up outside off stump, Bavuma moves back and guides it past cover-point to take a single to complete his fifty. South Africa need 256 runs to win.

SA: 107/1 in 20 overs (Bavuma 50*, van der Dussen 38*)

Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to help South Africa chase down 363-run target as the pair took the team past 100-run mark in 18th over. 

SA: 105/1 in 18 overs (Bavuma 48*,  van der Dussen 38)

New Zealand bowlers are in a hunt for breakthrough after Matt Henry dismissed Ryan Rickelton as Temba Bavuma and Rassie van dur Dussen are looking to form a good partnership while steadying South Africa's 363 run-chase. 

SA - 85/1 in 15 overs (Bavuma 38*, van der Dussen 30*)

After Ryan Rickelton's dismissal, Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen carried on South Africa's 363-run chase. The pair steadied Proteas' ship and accelerated when required. 

SA: 56/1 in 10 overs (Bavuma 25*, van der Dussen 14*)

WICKET! Ryan Rickelton dismissed by Matt Henry for 17 at 20/1. Rickelton was batting well, but Henry's clever variation got the better of him. It seemed like a slower ball that held up a bit on the pitch. Rickelton played his shot too early with hard hands, and the ball popped up straight to Bracewell, who took the catch happily.

SA : 20/1 (Bavuma 3*, van der Dussen 4*)

Rachin Ravindra:  I guess it was the partnerships, Young and Kane helped me get through the ebbs and flows, at times my timing isn't so great, but KW helped me get through that phase. At times, the ball held a bit and the bowlers also bowled good lines and lengths. Hopefully, the ball will continue to hold onto the surface a bit more under lights. He's a classy player (on Kane Williamson), fun to watch him bat from the other end.

Centuries from Rachin Ravindra (108) and Kane Williamson (102, followed by vital contributions by Daryll Mitchell (49) and Glenn Phillips (49*) helped New Zealand set 363-run target for South Africa to chase. 

NZ: 362/6 in 50 overs (Phillips 49*, Santner 2*)

WICKET! Lungi Ngidi picked up the sixth wicket for South Africa by dismissing Michael Bracewell for 18. A slower full ball outside off stump, Bracewell stretches out and plays an aerial drive towards extra cover. Rickelton moves low to his right and takes a safe catch.

NZ: 360/6 in 49.5 overs (Phillips 49*, Santner 0*)

WICKET! Daryl Mitchell missed out on well-deserved fifty as he was dismissed for 49 by Lungi Ngidi. Ngidi slows the ball down and bowls it outside off stump on a good length. Daryl Mitchell moves back and across, trying to hit it hard. But the bat twists in his hands, and he mishits it. The ball goes to deep mid-wicket, where Rabada runs forward and takes an easy catch.

NZ: 324/5 in 47 overs (Phillips 27, Bracewell 7*)

300 for New Zealand! After fall of wickets of Kane Williamson and Tom Latham, Daryll Mitchell and Glenn Phillips take charge of New Zealand's batting. Phillips smashed four consecutive fours off Marco Jansen in the 46th over. 

NZ: 314/4 in 46 overs (Mitchell 49*, Phillips 26*)

WICKET! Kagiso Rabada bowled out Tom Latham for 4. Latham premeditates his shot, exposing his stumps as he crouches and prepares to play a scoop. But Rabada sticks to the basics, delivering a good-length ball on middle and off, knocking him over.

NZ: 261/4 in 42 overs (Mitchell 20*, Phillips 3*)

WICKET! Kane Williamson dismissed by Wiaan Mulder for 108 off 101 balls. Williamson moved across to play the scoop shot off full outside off delivery but fails to get under the ball. As a result, there’s no elevation, and he ends up giving an easy catch to short fine leg. 

NZ: 242/3 in 40 overs (Mitchell 17*, Latham 1*)

CENTURY! Kane Williamson gets his 15th ODI century. He moves across to the slower off-cutter outside off and scoops it over Klaasen to complete his century. Then, he just raises his bat to celebrate - calm and composed, without any fuss

NZ: 249/2 in 39.1 overs

WICKET! Rachin Ravindra incredible innings of 108 off 101 balls came to an end after he was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada. A slower off-cutter, full and wide outside off. Ravindra goes for a drive but gets a thick outside edge and Klaasen flew to the left to grab the catch. 

NZ: 213/2 in 34 overs (Williamson 80*, Mitchell 1*)

CENTURY! Rachin Ravindra registered his 2nd century of the Champions Trophy 2025. With a full-length delivery on the leg stump, Rachin flicked wide of mid-wicket for an easy two runs. He takes off his helmet and raises his bat to acknowledge the applause. A well-played innings!

NZ: 201 in 32 overs (Rachin 105*, Williamson 72*)

Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson has continued to build on a brilliant partnership as South Africa bowlers struggle to break their stand. Meanwhile, Rachin Ravindra is nearing his 2nd century of the Champions Trophy 2025. 

NZ: 181/1 in 30 overs (Rachin 95*, Williamson 62*)

FIFTY! Kane Williamson registered his 2nd fifty of the Champions Trophy 2025. He steps down the pitch but doesn't quite reach the ball. Luckily, his flick falls just short of the charging Rassie at deep mid-wicket. He simply raises his bat in celebration. It was his 48th ODI fifty of his career. 

NZ: 169/1 in 28 overs (Rachin 90*, Williamson 55*)

South Africa bowlers struggled to find a breakthrough after Will Young's wicket as Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson are building on good partnership while accelerating Kiwis' innings. 

NZ: 143/1 in 25 overs (Rachin 80*, Williamson 39*)

Kane Williamsom achieved a massive milestone as he became the first New Zealand batter to aggregate 19000 runs across all formats at international level. 

Most runs in international cricket among active players 

27598 - Virat Kohli (616 Inns) 
20724 - Joe Root (474 Inns) 
19624 - Rohit Sharma (531 Inns) 
19000* - Kane Williamson (440 Inns) 
17165 - Steve Smith (415 Inns) 

Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson accelerated New Zealand's innings and took the team past 100-run mark 

NZ: 113/1 in 20 overs (Rachin 61*, Williamson 28*)

FIFTY! Rachin Ravindra registered his 6th ODI fifty. Rachin Ravindra pulls a short delivery towards deep fine leg for a boundary, reaching his milestone. Now, he just needs to build on it.

NZ: 98/1 (Rachin 50*, Williamson 26*)

After Will Young's dismissal at 56/1, Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson carried on New Zealand's batting and maintained the run rate steadily, adding 31 runs in the next five overs. 

NZ: 87/1 (Rachin 41*, Williamson 23*)

After steady start to the innings, New Zealand lost a wicket of Will Young for 21 at 56/1. Rachin Ravindra, alongside Kane Williamson, carry on Kiwis' batting in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal. 

NZ: 56/1 in 10 overs (Rachin 29*, Williamson 5*)

WICKET! Will Young departed for 21. After bowling short deliveries in the first few overs, the bowlers have realized that slowing down the pace is more effective. Ngidi cleverly bowls a slower, full delivery on off stump. Will Young tries to hit it straight down the ground but mistimes it. The ball comes off the bottom of his bat and goes straight to Aiden Markram at mid-off.

NZ: 48/1 in 7.5 overs (Rachin 27*, Williamson 0*)

Will Young and Rachin Ravindra gave New Zealand a steady start to their innings in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal. 

NZ: 29/0 in 5 overs (Young 17*, Rachin 11*)

Four! Rachin Ravindra hits first boundary of the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal. Jansen bowls a short delivery over middle stump, but Rachin quickly picks up the length and powerfully pulls it square on the leg side for his first boundary.

NZ: 12/0 in 3 overs.

Bavuma: We weren't too concerned, would've preferred to bat. But we'll have to start well. One change: I'm back, feeling much better.

Santner: Looks a good wicket, there shouldn't be dew. Privilege to captain the country, we know what to expect in these conditions. Same team for us. Last game was foreign conditions, we come up against a good outfit here, hope to put pressure on SA.

South Africa (Playing XI) - Temba Bavuma(C), Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen(WK), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(WK), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(C), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O'Rourke.

New Zeland won the toss and opted to bat first in the high-octane semifinal clash of the Champions Trophy 2025 in Lahore.