New Zealand vs South Africa 2nd Semi-Final at Lahore, Champions Trophy 2025

New Zealand Vs South Africa Live Blog: New Zealand win by 50 runs

New Zealand Wins by 50 Runs! 🎉

New Zealand played a great match and won by 50 runs against South Africa in the Champions Trophy semi-final in Lahore. One of the best moments was when Mitchell Santner bowled a fantastic ball and got Rassie van der Dussen out. Santner was amazing today, taking 3 wickets and giving only 43 runs in his 10 overs! 👏

At the end, David Miller tried his best. He hit the ball hard and scored 100 runs with a great shot on the last ball. But it was too late! The required runs were too many, and South Africa couldn’t catch up. 😞

This is the second time in a row Miller has scored a century in a semi-final but still lost the match. He will be 38 years old by the next tournament in 2027—will he get another chance? 🤔

Now, New Zealand is going to the final in Dubai on Sunday! They will play against India again. Will history repeat itself, like the ICC KnockOut final 25 years ago? Or will India win another big trophy like they did last year in the T20 World Cup? We will have to wait and see! 🏆

Some Cool Stats from the Match!

🔥 New Zealand’s spinners took 7 wickets! This is the most wickets taken by spinners in an ODI match for them.
🔥 Matt Henry has taken 10 wickets in this tournament—more than any other bowler!

Pakistan’s Part in the Tournament 🇵🇰

The tournament is ending in Pakistan, and fans in Lahore enjoyed some amazing matches. Even though Pakistan’s team got knocked out early, the stadium was full for exciting matches like England vs Australia and England vs Afghanistan.

Pakistan didn’t play any games in Lahore, but the fans still came to watch. If the final was in Lahore, the stadium would have been completely full! But now, all eyes are on Dubai for the big final. 🏏✨

🏏 Matt Henry is Back!

Oh no! New Zealand’s fast bowler, Matt Henry, got hurt while catching the ball. He is very important to his team because he takes a lot of wickets. Fans were worried when he left the field to check his shoulder.

But don’t worry! He is back now after some treatment. New Zealand may not let him bowl at the end of the game to keep him safe. Right now, Glenn Phillips is bowling, and there are still other bowlers left to help the team.

🚀 Mulder is Out!

South Africa is in trouble! They need to score very fast—almost 12 runs per over! Wiaan Mulder, their batter, tries to hit a big shot. He swings hard but doesn’t hit the ball well. It goes straight to Rachin Ravindra, who catches it easily.

With this wicket, New Zealand is even closer to winning!

💪 Rachin Ravindra Shines Again!

Rachin Ravindra is having an amazing game! First, he scored a century (100+ runs), and now he is taking wickets too!

The pitch is getting slower, and when Markram tries to hit, the ball bounces a little differently. He mistimes his shot, and the ball goes straight back to Rachin, who catches it!

Now, South Africa needs a miracle from David Miller to have any chance of winning.

🤔 Is Santner Underrated?

Mitchell Santner is bowling so well! Some people think he doesn’t get enough credit for how good he is. A famous coach, Mike Hesson, even asked on social media:

“Why don’t people talk about Santner as one of the best spinners in the world?”

Maybe after this match, more people will notice how great he is!

🎯 Klaasen is Out!

Mitchell Santner is on fire! He takes another wicket, and South Africa is struggling now.

Klaasen, a strong batter, tries to hit Santner for a big shot. But Matt Henry, who just came back after his injury, runs in and takes an amazing catch! But oh no… he hurts his shoulder again while catching the ball!

🔥 Santner Strikes Again!

New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, takes another wicket! He bowls a tricky ball to Rassie van der Dussen, who tries to hit it but misses. The ball crashes into the stumps—OUT!

New Zealand is now in a very strong position. They can almost see the victory! 🎉

Santner Gets Bavuma Out!

Williamson made up for his mistake! Earlier, in the 21st over, he dropped Bavuma’s catch. But now, in the 23rd over, he caught him! Bavuma only scored six more runs after that drop.

Bavuma started very slowly but then tried to play faster. However, he struggled against spin bowling. He wanted to hit Santner for a big shot, but that was a bad idea!

Santner bowled the ball high in the air. Bavuma ran forward and tried to hit the ball over mid-off. But he didn’t hit it well! The ball went up in the air, and Williamson caught it easily.

Van der Dussen Scores 50 Runs!

Rassie van der Dussen is playing really well! He has now scored 50 runs for the third time in a row. He is helping South Africa stay in the game!

Bavuma Gets Lucky!

Bavuma reached his 50 runs after facing 64 balls. But on the very next ball, he got lucky!

He tried to hit a big shot off Santner’s bowling. The ball went flying toward Williamson, who dived and stretched his left hand out. But he couldn’t hold on to the ball! It was a difficult catch, but Williamson will be unhappy that he missed it.

Right after that, Van der Dussen hit a huge six down the ground! South Africa is still fighting hard!

Santner is Here!

Mitchell Santner is now bowling. His goal is to put pressure on the South African batsmen. It was fun hearing him talk about his dreams as New Zealand’s captain. He really wants to win a big trophy!

Bracewell’s Magic Bowling!

Michael Bracewell has bowled 117 dot balls in this tournament! This means the batsmen could not score any runs on those balls. He has now bowled more dot balls than India’s Axar Patel! What an amazing performance!

Bavuma Starts Hitting Big! 🏏🔥

South Africa’s batsman, Temba Bavuma, finally plays a big shot! He hits the ball high over the square leg for a huge six—the first six of the match! 🌟 Now, South Africa is scoring runs quickly, just like New Zealand.

A new bowler, Will O’Rourke, comes in to bowl after the first Powerplay. New Zealand is hoping he can get a wicket and stop the partnership between the two South African batsmen.

Bavuma Struggles Under Pressure 😟

Temba Bavuma is having a hard time. He looks around, searching for answers. His bowlers couldn’t stop New Zealand from scoring many runs at the end of their innings. Now, with the bat, he is struggling too!

At first, he could only score 3 runs from 18 balls—very slow! But then, finally, he hits a nice shot for a boundary (four runs) off Kyle Jamieson.

Bavuma had scored a half-century (50 runs) in the group stage against Afghanistan. But today, he is under pressure in the Powerplay. Can he turn things around? 🤔

Matt Henry Takes a Big Wicket! 🎯

Matt Henry, the New Zealand bowler, does something amazing! He takes an important wicket! 🚀

Ryan Rickelton was batting really well, already hitting four boundaries. But this time, the ball was slow, and Rickelton played his shot too early. The ball went up in the air, and Bracewell caught it! OUT! 😱

Henry is in great form! He recently took five wickets against India in Dubai. Now, he is one of the top 3 bowlers in the world! 🌍🏏

South Africa need 363 runs to win!

New Zealand played very well and made 362 runs—this is the highest score ever in the Champions Trophy! Now, South Africa has a very big challenge. If they want to win, they must break a big record!

Let’s look at what happened so far:

🏏 New Zealand won the toss (the coin flip) and chose to bat first.
⚡ South African bowler Lungi Ngidi got a wicket early, but Rachin Ravindra played really well and helped New Zealand start strong.
💯 Ravindra scored a century (100 runs)—his fifth time doing this in big ICC matches!
🤝 He and Kane Williamson added 164 runs together for the second wicket.
💯 Williamson also scored 100 runs—his third century in a row against South Africa!
🔥 At the end, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips hit the ball hard, scoring quick runs to take the team to 362 runs. South Africa’s bowlers had a tough time, and even their best bowlers, Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj, couldn’t stop the runs.

Now, South Africa needs to chase (reach) 363 runs to win. The highest chase in a big ODI match was 326 runs (by India in 2002). If South Africa wins, they will make history! Can they do it? Let’s watch and see!

New Zealand is trying to reach 350 runs!

🏏 Daryl Mitchell speeds up!

At first, Mitchell was playing slowly, but now he is hitting big shots! He smashed a six, and then a fielder dropped a difficult catch. After that, he hit two fours and moved to 48 runs from 35 balls. Just a few minutes ago, he had only 21 runs from 26 balls! That’s some fast scoring!

New Zealand scored 17 runs in the 45th over and now has 296 runs for 4 wickets with five overs left.

🚨 Latham is out!

Latham didn’t last long. South Africa was putting pressure on him by keeping five fielders inside the circle (even though only four were needed). He tried to hit the ball over his shoulder but missed, and the ball hit the stumps! Out! Now Glenn Phillips comes in to bat.

🏏 Williamson scores a century!

Kane Williamson played an amazing innings, reaching 100 runs in just 91 balls! First, he took 61 balls for 50 runs, but then he needed only 30 more balls to reach his century. He played a smart shot, scooping the ball for four runs. That’s three centuries in a row against South Africa!

💥 Big moment for New Zealand!

New Zealand reached 222 runs for 2 wickets. They are in a strong position!

⚡ South Africa gets a wicket!

Rachin Ravindra was playing brilliantly and scored his second century in this tournament! But then Kagiso Rabada bowled a tricky ball, and Ravindra got a small edge. The wicketkeeper caught it easily—OUT!

Now, Daryl Mitchell comes in at No. 4. New Zealand still has many strong batters left!

Ravindra’s Amazing Century! 🎉

What a player! Rachin Ravindra has scored his fifth century (100 runs) in One Day Internationals (ODIs). All of them came in big ICC tournaments—three in the 2023 World Cup and two in this Champions Trophy. He is now the New Zealand player with the most centuries in ICC events. And guess what? He is only 25 years old!

Mulder Leaves the Field 🚑

South Africa is having some bad luck in this tournament with injuries. Wiaan Mulder has bowled four overs but looks uncomfortable. He walks off the field with the team’s medical staff. If he can’t bowl again, captain Temba Bavuma will need Aiden Markram to help out.

30 Overs Done: New Zealand Strong 💪

New Zealand is playing well! Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson have built a strong partnership of 133 runs. Their team has already hit 22 boundaries (20 fours and 2 sixes). Only Australia and South Africa have hit more boundaries in the first 30 overs of an innings in this tournament.

Williamson Gets Lucky 🍀

A big moment in the match! Kane Williamson tries to hit the ball but edges it. Klaasen, the South African fielder, dives to catch it but drops the ball! It was not an easy catch, but now Williamson gets another chance to continue his innings.

Fifty for Kane! 🎖️

Kane Williamson reaches his 48th ODI half-century (50 runs). He is such a great player!

Markram Starts Bowling 🎯

Aiden Markram is bowling for the first time in this tournament. Ravindra was thinking of playing a big shot, but Williamson walked over and calmed him down. Let’s see if Ravindra will attack Markram in the next overs!

Markram’s Injury Worry 🤕

Aiden Markram had a small injury before the match but was cleared to play. However, he left the field for a while. Now, he is back! Former cricketer Shaun Pollock says that South Africa’s captain Bavuma should test Markram’s bowling now.

Ravindra Attacks! 🔥

Rachin Ravindra reaches his half-century in 47 balls! He plays some amazing shots, hitting three boundaries in one over. He is in great form today!

Kane Breaks a Record 📊

Kane Williamson is now New Zealand’s top scorer in Champions Trophy history, passing Stephen Fleming’s old record. He did this in just 10 innings with 4 fifties and 1 century.

Drinks Break: New Zealand in Control ☕

After 20 overs, New Zealand is 87 for 1 wicket. They are playing smoothly. Kagiso Rabada bowled one over without giving any runs, but Williamson hit a four in the next. Keshav Maharaj will be the next bowler, and that could change things!

Williamson Steps In

Kane Williamson walks onto the field, ready to bat. He is a very strong player, especially against South Africa. In fact, he has scored two big hundreds (100+ runs) in a row against them—one last month and another in the 2019 World Cup! His batting is very important for New Zealand. Even when his team lost against India in Dubai, he played well and scored 81 runs.

Ngidi Takes the First Wicket!

Lungi Ngidi, the fast bowler from South Africa, gets the first wicket! Will Young tries to hit a big shot but does not time it well. The ball goes up in the air, and it’s an easy catch for the fielder at mid-off. This pitch looks tricky—balls from fast bowlers are coming off the bat very quickly!

Ravindra is on Fire!

Rachin Ravindra is playing brilliantly! In the seventh over, he smashes Marco Jansen for three beautiful boundaries (4 runs each). Two shots go through cover, and one goes through midwicket. He is not just hitting hard—his shots are all about great timing! The pitch is good for batting, and the ball is racing across the fast outfield.

Last Monday, Ravindra scored a century (100+ runs) against Bangladesh. He was chosen to play instead of Devon Conway, and he is proving why he deserves to be in the team!

🏏 New Zealand Wins the Toss!

New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, has won the coin toss! He decided that his team will bat first. He thinks the pitch is good for batting, but it looks a little dry. New Zealand will try to score a big total before South Africa gets a chance to bat. They also hope that the dew (moisture on the ground at night) doesn’t make it harder for their bowlers later.

South Africa’s Team News:

• Aiden Markram is fit again after a small injury.
• Temba Bavuma is back after being sick and will open the batting.
• Tristan Stubbs is left out of the team today.

South Africa’s Playing 11:

1️⃣ Temba Bavuma (captain)
2️⃣ Ryan Rickelton
3️⃣ Rassie van der Dussen
4️⃣ Aiden Markram
5️⃣ Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper)
6️⃣ David Miller
7️⃣ Wiaan Mulder
8️⃣ Marco Jansen
9️⃣ Keshav Maharaj
🔟 Kagiso Rabada
1️⃣1️⃣ Lungi Ngidi

New Zealand’s Playing 11:

1️⃣ Will Young
2️⃣ Rachin Ravindra
3️⃣ Kane Williamson
4️⃣ Daryl Mitchell
5️⃣ Tom Latham (wicketkeeper)
6️⃣ Glenn Phillips
7️⃣ Michael Bracewell
8️⃣ Mitchell Santner (captain)
9️⃣ Matt Henry
🔟 Kyle Jamieson
1️⃣1️⃣ Will O’Rourke

🏆 Champions Trophy 2025 – Lahore, Pakistan
📅 March 5, 2025

The match is about to begin! Can New Zealand put up a big score? Or will South Africa’s bowlers stop them? Let’s find out! 🎉🔥

Big Match: South Africa vs New Zealand!

Get ready for an exciting cricket match! South Africa and New Zealand are two amazing teams, but neither has ever won a Cricket World Cup. Now, they face each other in an important match. Winning today won’t give them the big trophy, but it will make them feel better until the next World Cup in 2027.

South Africa’s Challenge

South Africa really wants to win. They have been trying for many years but always end up disappointed. This match is another chance for them to prove they are champions.

New Zealand’s Fight

New Zealand has also come very close to winning, especially in 2019, but they missed it. However, they don’t seem to feel too much pressure. They are strong and ready to fight for victory!

Where is the Match?

The game is in Pakistan, and both teams traveled from Dubai to get there. The pitch is great for batting, so we might see a lot of runs!

Players to Watch

• David Miller (South Africa) – He is 35 years old, and this might be his last big tournament. He is known for playing well in big matches. Will he help South Africa win this time?
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – He is one of the best batsmen and has scored many runs against South Africa before. He is very important for his team.

Team News

South Africa has their captain Temba Bavuma back after missing the last game. Their team looks strong! New Zealand has to decide which batsman to leave out. They have many good players, so it’s a tough choice.

What to Expect?

The pitch is perfect for batting, and the average first-innings score here is 316 runs! This means we might see a lot of boundaries and sixes. Bowlers will have to work very hard to stop the batters from scoring.

Exciting History

• South Africa and New Zealand have played many important matches before.
• New Zealand has won most of the games in ICC tournaments.
• South Africa has reached the knockout stage in all major ICC events in the last few years.

What the Captains Say

• Mitchell Santner (New Zealand’s captain) – He says their team will rest before the match so they can play their best.
• Temba Bavuma (South Africa’s captain) – He says this is just another game, and they will not feel too much pressure. They just want to play their best!

This match will be full of action, big hits, and exciting moments. Who do you think will win? Let’s watch and find out!