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Having steamrolled an in-form South Africa, New Zealand set up a tryst with destiny. It is a repeat of the final of the 2000 edition — back when they called it the "Knockout Cup". Blackcaps have won everything in the last one month or so, apart from the only match they played in Dubai against India. On March 9th, they have a chance to wipe off that blemish. It would be anything but easy. The Men in Blue have looked formidable in this tournament. But that was the script of the last big ODI competition they featured in too, right? We need not remind how that ended. Hence, there would be all to play for and we will be there to call the action.
Do join us then. For now, it is the commentary duo of Darpan and Pradeep waving you goodbye! See you soon.
Mitchell Santner [New Zealand captain]: "It is a good feeling. Today we were challenged by a good side. We now look forward to playing India at Dubai. We have already played there. So, we know what to expect there. The cutters were holding in the wicket in the first innings, but Rachin Ravindra did really well. What we speak as a group is about keep applying pressure. We kept on chipping at the wickets. It was pleasing to get 3 wickets by myself. With Ravindra and Glenn Phillips being able to bowl, it makes my job a lot easier. We were a bit unsure about how Matt Henry's shoulder was. So, Phillips' two wickets and Ravindra's 5 overs were crucial. Henry is a bit sore, but he will be fine. Being there (in Dubai) and putting them (India) under pressure at times was great. We had a look at them, they had a look at us. I think you take what worked. For instance, knocking the top 3 quickly was pretty good."
Temba Bavuma [South Africa captain]: "It was above par indeed, they batted really well and anything 350 was tough on that track. From a batting point of view, we needed big partnerships, the once that we had wasn't enough. Their top batters did the bulk of the scoring. When you are chasing a score of over 360, you needed two batters to do the job. They put us under pressure from the get go, even in the middle overs, they kept scoring and put us under pressure. We weren't able to take wickets, with wickets in hand at the death, it was always going to be difficult. Kudos to their batters, Rachin and Kane. When myself and Rassie were batting, ideally we would've wanted to keep going. Our middle is destructive, but unfortunately we couldn't set the foundation for them. Soft dismissal for me and Rassie's too. We left too much to the lower to order to do. It's just those moments like in the beginning, that 125-1, we could've been more decisive. We need to be more ruthless, go for the kill. We need to have a chat as a team, see what other guys think and cash in on the key moment in the game."
Rachin Ravindra is the Player of the Match! Here's what he has to say: "It's always a great feeling to contribute to the team, extremely satisfying to do it in a knockout game. To be fair, I didn't start the way I would've wanted. Marco and Lungi at the start, but the partnership helped. Keep working on the ebbs and flows of the game. We were thinking about 300 run mark, it was holding up a lot. Kane started accelerating, we thought there was more on and then GP came in batted well. It's always what's next in a tournament, but we're going to enjoy this win tonight. Once we get to Dubai, we will be switched on."
New Zealand win by 50 runs and qualify for the final of Champions Trophy 2025
Rachin Ravindra 108 (101) & 1/20 | Mitchell Santner 3/43 (10) David Miller 100* (67) | Lungi Ngidi 3/72 (10)
A boisterous round of applause reverberates around the Gaddafi Stadium, but it is ironic that it is for a man who is wearing a South Africa shirt, when in essence, it is rather New Zealand who have clinched victory and booked themselves a ticket to the finale. But Blackcaps won't mind it. They don't play to the gallery, do they?
Over the last one month, New Zealand have played 7 ODIs in Pakistan and they have steamrolled their opposition in each of them. Tonight was no different. Given the Gaddafi Stadium's reputation of being a batter's friend, you won't win many games here without your batters making some contributions.
New Zealand had some serious ones. Rachin Ravindra's (108 off 101 balls) love affair with the big stage continued as he notched up another commanding ICC tournament century. His front-foot drives were graceful and backfoot play just as robust. But at the end, he was just about overshadowed by senior pro Kane Williamson (102 off 94 balls), who exhibited sturdiness, control and astute acumen in terms of picking what to go after. Playing more the role of an anchor in the big partnership with Ravindra, Williamson switched gears to get his runs rather rapidly in the second half of his knock.
Then came Daryl Mitchell's 37-ball-49, which upped it a notch further, setting the perfect launchpad for a Glenn Phillips (49* off 27 balls) blitzkrieg. Blackcaps ended with 362/6 on the board. SA needed to pull off an unprecedented run-chase in ICC tournaments and for a good while they seemed to be in it. After a circumspect start, Temba Bavuma (56 off 71 balls) upped the ante and Rassie van der Dussen's knock of 69 (off 66 balls) was like poetry in motion — poised, unhurried and full of panache. It was then the NZ skipper who put his hand up, dismissed the two and followed it up with another big wicket — that of Heinrich Klaasen. Mitchell Santner's (3/43 off 10 overs) courage to flight the ball, coupled with his guile and accuracy turned out to be the elixir that helped his team route out the opposition well before the game reached its actual conclusion. Phillips and Ravindra too chipped in with the ball.
By the time David Miller (100* off 67 balls) teed off, the result was a foregone conclusion. But he did get himself to a century. At the end, SA would wonder what if somebody had managed to stay with him till the end?
50
overs
312/9score
4
0
2
4
6
2
18
runs
David Miller*
100(67)
Lungi Ngidi
1(2)
Kyle Jamieson
0/57
49.6 Kyle Jamieson to David Miller, NEW ZEALAND STORM INTO THE FINALS! MILLER GETS HIS HUNDRED TOO! Something to cheer for South Africa, but they've been knocked out here as New Zealand will meet India in the Champions Trophy Finals in Dubai on Sunday! Length delivery outside the off-stump, Miller reaches to drive, but mistimes it down the ground. Long-on had to get around and that meant Miller runs back for the second and completes his century.
49.5 Kyle Jamieson to David Miller, SIX! BOOM! Miller moves onto 98 with a mammoth hit. Short outside the off-stump, Miller stood tall and powered it all the way over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.
The result is a foregone conclusion. But can Miller get to a 100? Needs 8 runs in two balls.
49.4 Kyle Jamieson to David Miller, FOUR! Short outside the off-stump, takes the pace off. Miller somehow manufactures something, pulled it to deep backward square-leg, runs away and finds the ropes again.
49.3 Kyle Jamieson to David Miller, OH! Just clears Williamson and falls safely. Length delivery on the stumps, Miller shuffles across and swings at it, takes the leading edge. Williamson gives the chase, slides and stops it.
49.2 Kyle Jamieson to David Miller, on a length outside the off-stump, Miller moves across and has a mighty swing at it, but hits the toe end of the bat and squirts it back towards the bowler.
49.1 Kyle Jamieson to David Miller, FOUR MORE! Low full toss outside the off-stump, Miller had to reach for it and he slices it between backward point and short third, runs away to the boundary ropes again.
Can Jamieson bowl a better over?
With that, David Miller moves to 82*. Can he get a hundred here?
49
overs
294/9score
4
4
2
0
4
1
15
runs
David Miller*
82(61)
Lungi Ngidi
1(2)
William O'Rourke
0/69
48.6 William O'Rourke to David Miller, full on the stumps, Miller flicked it to long-on for just one and keeps the strike for the final over.
48.5 William O'Rourke to David Miller, TOP EDGED AND FOUR! More boundaries for Miller. Short and down the leg-side. Miller swivels to pull but top edged it down to fine-leg, runs away and finds the ropes.
Musti: "Feel sad for South Africa" Alas, there can be only one winner, Musti!
48.4 William O'Rourke to David Miller, back of a length outside the off-stump, Miller looking to slap that one away but mistimes it to long-off for a dot.
Video
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K Williamson
R der Dussen
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David Miller
*
Kyle Jamieson
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
