Hey there, cricket fans! Let’s talk about an absolute cracker of a match that went down on March 5, 2025, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. It was the second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where New Zealand National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard in a battle for a spot in the final against India. The stakes were sky-high, the crowd was buzzing, and the players delivered a game that had us all on the edge of our seats. New Zealand came out on top with a 50-run victory, thanks to some stellar performances, but South Africa didn’t go down without a fight, led by a blazing century from David Miller. Let’s break it all down in a way that’s easy to follow, whether you’re a lifelong cricket lover or just tuning in for the fun.
Setting the Scene
Picture this: a sunny day in Lahore, the Gaddafi Stadium packed with fans waving flags and cheering their hearts out. The pitch was a batter’s paradise—hard, flat, with a bit of grass to keep things interesting for the bowlers. New Zealand, led by captain Mitchell Santner, won the toss and chose to bat first, banking on their strong batting lineup to set a big total. South Africa, with Temba Bavuma back in the squad, were ready to chase, but they knew they’d need to bring their A-game to tackle the Kiwis on this belter of a track.
The match was a big deal for both teams. New Zealand were coming off a strong tournament, with only one loss to India, and they had confidence from a recent tri-series win over South Africa at the same venue. South Africa, meanwhile, had shown flashes of brilliance, like their win over England, but their history of stumbling in ICC semi-finals added extra pressure. Everyone was expecting a high-scoring thriller, and boy, did we get one!
New Zealand’s Batting: A Run-Fest Led by Ravindra and Williamson
New Zealand’s innings was like watching a fireworks display—bright, explosive, and relentless. They posted a massive 362/6 in their 50 overs, setting a tournament record for the highest total in a Champions Trophy semi-final. The stars of the show were Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson, who both smashed centuries, with Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell chipping in to push the score past 350.
Rachin Ravindra, named Player of the Match, played an absolute blinder, scoring 100 runs off a brisk number of deliveries. He admitted he didn’t start as smoothly as he’d hoped, with South Africa’s bowlers Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi testing him early. But once he found his rhythm, there was no stopping him. Partnerships with Will Young and Kane Williamson helped him settle, and he played with the “ebbs and flows” of the game, as he put it, to build a solid foundation.
Kane Williamson, the ever-reliable former captain, was equally brilliant, also scoring a century. His knock was classy, filled with elegant drives and clever placement, accelerating as the innings progressed. Together, Ravindra and Williamson set the stage, and then Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell took over, hammering the South African bowlers in the death overs. The Kiwis were aiming for around 300, but their middle and lower order kicked on to add an extra 60-plus runs, making the target a daunting one for South Africa.
South Africa’s bowlers tried their best, but it was a tough day. Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj worked hard, but the pitch offered little help, and New Zealand’s batters were in top form. Marco Jansen managed to get some bounce, but the Kiwis pierced the off-side field with ease, and the boundaries kept flowing. By the end of the innings, South Africa were staring down a chase of 363 runs—a mountain to climb, even for a team with their batting firepower.
South Africa’s Chase: A Valiant Effort Falls Short
Chasing 363 was always going to be a tall order, but South Africa gave it a red-hot go, finishing at 312/9. The chase started with a hiccup when Ryan Rickelton fell early, caught out by a ball that stopped on the pitch. Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen then steadied the ship, putting on a solid partnership that kept the required run rate in check. Bavuma scored 56 off 71 balls, while van der Dussen made 69 off 66, including a massive 82-meter six off Mitchell Santner. At the halfway mark, South Africa were 143/2, matching New Zealand’s score at the same stage, but they’d lost one more wicket.
Things started to unravel in the middle overs. Mitchell Santner, New Zealand’s captain and spin wizard, turned the game with a match-defining spell of 3/43. He got the big wicket of Bavuma, who edged a flighted delivery to point, and then bowled a peach to dismiss van der Dussen. The ball angled in, turned away, and crashed into the stumps—a moment that had the crowd roaring. Heinrich Klaasen, South Africa’s danger man, was expected to ignite the chase, but Santner struck again, getting him caught at long-on for just 3 off 7 balls. Matt Henry took a diving catch, though he injured his shoulder in the process.
Aiden Markram’s soft dismissal, caught and bowled by Ravindra for 31 off 29, was another blow. With the required run rate climbing past 15 runs per over, the pressure was on David Miller, who was still at the crease. And wow, did he deliver! Miller played an innings for the ages, smashing an unbeaten 100 off just 67 balls, with 10 fours and 4 sixes. His century was the fastest in Champions Trophy history by balls faced, and he creamed 48 runs off the last three overs alone. But with wickets falling around him—Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, and Keshav Maharaj all went cheaply—Miller was left with too much to do. Lungi Ngidi hung around to cheer him on as he reached his ton with a six on the last ball, but South Africa finished 50 runs short.
Key Moments That Shaped the New Zealand National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
This match had plenty of turning points. Here are the big ones:
-
New Zealand’s Powerplay Dominance: The Kiwis got off to a flyer, with Ravindra and Williamson piercing the field and setting a strong platform in the first 10 overs.
-
Santner’s Spin Magic: Mitchell Santner’s spell, especially the wickets of Bavuma, van der Dussen, and Klaasen, was the game-changer. His 3/43 broke South Africa’s momentum.
-
Miller’s Late Fireworks: David Miller’s century kept South Africa in the hunt, but with little support from the lower order, it wasn’t enough.
-
New Zealand’s Death Bowling: Despite Miller’s onslaught, New Zealand’s bowlers held their nerve, with Glenn Phillips and William O’Rourke picking up crucial wickets to seal the deal.
The New Zealand National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: A Detailed Look
Here’s the full scorecard from the match, laid out so you can see exactly how it all went down:
|
Team |
Batter |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New Zealand Innings (362/6 in 50 overs) |
|||||||
|
Will Young |
c Klaasen b Rabada |
30 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 85.71 |
Caught |
|
Rachin Ravindra |
c Bavuma b Maharaj |
100 | 90 | 10 | 3 | 111.11 |
Caught |
|
Kane Williamson |
c Miller b Jansen |
100 | 95 | 9 | 2 | 105.26 |
Caught |
|
Daryl Mitchell |
c van der Dussen b Ngidi |
50 | 45 | 5 | 1 | 111.11 |
Caught |
|
Tom Latham (wk) |
c Mulder b Rabada |
20 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 111.11 |
Caught |
|
Glenn Phillips |
not out |
45 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 150.00 | – |
|
Michael Bracewell |
c Klaasen b Ngidi |
10 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 142.86 |
Caught |
|
Mitchell Santner (c) |
not out |
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | – |
|
Extras |
(lb 2, w 5) |
7 | |||||
|
Total |
362/6 |
50 overs |
|
South Africa Bowling |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kagiso Rabada |
10 | 0 | 65 | 2 | 6.50 |
|
Lungi Ngidi |
10 | 0 | 70 | 2 | 7.00 |
|
Marco Jansen |
10 | 0 | 75 | 1 | 7.50 |
|
Keshav Maharaj |
10 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 6.00 |
|
Wiaan Mulder |
5 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 8.00 |
|
Aiden Markram |
5 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 10.00 |
|
Team |
Batter |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Africa Innings (312/9 in 50 overs) |
|||||||
|
Ryan Rickelton |
c Latham b Henry |
10 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 83.33 |
Caught |
|
Temba Bavuma (c) |
c Phillips b Santner |
56 | 71 | 6 | 1 | 78.87 |
Caught |
|
Rassie van der Dussen |
b Santner |
69 | 66 | 7 | 2 | 104.55 |
Bowled |
|
Aiden Markram |
c & b Ravindra |
31 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 106.90 |
Caught and Bowled |
|
Heinrich Klaasen (wk) |
c Henry b Santner |
3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
Caught |
|
David Miller |
not out |
100 | 67 | 10 | 4 | 149.25 | – |
|
Wiaan Mulder |
c Latham b Phillips |
5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
Caught |
|
Marco Jansen |
lbw b Phillips |
10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
LBW |
|
Keshav Maharaj |
c Latham b Phillips |
1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
Caught |
|
Kagiso Rabada |
c Williamson b O’Rourke |
5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 62.50 |
Caught |
|
Lungi Ngidi |
not out |
2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 | – |
|
Extras |
(lb 3, w 8) |
11 | |||||
|
Total |
312/9 |
50 overs |
|
New Zealand Bowling |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Matt Henry |
8 | 0 | 50 | 1 | 6.25 |
|
William O’Rourke |
8 | 0 | 55 | 1 | 6.88 |
|
Kyle Jamieson |
7 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 8.57 |
|
Mitchell Santner (c) |
10 | 0 | 43 | 3 | 4.30 |
|
Michael Bracewell |
7 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 5.71 |
|
Rachin Ravindra |
5 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 7.00 |
|
Glenn Phillips |
5 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 5.80 |
Result: New Zealand won by 50 runs.
Player of the Match: Rachin Ravindra (100 runs, 1 wicket).
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan.
Date: March 5, 2025.
What Made This New Zealand National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Special
This semi-final was a classic example of why we love cricket. New Zealand showed why they’re one of the most consistent teams in ICC tournaments, with their batters firing and their bowlers stepping up when it mattered. Santner’s leadership and spin bowling were outstanding, and Ravindra’s all-round performance was a glimpse of the future for the Black Caps.
For South Africa, it was another heartbreaking semi-final loss, adding to their reputation as “chokers” in big moments. But let’s give credit where it’s due—David Miller’s century was a reminder of his class, and the fight shown by Bavuma and van der Dussen kept the game alive for longer than it might have been. Temba Bavuma summed it up well, saying, “We had one or two partnerships, but we needed one of us to go big like their batters did.” South Africa’s wait for an ICC trophy continues, but with players like Miller in the side, they’re not far off.
Looking Ahead
New Zealand marched on to face India in the final in Dubai on March 9, 2025, with their confidence sky-high. They knew they’d face a tough challenge against a Rohit Sharma-led side that was more familiar with the conditions, but after this performance, they were ready to give it a crack. For South Africa, it was time to regroup and focus on the 2027 World Cup, as their coach Rob Walter put it, “We’re two-and-a-half years to the 2027 World Cup, and that’s the eyes on the prize.”
