Mitchell Santner leads New Zealand to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy Final with a crucial bowling performance New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has led his side into the Champions Trophy final in 2025 with stunning all-round display taking three key wickets in their 50-run win against South Africa in the semifinals.
The Black Caps will now meet India in the final scheduled for Sunday at 9 AM GMT in Dubai. After setting an attainable total of 362/6, New Zealand was looking pretty safe, but, thanks to a strong partnership between Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma, very briefly South Africa staged a challenge.
The two put on over 100 runs for the second wicket and were looking threatening to chase down the big total. Santner turned the tide with the dismissals of van der Dussen and Bavuma, as well as being the man who took the all-important wicket of Heinrich Klaasen, caught by Matt Henry.
After those key breakthroughs, South Africa was on the back foot at 235/5 and despite a hundred from David Miller, 100* runs, were still unable to make the score as they rounded off their innings at 312/9. Earlier, 362/6 for New Zealand had been built around brilliant centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.
Ravindra scored 108 from 101 balls, and Williamson 102 off 94 balls while their partnerships eased the innings after an early setback: Will Young went for 17 in the seventh over. Ravindra’s innings very well timed ended with him getting caught by Klaasen off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling.
Very soon Williamson was out, caught by Lungi Ngidi, and that left New Zealand on 248/3, while the rest chipped in well to ensure a massive score. Daryl Mitchell was out for 49 in 37 deliveries, just short of his half-century, and Glenn Phillips scored 49 off 27 balls to be way short of his well-deserved fifty.
Santner made an important contribution with the bat after which, in the last overs of the innings, the captain scrambled in two runs off the last ball which guided New Zealand towards a massive total.
With bat and ball performances to back it, New Zealand was too strong for South Africa, who had topped Group B with two wins from three games. The Black Caps, on the other hand, took the second position in Group A with some convincing wins against Pakistan and Bangladesh.
New Zealand is now set to claim the title of ICC Champions Trophy winner in an exciting final against India.
The final will be played in Dubai on Sunday, starting from 9 AM GMT; both teams will want to put their stamp on this prestigious tournament.
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