In the second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, New Zealand is facing South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first.

New Zealand's Innings:

  • Opening Stand: Openers Rachin Ravindra and Will Young provided a solid start. Ravindra was particularly aggressive, reaching his fifty off 47 balls. Young departed after scoring 21 runs, caught by Aiden Markram off Lungi Ngidi's bowling.

  • Middle Phase: Kane Williamson joined Ravindra, and the duo built a formidable partnership. They brought up their 100-run stand, with Williamson hitting his first six of the innings. Ravindra reached his century off 93 balls, marking his second in the tournament.

  • Current Status: As of the latest update, New Zealand is at 212/2 in the 33rd over. Williamson is on 80 runs, and Daryl Mitchell is yet to open his account.

South Africa's Bowling:

  • Lungi Ngidi: Claimed the crucial wicket of Will Young with a well-disguised slower ball, inducing a catch to mid-off.

  • Marco Jansen: Bowled with pace and aggression, challenging the New Zealand openers. His short-pitched deliveries tested the batsmen, but he couldn't secure a breakthrough early on.

  • Keshav Maharaj: Introduced into the attack in the 17th over, he bowled a tight spell, conceding minimal runs. His consistent line and length built pressure, leading to dot balls and forcing the batsmen to play cautiously.

Match Highlights:

  • Rachin Ravindra's impressive form continues, with his century reinforcing his status as a key player for New Zealand in this tournament.

  • Kane Williamson's experience and composure have been vital in stabilizing the innings after the early wicket. His partnership with Ravindra has been instrumental in New Zealand's dominance.

  • South Africa's bowlers have struggled to contain the flow of runs, with New Zealand's batsmen finding gaps and rotating strike effectively. The lack of early breakthroughs has allowed New Zealand to build partnerships and dictate the pace of the game.

Looking Ahead:

With New Zealand well-placed at 212/2, the onus is on South Africa to break the partnership and apply pressure. The upcoming overs will be crucial in determining the momentum of the match. New Zealand aims to capitalize on their strong position and set a formidable total, while South Africa seeks to claw back into the game by taking wickets and stemming the run flow.