Live - Manjrekar, Southee and Philander react
8
2
3
2
New Zealand win by 50 runs
That's it! Game over. David Miller teed off at the end, swinging his way up to three figures off the final ball, but the required rate was up above 20 by the time he really got going.
It's Miller's second consecutive hundred in a 50-over semi-final, but his second in a row in a losing cause. Will he have the chance for a third in 2027 on home soil, by which time he'll be 38?
New Zealand will head to Dubai for Sunday's final, where they will face India for the second week in a row. Will it be a repeat of the ICC KnockOut final 25 years ago? Or will India clinch the trophy for a second consecutive ICC men's event after last year's T20 World Cup? Join us on ESPNcricinfo to find out.
6
5
4
2
Spin to win
7 Wickets shared between New Zealand's spinners - their joint-most in an ODI.
2
2
1
2
NZ one away
10 Wickets at this Champions Trophy for Matt Henry, the most of any bowler.
Kagiso Rabada picks out Glenn Phillips at deep midwicket, and New Zealand are closing in on Sunday's final. They deserve their spot there: they've been the only team at this tournament who look like they could give India a real scare on their day.
1
2
2
The Pakistan leg draws to a close
Danyal Rasool at Gaddafi Stadium: With Sunday's final in Dubai, this marks the end of a tournament Pakistan have prepared and waited a long time for, and appears to have come and gone so swiftly.
Part of that is down to the hosts’ own dismal performance, knocked out after just five days. However, the Champions Trophy has demonstrated the Pakistan fanbase’s appetite for high-profile cricket, particularly at this newly-built ground in Lahore, unquestionably the standout venue of this tournament.
Pakistan played none of their games here, and yet it was packed for most neutral games, notably England’s thrillers against Australia and Afghanistan. The PCB were confident a final here would have seen a full house, but Lahore has made do with what it was given.
2
1
1
1
A bad day for Jansen
Marco Jansen has been brilliant for South Africa since his international breakthrough but he has done little to alter the perception that he struggles under pressure today. 0 for 79 from his 10 overs with the ball, and now lbw to Glenn Phillips for 3 off 7 balls as he is trapped on the pad while sweeping.
He had another poor night in his previous ODI semi-final, against Australia in Kolkata back in 2023.
1
1
4
Henry back on
This is a sight that will concern any New Zealand fan. Matt Henry is the Champions Trophy's leading wicket-taker and has set the tone for his team with the new ball, but hurt his shoulder while taking the catch pictured below.
The good news is that he is now back on the field after some treatment. New Zealand may not risk using him at the death, though, given the situation they are in. Glenn Phillips is into the attack as a seventh bowler, while Santner, Jamieson and O'Rourke all have overs left among the other main bowlers.
3
1
1
2
Mulder goes
This could end quickly. South Africa's lower order need to score at nearly 12 runs per over, so have little choice but to attempt boundaries from the outside. Wiaan Mulder, at No. 7, tries to slog-sweep the final ball of Michael Bracewell's 10-over allocation for four, but only picks out - guess who? - Rachin Ravindra at deep backward square. Bracewell finishes with 1 for 53, and New Zealand can book their flights back to the UAE.
1
Ravindra joins the SLA party
What can't Rachin do
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 5, 2025
Runs with the bat, and now a vital wicket with the ball. Rachin Ravindra is having a brilliant night in this semi-final. As if his fifth ODI century wasn't enough, he's been thrown the ball by captain Santner to try and burgle through a couple of cheap overs - perhaps wary of Henry's shoulder injury - and strikes in his second over.
This ball just holds a touch in the surface, which appears to have got a little slower through the day, and Markram chips it back via the inside edge. Simple catch, and New Zealand are closing in now. It'll take a David Miller classic to stop them setting up a repeat of last Sunday's game against India in Dubai.
1
1
Mr. Underrated?
Why do you think Santner is so underrated when fans are discussing who the best spinners around the world are? He very rarely has a bad day!
— Mike Hesson (@CoachHesson) March 5, 2025
1
3
Klaasen comes and goes
•
1
2
1
W
1
•
1
•
W
A match-winning spell from Mitchell Santner? It's looking that way. Suddenly, South Africa are four down and need more than nine runs per over. Heinrich Klaasen has been in brilliant form, hitting five consecutive ODI fifties, and looks to lay down an early marker against spin, sitting deep in his crease and looking to muscle Santner over long-on. But Matt Henry runs in off the rope and takes an excellent low catch - damaging his right shoulder in the process.
1
Santner again!
Two for New Zealand's captain. What a bowler. 2 for 28 from his first six now. This angles in towards Rassie van der Dussen's leg stump, and turns just enough to beat the outside edge as he looks to work leg-side. It crashes into middle, and New Zealand have a third.
2
Santner gets Bavuma
Williamson makes amends. He dropped Bavuma at short midwicket in the 21st over, but catches him at backward point in the 23rd, at a cost of only six runs. Bavuma went through the gears after a very slow start but got bogged down again against spin, and felt the need to go after Mitchell Santner - which is rarely a good idea. Santner tossed this up above the eyeline, Bavuma charged down looking to loft over mid-off, and the ball simply lobbed up for Williamson behind square.
3
2
1
1
RvdD reaches 50
Rassie van der Dussen brings up his third-consecutive fifty pic.twitter.com/jR2nqMKsDp
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 5, 2025
3
A life for Bavuma
Temba Bavuma brings up a 64-ball 50 with a single through the off side, then gets a life off the next ball he faces. He gets down to slog-sweep Mitchell Santner and gets a good piece of it, but it flies towards Kane Williamson at short midwicket. Williamson sticks out his left hand as he dives across to his right, but can't quite grab hold of it. It would have been a good catch, but he'll be disappointed to have dropped it.
And to make matters worse, Rassie van der Dussen lofts the very next ball down the ground for six. South Africa are still in this.
1
Santner arrives
"A trophy would be nice. That might be beyond this tournament. But it might be this tournament."
— Danyal Rasool (@Danny61000) March 5, 2025
Mitchell Santner comes on to try and apply the squeeze. Was fun speaking to him about his ambitions as New Zealand captain. #SAvsNZhttps://t.co/cX5lJvZeJx
1
1
Bracewell dots up
117 Dot balls bowled by Michael Bracewell at this Champions Trophy - the most of any bowler, overtaking India's Axar Patel.
1
1
Saliva on the ball?
1
1
1
Bavuma cuts loose
•
6
•
2
2
•
Bavuma pulls Kyle Jamieson over square leg for the first six of the innings and suddenly, South Africa are scoring at a run a ball. Will O'Rourke is into the attack after the first Powerplay, and New Zealand will be looking to him to break the partnership developing for the second wicket.
1
1
1
1
Bavuma under pressure
It was a tough afternoon for Temba Bavuma in the field, with his bowlers struggling to create chances through the middle overs and New Zealand cashing in at the death. And he has not got going at all with the bat in this run chase, creeping to 3 off 18 balls before flicking an overdue boundary through midwicket off Kyle Jamieson.
Bavuma's half-century against Afghanistan in the group stages was his first at an ICC event in his 19th match, and he's put himself under early pressure here in the Powerplay.
1
1
Henry strikes early
That's the big wicket. Ryan Rickelton has been in great touch across formats and hit four early boundaries this evening, but he is deceived by Matt Henry. This ball sticks in the pitch, Rickelton is through the shot early, and he chips a catch to Bracewell in tight at short cover via the leading edge.
Henry has been brilliant in ODIs of late, taking five-for against India in Dubai last time out, and is now up to No. 3 in the ICC's bowling rankings.
2
South Africa need 363 to win
362 on the board for New Zealand to defend, the highest total in Champions Trophy history. South Africa will need to break all sorts of records to chase this down. It's a good pitch, but this will be a huge ask.
In case you're just joining us, here's what you've missed so far.
- Mitchell Santner opted to bat first after winning the toss, in the hope that dew won't play a major role.
- Lungi Ngidi struck early, but Rachin Ravindra ensured New Zealand got off to a fast start.
- Ravindra made his fifth ODI hundred - all of them at ICC events - and added 164 off 154 balls for the second wicket with Kane Williamson.
- Williamson added a century of his own, his third in a row against South Africa in ODIs.
- Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips both made quick 49s at the end as South Africa's bowlers toiled, with Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj both unusually ineffective.
1
7
5
2
Live - Manjrekar, Southee and Philander on ESPNcricinfo Matchday
3
5
3
3
Déjà vu?
Danyal Rasool at Gaddafi Stadium: New Zealand scored 98 in the last six vs Pakistan in that first game of last month's tri-series here in Lahore, with Glenn Phillips scoring a hundred. They're on track for something similar with 64 off the last four overs.
2
SA need record-breaking chase
326 The highest target successfully chased in a men's ODI knockout match - by India against England in the 2002 NatWest final. South Africa need to break that record to reach Sunday's final in Dubai.
5
3
3
Phillips goes after Jansen
1
1
4
4
4
4
South Africa are struggling to keep a lid on this innings. Phillips lays into Jansen - whose figures are now 0 for 73 from nine overs - with four consecutive boundaries: one over mid-off, and three either side of square leg.
1
2
2
NZ eyeing 350
1
6
4
4
1
1
A gear-change from Daryl Mitchell, who drags Lungi Ngidi over the leg side for six and then gets a life as Mulder puts down a tough chance running in, while looking into the low sun. He then cuts hard over the off side to move to 48 off 35 - having been 21 off 26 a couple of overs ago. Great acceleration.
17 off the 45th over and New Zealand are 296 for 4 with five left.
1
1
... Latham out!
Well, Latham's innings doesn't last long regardless. South Africa looked to squeeze him early in his innings, with five fielders in the 30-yard circle (at a time when they only needed to have four) and he looked to shovel a length ball from Rabada over his right shoulder to get himself going. He missed, Rabada hit, and the ball crashed into middle and off stump. Here's Glenn Phillips.
2
Latham in...
Williamson falls later in Mulder's over, scooping a wide yorker straight to Ngidi at short fine leg. Curiously, New Zealand have sent Tom Latham in with 10 overs left - even with Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell in the sheds.
1
2
100 for Williamson
A 91-ball hundred for Williamson, getting there with a scoop for four off Wiaan Mulder - who is back on the field after an hip injury scare, but continues to take some punishment from New Zealand's batters. Williamson took 61 balls to reach a half-century, then just 30 more to convert it into a century.
3 Hundreds in a row for Kane Williamson in ODIs against South Africa
4
3
4
1
Double Nelson
222 for 2#NZvSA #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/KRJGcNo6aj
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) March 5, 2025
5
2
1
1
Breakthrough!
Kagiso Rabada strikes! Offcutter, wide line outside off stump, and Ravindra gets a thin edge through to Klaasen - who makes no mistake this time. South Africa finally get their second wicket, but New Zealand have power to burn in the middle order with Daryl Mitchell walking in at No. 4. Brilliant hundred from Ravindra.
1
6
1
100 for Ravindra
What a player. Rachin Ravindra has now scored five ODI hundreds, all of them at ICC events - three in the 2023 World Cup, and two in this Champions Trophy. That's more than any other New Zealand batter has managed at ICC events... and he's only 25.
Deep Gadhia: Rachin Ravindra has all of his first 5 ODI tons in ICC events, becoming the first player to do so. Mahmudullah was the previous one to have his first and only 4 ODI tons in ICC events.
Rachin Ravindra already has as many ODI hundreds as Brendon McCullum.
— Yas Rana (@Yas_Wisden) March 5, 2025
1
2
3
Mulder walks off
Injuries and absences have been a theme of South Africa's Champions Trophy campaign, and there's another blow for them here. Wiaan Mulder has only bowled four overs (0 for 32) and is in clear discomfort, heading off the field with some medical attention. If he's unable to bowl again then Temba Bavuma will have to go back to Aiden Markram for at least two more overs.
1
30 overs: NZ 181 for 1
22 Boundaries hit by New Zealand (20x4, 2x6). That's the third-most boundaries a team has hit in the first 30 overs of an innings in this Champions Trophy, behind Australia (23 vs Eng) and South Africa (26 vs Eng).
1
2
Williamson dropped on 56
Big moment. Williamson looks to drive a wide one away through cover-point but gets a thickish outside edge on it which flies away towards the vacant slip region. Klaasen flings himself low to his right, at full stretch, and gets his big right glove to it, but snatches at the ball and puts the chance down. Not a simple catch by any means, but a life for Williamson.
1
1
50 for Kane
48th ODI fifty for Kane Williamson pic.twitter.com/nmQTW2wnSt
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 5, 2025
1
Here is Markram
1
•
•
•
1
1
A very tight start. Ravindra was itching to play a big shot after chewing up three dots but Williamson walked down to calm him down. That was Markram's first over of the tournament, firing in his quick offbreaks. It'll be interesting to see if Ravindra does try to go after him.
1
1
1
Markram off the field
Danyal Rasool at Gaddafi Stadium tells me that Aiden Markram is off the field. Tristan Stubbs is on as a substitute fielder. Remember, Markram sustained a hamstring niggle in South Africa's thrashing of England on Saturday, and was only passed fit for today's game late last night. He should have been South Africa's sixth bowling option, so it'll be a significant blow if he can't turn his arm over today. We'll let you know any more concrete updates as we get them.
3.43pm: Markram is back on the field after that break, which is promising. Shaun Pollock on air suggests that it's time for Bavuma "to have a look at what Aiden Markram can deliver".
1
Ravindra takes charge
4
1
1
4
4
1lb
Rachin Ravindra reaches a 47-ball half-century by pulling Wiaan Mulder for four, and takes two more boundaries off the 18th over as New Zealand's run rate ticks above six.
The second four of the over proves how well he has adjusted to the pace of the surface, predicting the low bounce and smearing a one-bounce four over midwicket. The third is simply pristine timing, a full-faced on-drive that beats mid-on to his right. 15 off the over.
Easy pickings off Mulder, who bowled well in Karachi but looks ineffective on this surface. Expect Aiden Markram to play a role with the ball - that is, assuming his hamstring allows.
1
Kane on top
#StatChat | When he reached 10 runs in today’s innings Kane Williamson became New Zealand’s all-time leading run-scorer at the Champions Trophy, surpassing Stephen Flemings record (441 in 13 innings). Williamson achieved the feat in 10 innings with 4 half-centuries and 1 century. pic.twitter.com/o8NwjsFzzE
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 5, 2025
Drinks: NZ 87 for 1
New Zealand are cruising. Williamson played out a maiden from Kagiso Rabada but has also creamed him for four through midwicket, and Ravindra continues to tick over. It feels like we're in a holding pattern with seam on at both ends... Keshav Maharaj's introduction will be a big moment.
Williamson walks out
2 Unbeaten hundreds in a row for Kane Williamson against South Africa in ODIs: one in last month's tri-series at this same venue, and the other in the 2019 World Cup at Edgbaston.
From Firdose Moonda's preview: Overall, Williamson averages 57.35 against South Africa, his best against any opposition other than Zimbabwe. Though New Zealand have a line-up of creative and crafty hitters, Williamson's role in New Zealand's side continues to be of utmost importance as evidenced by his 81 against India in Dubai, where he kept them in the fight in what was ultimately a losing cause.
1
1
Ngidi strikes
Will Young doesn't pick Lungi Ngidi's slower ball, and his attempt to launch him down the ground results in him plinking a simple catch to mid-off. That might be the way to go on a surface like this: seam-up balls from the seamers have been flying away off the bat.
1
Ravindra flying
1
1
4
•
4
4
Rachin Ravindra looks in great touch. He hits Marco Jansen for three boundaries in four balls in the seventh over, and two of them through cover and the other timed through midwicket. All three are about timing rather than power or attacking intent: this looks like a great pitch, and the outfield is seriously quick too.
Ravindra hit a century against Bangladesh last Monday and has been backed to play ahead of Devon Conway. He's showing everyone why so far.
1
1
Conditions watch
Danyal Rasool: In the only day-night fixture NZ played in Lahore over the last month, they batted first against Pakistan and won very comfortably. They bowled 26 overs of spin at night and Santner said dew wasn't a problem. They've not generally seemed to mind either way - they've won twice defending and three chasing since arriving in Pakistan.
4
1
1
4
New Zealand choose to bat
Mitchell Santner wins the toss and wants his team to put runs on the board. He thinks it looks like a good batting pitch, if a little dry. New Zealand will hope that dew doesn't play a significant role in the outcome.
For South Africa, Aiden Markram is fit after a hamstring scare and Temba Bavuma is back in after illness. He replaces Tristan Stubbs in the XI and will open alongside Ryan Rickelton, with Tony de Zorzi left out.
South Africa: 1 Temba Bavuma (capt), 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 David Miller, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi Ngidi.
New Zealand: 1 Will Young, 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Matt Henry, 10 Kyle Jamieson, 11 Will O'Rourke.
1
Live - Matchday with Tim Southee, Vernon Philander and Sanjay Manjrekar
6
3
3
4
Eyes on the trophy
Danyal Rasool is our man at the Gaddafi Stadium this afternoon. He tells me it is "warm and sunny" in Lahore but with "a nice breeze... so it's not quite as hot as it can get around this time".
The Champions Trophy is in Pakistan for one final time this afternoon, before it heads to Dubai ahead of Sunday's final. Pakistan will finally lose their status as defending champions after nearly eight years. Such a shame for cricket fans in Pakistan that Lahore won't host the final, after a 29-year wait to stage an ICC event - a sad situation.
The Champions Trophy in Pakistan for one last time. #SAvsNZ pic.twitter.com/PzDI21iSgk
— Danyal Rasool (@Danny61000) March 5, 2025
1
Who will face India?
Hello and welcome. It's the second semi-final in Lahore, and the last match of the tournament that will be staged in Pakistan. South Africa and New Zealand face off, with the winner facing India in Sunday's final in Dubai. We'll have team news and the result of the toss in 20 minutes for you; in the meantime, there's plenty of preview material to get your teeth into.
1