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South Africa failed to chase down the target of 363 runs against New Zealand in the second semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025 and suffered a defeat by 50 runs.
New Zealand beat South Africa by 50 runs in 2nd semifinal of Champions Trophy 2025. (Picture Credit: AP)
South Africa suffered a heartbreaking defeat by 50 runs against New Zealand in the second semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025. In the match played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday (March 5), the South African team was asked to chase down the target of 363 runs in 50 overs, but despite David Miller’s 67-ball century and half-centuries from Rassie van der Dussen and captain Temba Bavuma, the Proteas could only manage to score 312 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 50 overs.
South Africa came into the semifinal match after securing a big win over England in Karachi on Saturday (March 1), but in Lahore, New Zealand was a better team in all three departments of the game.
The defeat in the semifinal match was a bitter pill to swallow for Bavuma, who admitted that either he or van der Dussen should have played a big knock, which they failed to do.
“New Zealand was above par. I think as well as they batted, we backed ourselves to chase 350 with the wicket getting better. We had one or two good partnerships but not enough.”
“One of me or VDD (Rassie van der Dussen) to go big, which didn’t happen.”
He admitted that New Zealand really put his side under pressure from the get-go.
“They pierced the offside regularly and kept hitting boundaries in the middle overs; it was tough to contain them for having had wickets in hand at the death and putting us under pressure.”
“At 125 for 1, I and Rassie were batting; we needed to bat till the 35th. But we weren’t able to set up the base for the middle order. Soft dismissal for me, better ball to get Rassie.”
“Left too much to do for those coming in. From a batting point, being more decisive is what’s on my mind. Have to be ruthless and go for the game.”
The 50-run win over South Africa helped New Zealand book its place in the final of the Champions Trophy for the fourth time in nine editions, and on Sunday (March 9), the Black Caps will face India in Dubai.
- Location :
Lahore, Pakistan
