In the Champions Trophy of 2025, Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson’s outstanding batting performance led New Zealand to a semifinal victory against South Africa. Ravindra, known for his prowess in ICC tournaments, scored his fifth ODI ton, setting a record for a New Zealander. The partnership between Ravindra and Williamson resulted in a record-breaking total for the Champions Trophy.
Reflecting on their innings, Ravindra expressed his joy at contributing to the team’s success and credited his partnerships with Young and Williamson for his performance. Initially aiming for a score around 300, the duo’s acceleration, particularly by Williamson, allowed New Zealand to reach a total of 360, well above their expectations.
Captain Mitchell Santner praised the batting performance and highlighted the importance of the partnership between Ravindra and Williamson. New Zealand’s bowlers also played a crucial role in restricting South Africa, with Santner leading the way with a brilliant spell. The team’s focus on applying pressure and taking wickets in the middle overs paid off, securing their place in the final. The South African captain expressed disappointment in his team’s performance, stating that they were well set up for the chase before losing their way in the middle overs. Despite being 125/1 with him and Rassie still batting, they were unable to set a strong foundation. Bavuma admitted to soft dismissals and acknowledged the need to be more decisive and ruthless in key moments. The bowlers struggled as none except Aiden Markram had respectable figures, and the inability to break New Zealand’s partnerships proved costly. Bavuma praised the Black Caps’ batting, especially the partnerships created by Rachin and Williamson. He highlighted the pressure they were put under from the start and credited the opposition’s performance. Overall, it was a disappointing day for South Africa as they failed to capitalize on key moments and lost the match.
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