Champions Trophy: Ravindra and Williamson Shine with Centuries, Leading New Zealand to 362/6

Lahore, March 5 (NationPress) Rachin Ravindra achieved his fifth ODI century and second in the 2025 Champions Trophy, while Kane Williamson secured his third consecutive century against South Africa, propelling New Zealand to an impressive 362/6 in their 50 overs during the second semi-final at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

Choosing to bat first on a well-used pitch, Ravindra exhibited exceptional skill with a remarkable score of 108 off 101 balls, forming a crucial partnership of 164 runs for the second wicket with Williamson, who contributed 102 off 94 deliveries. Late contributions from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, both scoring 49, enabled New Zealand to set the highest total ever recorded in Champions Trophy history.

For South Africa, it was a challenging day under the bright sun, with Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj suffering from high run rates. Although Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, and Wiaan Mulder claimed wickets, they conceded runs at a rapid pace, leaving South Africa facing the daunting task of chasing a record 363 runs.

Ravindra and Will Young began New Zealand's innings with confidence, with Ravindra particularly in excellent form, striking Jansen for three boundaries in the seventh over, including two perfectly timed shots through cover and one through mid-wicket.

Ngidi secured the first breakthrough for South Africa, dismissing Young with a miscue to mid-on in the eighth over. Williamson, coming off a commendable 81 against India, started well by hitting boundaries off Ngidi and Rabada.

Ravindra reached his fifty off 47 balls, pulling Mulder for a boundary twice and driving through the on-side for another. He and Williamson adeptly rotated the strike, preventing South Africa from applying significant pressure.

Ravindra was particularly effective against Maharaj's left-arm spin, lofting him for a four before advancing down the pitch for a boundary, followed by a six over long-on and an outside edge for another four.

Williamson joined the boundary-hitting frenzy, flicking Maharaj for six and reaching his fifty in 61 balls off Aiden Markram, adding a reverse-sweep four. He was fortunate when a tough catch was dropped by Heinrich Klaasen off Ngidi's bowling.

The New Zealand camp erupted with joy in the 32nd over as Ravindra flicked Rabada for two runs to claim his fifth ODI century, followed by three fours off Rabada in the same over that yielded 17 runs.

The partnership of 164 runs for the fourth wicket concluded in the 34th over when Ravindra attempted a drive against Rabada's off-cutter, resulting in a thin edge caught by Klaasen, ending his innings at 108 off 101 balls.

Williamson continued his charge with steady boundaries, achieving his 15th ODI century in 91 balls. However, shortly after, he was caught at short fine leg attempting a scoop off a wide yorker from Wiaan Mulder.

Following Tom Latham's attempt at a scoop that resulted in his stumps being knocked down by Rabada, Mitchell injected late momentum into the innings, hitting Jansen for two fours, followed by a six and two fours off Ngidi's successive deliveries. Phillips joined in the late overs, striking Ngidi for a four and then hitting four consecutive boundaries off Jansen.

Despite Mitchell's dismissal to deep mid-wicket off Ngidi for 49, Phillips aggressively targeted Rabada, scoring a four and a six, resulting in 19 runs off the 48th over and a total of 110 runs scored in the last ten overs.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 362/6 in 50 overs (Rachin Ravindra 108, Kane Williamson 102; Lungi Ngidi 3-72, Kagiso Rabada 2-70) against South Africa