Chasing 363 runs was always going to be a herculean task, and for a while, South Africa seemed to be holding their own, thanks to the efforts of Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen. However, the turning point came when Mitchell Santner delivered a spell that changed the course of the match. He bagged three crucial wickets—those of Bavuma, Rassie, and Heinrich Klaasen—swinging the momentum in New Zealand’s favour.
David Miller remained resolute at one end, finishing with an unbeaten hundred, but with the collapse of the lower order around him, the Proteas fell short by 50 runs. The stage for New Zealand’s victory was set when they posted a formidable total, bolstered by exceptional centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson, alongside a quick-fire cameo from Glenn Phillips. With this win, New Zealand advanced to the final, where they will face India in Dubai.
After choosing to bat first, New Zealand began with a steady approach, carefully handling the opening bursts from Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, who consistently bowled short and maintained aggressive lengths. However, as the openers settled in, they began capitalising on scoring chances, with Ravindra looking particularly fluent. Ngidi’s well-executed pace variations led to South Africa’s first breakthrough in the form of Will Young. Williamson then joined Ravindra, and together they put on an impressive batting display, keeping the Proteas bowlers under pressure.
Ravindra continued to attack even after the Powerplay, while both batters rotated the strike effectively and avoided unnecessary risks. Their record 164-run partnership provided a strong platform, with Ravindra reaching a well-earned century before Kagiso Rabada finally ended his stay at the crease. Following his departure, Williamson accelerated, bringing up his own century before being dismissed by Wiaan Mulder.
Just as South Africa looked to regain some control, Daryl Mitchell smashed a valuable 49 off 37 balls. The innings received a final boost from Phillips, who initially struggled with timing but soon found his rhythm, smashing boundaries at will to inject late momentum. He finished unbeaten on 49 off 27 balls, ensuring New Zealand posted an imposing total of 362 runs.
Chasing anything over 350 was always going to be a big challenge, especially with the pitch not fully settling under the lights, as occasional deliveries continued to grip and hold up. After a cautious beginning, Bavuma found his rhythm, while Rassie’s elegant 69 was a masterclass in composure, effortlessly controlled and full of flair. But it was Santner who made his mark, removing both Bavuma and Rassie, before getting Klaasen out.
By the time Miller began to find his stride, the outcome seemed inevitable. However, he still managed to reach a well-deserved century. South Africa, in the end, was left to ponder what might have been had one of their other batters stayed with him until the finish.
Santner’s courage to flight the ball, combined with his skill and precision, proved to be the catalyst for New Zealand’s dominance, dismantling the South African chase long before the match reached its official conclusion. Alongside him, Michael Bracewell, Phillips and Ravindra contributed with the ball.
The pitch, which had initially seemed like a paradise for the batters, began to play tricks in the second innings, with deliveries holding up, making life increasingly difficult for South Africa’s batters and giving the New Zealand spinners the upper hand. Among the pacers, Matt Henry stood out with two key wickets before having to leave the field with an injury. Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke had a less-than-ideal day, each conceding more than eight runs per over.
Brief scores: New Zealand 362/6 in 50 overs (Rachin Ravindra 108; Lungi Ngidi 3/72) beat South Africa 312/9 in 50 overs (David Miller 100*; Mitchell Santner 3/43) by 50 runs.