New Zealand booked their place in the ICC Champions Trophy final with a dominant 50-run victory over South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium on March 5, 2025. The Black Caps put in an all-round performance, with their batters setting a challenging target before their bowlers sealed the win with key breakthroughs. David Miller will be remembered for scoring an infamous ton in this match as despite his efforts, the team was unable to achieve victory. Miller who came in at number 6 was put into a tight spot showcased his trademark power-hitting with a breathtaking 100 off 67 balls. With this David Miller etched his name into the history books as being the fastest century ever scored in a Champions Trophy.
Miller's innings featured ten fours and four sixes, with his ability to find the boundary under pressure keeping South Africa in the hunt. His century was a valiant effort, but New Zealand’s bowlers held their nerve to secure a 50-run victory and a place in the final.
A match worthy of a semi-final
After winning the toss and electing to bat, New Zealand made the most of favorable conditions to post a formidable total of 362/6 in their 50 overs. The innings was anchored by Rachin Ravindra (108 off 101 balls) and captain Kane Williamson (102 off 94 balls), both of whom played controlled yet aggressive knocks. Ravindra provided early momentum with crisp stroke play, while Williamson’s well-paced century ensured the runs kept flowing.
South Africa had a mammoth target to chase down and with the added pressure of a semi-final, it looked like a truly daunting task. Captain Bavuma got the team off to a good start by building a partnership with Van Der Dussen. However a lack of big shots in the middle overs meant that the required run-rate kept on rising. In the end David Miller’s unbeaten knock of 100 runs was in vain as New Zealand secured a 50 run victory and a spot in the finals against India.
