SA vs NZ LIVE Score, Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final: Miller’s Century Sends New Zealand to Final Against India

In a thrilling semi-final encounter at the Champions Trophy 2025, New Zealand has secured their spot in the final after a brilliant century from David Miller guided them to a commanding victory over South Africa. The Black Caps will now face India in what promises to be an epic showdown for the prestigious trophy.

The match, held at the iconic Old Trafford in Manchester, was packed with drama and excitement. New Zealand, coming off a strong group stage performance, had set their sights on another final appearance, but they knew they had a tough challenge ahead against a formidable South African side. The Proteas, led by Temba Bavuma, had been in fine form throughout the tournament and were eager to reach their first Champions Trophy final in nearly two decades.

A Stellar Century from David Miller

The match truly came to life when New Zealand’s middle-order batsman David Miller played one of the innings of his life. Coming in at a crucial juncture, Miller displayed remarkable composure and shot selection, putting together a blistering century that was pivotal in New Zealand’s successful chase.

Miller’s knock was full of power and precision as he found the boundary consistently, taking advantage of South Africa’s lackluster bowling efforts. His 108 off 94 balls included 9 fours and 4 sixes, which set the tone for New Zealand’s chase. Miller’s innings anchored the Black Caps’ response as they chased down South Africa’s total with relative ease.

Miller’s century was not just a display of skill but also resilience. He weathered an early onslaught from South Africa’s pacers, particularly Kagiso Rabada, who had bowled with venom early on. Rabada’s pace and bounce troubled the Kiwi openers, but Miller’s calm approach steadied the innings. His partnership with captain Kane Williamson (65) helped New Zealand recover after losing early wickets, ensuring they were always in control of the chase.

South Africa’s Disappointing Total

South Africa’s innings, on the other hand, started promisingly but quickly faltered under pressure. The Proteas had elected to bat first after winning the toss, but their innings never gained the momentum they had hoped for. Opening batsmen Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma got off to a solid start, but both fell cheaply in the middle overs.

With the loss of key wickets, the South African middle order struggled to build partnerships. Heinrich Klaasen (43) was the only other notable contribution, but regular wickets and a lack of aggression meant they finished with a modest total of 243/7 in their allotted 50 overs.

New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Trent Boult, were disciplined throughout. Boult, who has been one of the tournament’s standout performers, took 3 wickets for 41 runs and was a constant threat with his swing bowling. The South African batsmen, particularly the middle-order, struggled against his accuracy and the spin of Mitchell Santner, who picked up two crucial wickets.

New Zealand’s Calm Chase

In response, New Zealand’s chase was built on stability and sensible batting. Their openers, Devon Conway and Finn Allen, got the side off to a steady start, but it was Miller’s brilliance in the middle overs that sealed the game. The Proteas did make some inroads, with Rabada and Lungi Ngidi bowling tight spells, but Miller’s confidence and ability to rotate the strike ensured the required rate never got out of hand.

The Black Caps comfortably reached their target of 244 with 9 balls to spare, finishing at 245/4 in 48.3 overs. Kane Williamson, who anchored the innings with a composed knock, and Miller’s match-winning century were the highlights of New Zealand’s successful chase.

Looking Ahead to the Final

With this win, New Zealand has set up a mouthwatering final against India, which will be held at Lord’s in London. India, the defending champions, are in sensational form, and with players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in top gear, the final promises to be a high-octane contest.

For New Zealand, this is a chance to add a major ICC trophy to their already impressive record in global cricket. They’ve reached the finals in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, and now, with a balanced squad led by the ever-composed Kane Williamson, they will be looking to finally lift a global title.

South Africa, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance but can take pride in their journey to the semi-finals. Their failure to capitalize on key moments in the match proved costly, but the team will be looking to regroup and prepare for the next tournament.

In the end, David Miller’s century will be remembered as the standout moment of the semi-final, a knock that took New Zealand to the final and left South Africa in search of answers. The cricketing world now eagerly awaits the final between New Zealand and India, which promises to be a clash of two cricketing powerhouses at the peak of their game.