Ghadafi stadium is a nightmare for the bowlers, but a paradise for batters , and the scores built and chased has proved far beyond doubt that most batters love the predictable bounce of the placid pitch at this stadium.
Mitchell Santner had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss, and as predicted by the experts, even a score of 300 is a par total at this venue.
The black caps made batting look a pleasure when they sent South Africa on a leather hunt by scoring 362 runs for 6 wickets with kane Williamson recording his 15th century of 102 runs , along with Rachin Ravindra scoring 108 and the Partnership of 164 runs for the second wicket with their score reaching 252 for 3 wickets in the 40th over indicated a South African anticipated run chase to be in excess of 350 runs .
The black caps made batting look a pleasure when they sent South Africa on a leather hunt by scoring 362 runs for 6 wickets with kane Williamson recording his 15th century of 102 runs , along with Rachin Ravindra scoring 108 and the Partnership of 164 runs for the second wicket with their score reaching 252 for 3 wickets in the 40th over indicated a South African anticipated run chase to be in excess of 350 runs .
Chasing 363 in a semi-final is too herculean, even for a team in the class of India or Australia.
New Zealand, after the loss of centurions Kane and Rachin , piled up 110 runs in the death overs with Darryl Mitchell recording 49 with his willow and Glenn Philips an unbeaten 49 in 27 deliveries proved the batting dominance of the Black caps against the South Africans who are sadly blessed with only one wicket taking spinner in Keshav Mahraj.
South African seamers went for plenty. Marco Jansen was wicketless for 79 , Rabada, two consolation scalps for 70 , Ngidi despite his 3 New Zealand victims tamed for 72 and Mulder the fourth seamer for 40 having a wwwicket to his credit.
A score of 363 as a target in a semi-final needs a miracle from Canna to achieve against a Kiwi blend of seam and spin challenge.
South Africa losing Ryan Reckelton for 17 off Matt Henry started the dent. The fight back by Tenda Bavuma and Rassi Van der Dussen, the former with 56 runs and the later with 66, gave some hopes for a historic runchase as a possibility but failure of Henrich Klassan for 3 runs and that too being the victim of spinner Mitchell Santner started an early indication of the South African choke in multi tournaments.
Klassan is rated as the best player against spin, even ahead of Virat Kholi , Joe Root , Steve Smith, and Sheyes Ayer.
Aiden Markram Lbw for 31 against part-time batting sensation Rachin Ravindra and Wiann Mulder being dismissed on the placid pitch at the Ghadafi stadium for 8 and that too by off Spinner Michael Bracewell, gave us the impression that this South African batters baring Henrich Klassan are vulnerable against spin , hence they will get sucked in by the Indian spinners if they qualify for the finals this Sunday against .
With the South African innings heading towards their exit from the Silver Wear on 218 for 8 wickets, David Miller brought a smile upon the sad South African faces with a brilliant carnage knock of an unbeaten 100 , with support from Rabada in the death overs and save themselves from humiliation by batting the 50 overs to get to 319 for 9 wickets , by only indicating their efforts equal to that of the old saying that ” Poppy is also a Flower “.
Santner 3 for 43 ,Henry 2 for 43 as well , with Michael Bracewell expensive chipping in with 1 wicket for 63 , Rachin Ravindra 1 for 20, and the Golden arm of Glenn Philips 2 for 23 got the job done for the Black caps to enter the finals of the 2025 Campions trophy along side the mighty Indians who many feel will be firm favourites this Sunday since the pitch will be made to favour the 4 spin attack of India who have made their base as Dubai International stadium in this competition and are more familiar to this venue than New Zealand thier opponents.
It will be an enthralling final this Sunday, and the winner takes it all