India and New Zealand are set to clash in a major tournament final in white-ball cricket for the first time in 25 years.
New Zealand secured their place in the Champions Trophy 2025 final with a dominant performance against South Africa in the second semi-final in Lahore on Wednesday.
The Black Caps will now face familiar rivals India in the grand finale on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Dubai.
Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul put on a late show to take India through to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final in a tense run-chase against Australia.
The pair formed a sixth-wicket partnership while the result was still in the balance, with India on 225/5 and still requiring 40 more runs from the remaining 44 balls for victory. India had bowled Australia out for a total of 264—the highest total scored by any team in Dubai during the tournament at that point.
Meanwhile, New Zealand powered their way into the Champions Trophy final with a thumping 50-run win over South Africa after centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.
The Black Caps opted to bat first in Lahore and posted a tournament-record 362-6 in a superbly paced one-day innings.
It was built on a 164-run partnership for the second wicket between Ravindra and Williamson, who registered their fifth and 15th ODI hundreds respectively.
Despite both falling shortly after reaching three figures, New Zealand kept going and plundered 110 runs from the final 10 overs thanks to the big hitting of Daryl Mitchell, who made 49 from 37 balls, and Glenn Phillips, who finished unbeaten on 49 from 27.
Facing a daunting total, albeit on a pitch that could hardly have been friendlier to the batters, South Africa attempted to mirror the Kiwis’ approach.
The chase started well, with Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen putting on 105 for the second wicket.
However, unlike Ravindra and Williamson, they were unable to kick on, with New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner dismissing them both—and the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen—in a brilliant spell during the middle overs.
With the required run rate climbing quickly, South Africa had to keep attacking, but the wickets kept tumbling and, despite David Miller bringing up a 67-ball century from the last ball of the match, they finished well short on 312-9.
New Zealand will now travel to Dubai to face India in Sunday’s final, hoping to win the trophy for a second time, 25 years on since they won their only ICC white-ball title.
