New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra smash centuries in the Champions Trophy semi-final, drawing high praise from Yuvraj Singh and Sanjay Manjrekar.
Williamson and Rachin’s Masterclass Stuns South Africa
New Delhi, March 5 – Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra etched their names in history, delivering a record-shattering performance in New Zealand’s semi-final triumph over South Africa at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Their twin centuries powered the Kiwis to a staggering 362/6, the highest-ever total in the tournament’s history.
Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar heaped praise on the dynamic duo, acknowledging their sheer dominance against the Proteas bowling attack.
“A clinical and well-deserved century and a brilliant record as the first New Zealand batter to score 19,000 runs in international cricket. Well done, legend,” Yuvraj wrote on Instagram, applauding Williamson’s milestone moment.
Meanwhile, Manjrekar was in awe of Rachin’s ever-growing reputation on the big stage.
“Rachin Ravindra has some serious talent and a great attitude. Scoring ICC hundreds for fun, he does. As for Kane, well, he showed us that high strike rates can be attained by a soft touch too,” Manjrekar tweeted.
Williamson Reaches 19,000 Runs, Rachin Makes ICC History
- Kane Williamson (102 off 94): The Kiwi captain’s innings not only steered New Zealand into the final but also made him the first New Zealander to cross 19,000 international runs.
- This was his third consecutive ODI century against South Africa, making him the first player ever to achieve this feat against the Proteas.
- Rachin Ravindra (108 off 101): The young sensation smashed his fifth ODI century, and remarkably, all five have come in ICC tournaments.
- Rachin’s ICC batting average (67.00) is now the highest among 80 batters with a minimum of 750 runs, cementing his reputation as a big-match performer.
With 804 runs in just 13 innings, including two fifties and five centuries, Rachin’s meteoric rise has drawn comparisons to the best young batters in world cricket.
New Zealand’s Eyes on the Prize
With this sensational semi-final performance, New Zealand has booked a spot in the Champions Trophy final, awaiting the winner between India and Australia.
As Williamson and Rachin continue their dream run, can they guide New Zealand to their first-ever ICC Champions Trophy title? The final showdown awaits!
Tags: Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, New Zealand Cricket, ICC Champions Trophy 2025, NZ vs SA Semi-Final, Yuvraj Singh, Sanjay Manjrekar, Cricket Records, 19,000 Runs, ICC Final