March 7, 2025: The Black Caps have demonstrated excellent ODI form, recovering from a tough loss to India to secure a place in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final. New Zealand has been in impressive form throughout the tournament, with solid performances with both bat and ball.
Their only setback came against India in Dubai, where they had already qualified for the knockout stages before facing the Men in Blue. Despite the loss, New Zealand is now focused on redemption as they head into the final.
The tournament began on a positive note for the Kiwis as they comfortably defeated Pakistan. Will Young and Tom Latham both scored centuries, helping New Zealand post a competitive 320/5. Mitchell Santner and Will O’Rourke were the standout bowlers, taking three wickets each to bowl Pakistan out for 260.
New Zealand then knocked Bangladesh out of the tournament with a five-wicket victory. Michael Bracewell shone with the ball, taking 4/23, while Rachin Ravindra, making a strong return from injury, scored a brilliant century. Latham contributed with a fifty, and the partnership between Glenn Phillips and Bracewell saw New Zealand home with 23 balls to spare.
Following back-to-back wins, New Zealand confirmed their place in the semi-finals. Their match against India in Dubai, which decided the top spot in Group A, saw New Zealand fall short. Despite Matt Henry’s impressive five-wicket haul and a solid half-century from Kane Williamson, New Zealand was bowled out for 205, leaving them 44 runs short of victory. However, the match gave them valuable insight into the Dubai conditions.
The Black Caps bounced back from this loss in style. In their must-win semi-final against South Africa, Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson played match-winning knocks, both scoring hundreds at a fast pace. Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips also contributed with fiery middle-order performances, leading New Zealand to an imposing total of 362/6.
South Africa’s top order failed to match the Kiwis’ dominance, as spinners Mitchell Santner, Ravindra, and Phillips all impressed with the ball. This all-around performance has set the Black Caps up nicely for a thrilling final against India, where they will look to avenge their earlier loss and claim the Champions Trophy.
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