South Africa’s journey in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 came to an end after a tough semi-final defeat against New Zealand in Lahore. Despite a valiant century from David Miller, the Proteas fell short in their chase of a record-breaking total set by the Black Caps. However, the defeat was overshadowed by concerns over the tournament’s scheduling, which saw South Africa and Australia making unnecessary trips to Dubai before their crucial knockout matches.
Scheduling Woes: A Disadvantage for South Africa?
The chaotic scheduling of the Champions Trophy drew criticism as South Africa and Australia had to travel to Dubai from Pakistan ahead of their semi-finals. South Africa spent less than 24 hours in Dubai before flying back to Lahore, a journey that disrupted their preparations and left the players exhausted.
David Miller expressed his frustration, stating:
“It’s early morning, it’s after a game and we had to fly. Then we got to Dubai at 4pm. And at 7.30am we had to come back. It doesn’t make it nice. It’s not like we flew five hours and had enough time to recover and recuperate, but it was not an ideal situation still.”
The reason behind this scheduling blunder was India’s refusal to play matches in Pakistan due to political tensions, leading to all their games being scheduled in Dubai. This forced adjustments that ultimately impacted other teams, including South Africa and Australia.
A High-Scoring Semi-Final Thriller
Despite the travel fatigue, South Africa put up a spirited fight in their semi-final clash against New Zealand. The Black Caps set a daunting total of 362-6, the highest-ever in Champions Trophy history, thanks to brilliant centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.
In response, South Africa’s innings was anchored by Temba Bavuma (56) and Rassie van der Dussen (69), who stitched together a 105-run second-wicket stand. However, New Zealand’s spin attack, led by Mitchell Santner (3-43), put the brakes on South Africa’s chase.
David Miller played a sensational knock, smashing an unbeaten 100 off 67 balls with four sixes and 10 fours. But his heroics weren’t enough as South Africa finished at 312-9 in 50 overs, falling short by 50 runs.
Miller’s Reflection on the Match
Miller acknowledged the difficulty of chasing such a massive total and how the pitch conditions played a role in their defeat:
“It’s not easy chasing 360 even if it’s a good wicket. I think the wicket just deteriorated as the game went on, and they spun the ball a lot more than us.”
Despite the loss, South Africa’s campaign in the Champions Trophy was commendable. The Proteas showcased brilliant cricket throughout the tournament, but unfortunate circumstances, including questionable scheduling and a strong New Zealand side, ended their journey just short of the final.
New Zealand will now face India in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday, setting up an exciting clash between two of the world’s top cricketing nations. Meanwhile, South Africa will look back at this tournament with a mix of pride and disappointment, knowing they had the potential to go all the way.
