Rachin Ravindra Elated After Key Role in New Zealand's Semi-Final Win

In New Zealand's stunning 50-run win over South Africa, Rachin Ravindra made an important contribution of 108 runs off 101 balls.

India will face New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025. After receiving the Player of the Match award, Rachin Ravindra said that he felt very good that he contributed to the team's resounding victory in the semi-finals.

Ravindra scored his fifth ODI century at the Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan on Wednesday. All these centuries came in the ICC event and this is the second century of this competition. Now he has become the only male batsman to score his first five ODI centuries in an ICC tournament.

In the second semi-final match against South Africa, Ravindra added 164 runs off 154 balls with Williamson for the second wicket. Williamson scored 102 runs off 94 balls. This is his 15th century.

"It was a great feeling to contribute to a resounding win in the semi-finals. I didn't start as well as I would have liked. South Africa bowled well, but the partnership with Kane and Young was good.

We were thinking about a score of around 300. Glenn and Mitchell played a great game. It's important to enjoy today's win, celebrate with the team and mingle with each other. Once we reach Dubai, we will focus on the final.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner took 3 wickets for 43 runs and broke the back of the South African team.

"It's a great feeling to enter the final of the Champions Trophy. We will be challenged by a good team in the final.

Talking about the way the final was played, Santner said, "This win gave us the confidence to put pressure on India in Dubai. You understand which things work and which don't.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma lamented the lack of big partnerships while chasing the target. New Zealand performed better than expected. I thought he batted well. We had one or two good partnerships to chase down 363, but they weren't enough.

--IANS