Watch: Kagiso Rabada destroys Tom Latham’s stumps in CT 2025 semi-final

The South Africa National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team are currently battling it out for a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first in the batting-friendly conditions in Lahore.

While Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson smoked centuries, Tom Latham’s cold spell continued with the bat in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The seasoned batter failed to deliver in the second semifinal of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Lahore.

Kagiso Rabada’s magical delivery sends Tom Latham packing in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semifinal

Well, it was South African pacer Kagiso Rabada who sent Tom Latham back to the pavilion in style. Rabada kept it simple, delivering a perfect seam-up ball on a good length around middle and off. And Latham tried to be innovative and paid the price for it.

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The left-handed Kiwi batter exposed his stumps as he crouched to attempt a scoop shot. Well, Latham completely missed the ball, and it crashed straight into the stumps, and he had to make his way back to the dugout after scoring just 4 runs off 5 balls against South Africa.

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Notably, Tom Latham has struggled against Kagiso Rabada in ODIs, managing just 26 runs off 59 balls at a strike rate of 44.06. Tom Latham has struggled to dominate Rabada, with the Proteas fiery speedster forcing him to work hard for every run in the 50-over format of the game. With 71.18% dot balls and two dismissals, Rabada has kept Tom Latham in check very often.

New Zealand dominates South Africa in the ICC knockouts

South Africa has been a constant force in ICC tournaments, reaching the knockout stages in the last seven events across all age groups and genders. However, history favors New Zealand in head-to-head battles, as they have defeated South Africa in ODI World Cup knockouts in 2011 and 2015.

However, the Proteas and Black Caps have both tasted glory in the ICC Champions Trophy. South Africa lifted the trophy in 1998, while New Zealand was crowned champions in 2000. Well, it will be interesting to see who will set the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final date with India.

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The Black Caps have posted 362/6 runs on the board, thanks to Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson’s centuries against South Africa. This was the highest total in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. Daryl Micthell (48) and Glenn Phillips (49*) have also made valuable contributions with the bat.

Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson script history in the ICC Champions Trophy

For South Africa, Lungi Ngidi scalped three wickets while Kagiso Rabada snared two wickets against the Black Caps in the semifinal. Notably, Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson created history with a record-breaking 164-run partnership, the highest-ever for New Zealand in Champions Trophy history.

They surpassed the previous best of 163 runs set by Nathan Astle and Scott Styris against the USA in 2004 at The Oval. Their brilliant stand was also the highest against South Africa in the Champions Trophy history, breaking the 163-run record set by Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah in 2009.