Watch: Mitchell Santner bamboozles Rassie van der Dussen with absolute jaffa in CT 2025 semi-final

New Zealand National Cricket Team skipper Mitchell Santner provided his team with a great start with the ball in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against the South Africa National Cricket Team.

The second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is currently underway at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday, March 5.

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Mitchell Santner leads from the front with the ball

Mitchell Santner has led from the front with the ball in the ongoing high-octane match against the Proteas.

He provided his team with a crucial breakthrough as he broke the big partnership between Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen by dismissing the Proteas skipper Bavuma on the second ball of the 23rd over of the innings.

Notably, Temba Bavuma had earlier got a lifeline when Kane Williamson dropped a tough chance to send him packing. However, Santner created another chance, and this time, it was a simple catch for Kane Williamson, who grabbed it comfortably.

Mitchell Santner, then, removed Rassie van der Dussen as well in the 27th over of the innings. On the 5th ball of the over, Santner bowled an absolute jaffa to end van der Dussen's innings for 69 runs, with 4 fours and 2 sixes.

Mitchell Santner bowled a brilliant delivery to the in-form South Africa batter that drifted in and then straightened off the pitch. Rassie van der Dussen was shaping to nudge it onto the on-side, but he missed the line completely, closed the face of the bat, and let the ball shatter his stumps.

Watch: Mitchell Santner castles Rassie van der Dussen

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Soon, Santner handed another body blow to South Africa and completely broke their momentum as he dismissed Heinrich Klaasen in the 29th over.

How did South Africa perform in their previous ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match?

South Africa hammered England in their previous ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match in Karachi and clinched a 7-wicket win. They handed the Jos Buttler-led side their third consecutive loss in the competition and made sure that they ended their miserable campaign winless.

England won the toss and opted to bat first in the match. The decision backfired as they struggled from the outset against the South African bowling attack.

Marco Jansen set the tone early, dismissing Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, and Ben Duckett within the powerplay to leave England reeling at 37/3. Despite a brief partnership between Joe Root (37) and Harry Brook (19), South Africa’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure.

Wiaan Mulder (3/25) and Keshav Maharaj (2/35) kept picking wickets at regular intervals and England were eventually folded for a below-par score of 179 in 38.2 overs.

Chasing a modest total, South Africa faced early setbacks after Jofra Archer dismissed Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton to reduce them to 47/2.

However, Rassie van der Dussen (72*) and Heinrich Klaasen (64) took control with a match-winning 127-run partnership. Klaasen, in particular, was aggressive, hitting 11 boundaries in his 56-ball innings before falling to Adil Rashid.

Van der Dussen remained unbeaten and made sure that there were no further hiccups as David Miller finished the chase in style with a six, sealing victory in just 29.1 overs.