Watch cricket video highlights of Pakistan Tri-Nation Series 2025. Second ODI between South Africa and New Zealand. Venue of the match will be Lahore.
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New Zealand has secured a spot in the final of the Pakistan Tri-Nation Series after achieving the third-highest successful chase in Lahore, defeating a weakened South Africa by six wickets. This result sets the stage for a knockout match on Wednesday between Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi. Kane Williamson and Devon Conway, making their return to New Zealand’s ODI squad for the first time since the 2023 World Cup, both contributed significantly with scores of 133 not out and 97, respectively, forming a record partnership of 187 for New Zealand against South Africa.
Conway’s innings marked his first fifty since the opening match of the 2023 World Cup, a span of 11 innings. Williamson reached his century, which was his first in 22 innings dating back to his 148 against the West Indies in Manchester during the 2019 World Cup, and this innings was the second fastest of his ODI career, completed in just 72 balls. Together, they surpassed a notable milestone set by Matthew Breetzke, who recorded the highest individual score on ODI debut with 150 and became the fourth South African to score a century on his first appearance.
Breetzke’s performance contributed to nearly half of South Africa’s total, indicating some of the issues they faced. Their scoring rate in the middle overs was too sluggish, particularly considering the conducive batting conditions. Another issue was the lackluster performance of their bowling attack, which was not their strongest lineup. While debutants Eathan Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, and Mihlali Mpongwana may be excused, the underwhelming efforts from Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi, who together gave away 116 runs in 16 overs, will raise concerns as they approach the Champions Trophy.
South Africa has now experienced five consecutive losses in ODIs, marking their longest streak in two decades, yet they have played all their matches without a complete squad. While there may not be many positives to draw from this defeat, they can find some comfort in the fact that, apart from Rachin Ravindra, New Zealand fielded their strongest lineup and performed accordingly. After opting to bowl first in the sole day match of the series, New Zealand made an early breakthrough when Will O’Rourke dismissed Temba Bavuma with a bouncer that led to an edged pull.
Bavuma appeared assured during his 23-ball innings of 20, but O’Rourke’s persistent and aggressive tactic with short deliveries proved effective. Breetzke and Jason Smith put together a partnership of 93 for the second wicket, but their run rate of 5.31 runs per over illustrated New Zealand’s tight grip on the game. South Africa managed only two fours and three sixes in the 17 overs between Bavuma’s dismissal and Smith’s run-out, as they attempted to challenge Mitchell Santner but were mostly kept at bay.
During that period, Breetzke reached his half-century off 68 balls. When Smith was dismissed, New Zealand saw a chance to exploit a weak middle order and capitalized on it. Kyle Verreynne attempted to reverse-sweep the fourth delivery he faced, missed, and was bowled by Michael Bracewell. A lull followed during which South Africa managed just one boundary in 11 overs, as Ben Sears, Bracewell, and Matt Henry remained disciplined in their attack. South Africa stood at 196 for 3 as they entered the final 10 overs, and reaching 280 appeared to be a challenging task.
Breetzke decided to take matters into his own hands. He struck O’Rourke through deep third to secure his century off 128 balls in the 41st over and then accelerated aggressively. His subsequent fifty runs came off just 19 balls as he showcased his full batting arsenal. His 150 arrived in an over where he plundered Sears for 20 runs. Just when it seemed Breetzke might be on his way to a double century, he misjudged a slower ball from Henry and was caught at mid-off.
Wiaan Mulder, who had mostly been a bystander up until that moment, was tasked with completing the innings but was fortunate to have an inside-edge roll away for four before he settled into his innings. He brought up his second ODI fifty with a powerful cover drive off Henry, using 54 balls to do so, and guided South Africa past 300 with a boundary through short fine leg in the second to last over. South Africa managed only four runs from their final eight balls.
New Zealand progressed steadily but surpassed the required run rate just past the midway point of their innings, maintaining control from there on. At that stage, they had only lost Will Young, who scored 19, although he was fortunate not to be dismissed for 6 in the third over. Smith let a chance go at backward point off Ngidi, but the dropped catch didn’t prove overly detrimental.
Young’s exit brought Conway and Williamson together, and there was a moment of tension when Williamson edged Junior Dala past Verreynne, but he quickly found his rhythm and exhibited an exceptional display of scoring, hitting runs all over the ground. His wagon wheel was nearly perfectly balanced, registering 67 runs to the off side and 66 to the leg side, with standout shots including four aggressive cuts and an inventive ramp over Verreynne while leaning back on a delivery from Ngidi. Williamson’s timing in pacing his innings was spot on.
He allowed himself time to settle in while maintaining a run-a-ball pace, and then took on a more aggressive role, outpacing Conway, who reached his fifty first. Conway achieved his half-century in 64 balls, while Williamson reached his off 44 balls, capped by a monumental six over mid-on off Shamsi. This also marked Williamson’s fourth consecutive ODI score of fifty or more in Pakistan. He appeared to enjoy facing Mpongwana and Ngidi’s short deliveries, while Conway targeted Shamsi, leaving South Africa without effective responses.
Williamson reached his century in the 34th over with a single off Dala. Conway was close behind and eager to join him, but when he was on 97, he attempted to cut Dala past point and was caught by Muthusamy, who made a solid effort by moving to his left. Muthusamy was South Africa’s standout bowler, taking out Daryl Mitchell with a brilliant catch from Mulder at long-on, along with Tim Latham in consecutive deliveries, but Glenn Phillips supported Williamson until the end. Williamson scored the winning runs in the 49th over, securing victory for New Zealand with eight balls remaining.
