Champions Trophy Digest: India and New Zealand seal semis spot; Australia and South Africa eye knockouts | Cricket News

New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, left, celebrates with teammate Tom Latham after scoring century. (AP Photo)

New Zealand and India have stormed into the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from Group A, leaving hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh out of competition.
Rachin Ravindra‘s elegant 112 powered New Zealand to a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday, sealing their knockout berth and in flip confirming India’s development as effectively. Both groups now boast two wins in two matches and will conflict in Dubai on Sunday to find out the group winner.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
The event has been a catastrophe for Pakistan, the defending champions and hosts of their first ICC occasion because the 1996 ODI World Cup. They suffered back-to-back defeats in opposition to New Zealand and India, ending their marketing campaign prematurely.
New Zealand have been the dominant power in Group A, following up their emphatic 60-run win over Pakistan with a composed chase in opposition to Bangladesh. Michael Bracewell’s career-best 4-36 arrange the victory, proscribing Bangladesh to 236/9. New Zealand stuttered early however discovered stability in Ravindra’s ton and Tom Latham’s 55, securing a snug chase.

Australia vs South Africa: High-stakes battle for knockout berth
With the Group A semi-finalists locked in, the main target now shifts to Group B, the place Australia and South Africa will conflict in an important match on Tuesday in Rawalpindi. Both sides, brimming with batting firepower, will look to take a decisive step towards the semi-finals.
Australia, typically doubted earlier than ICC occasions, proved their critics fallacious with a shocking record-breaking chase in opposition to England in Lahore, showcasing their resilience as soon as once more.
Dew performed a significant position in that match and may affect the result once more in Rawalpindi. Australia’s depleted bowling assault, lacking Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, is a priority, however their audacious batting — led by Josh Inglis, Matthew Short, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell — has been a revelation.
South Africa, in the meantime, will depend on their stronger bowling assault, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada, to problem Australia. Ryan Rickelton’s aggressive century in opposition to Afghanistan, coupled with robust middle-order performances, has boosted their confidence. However, Heinrich Klaasen’s availability stays unsure after lacking the earlier match as a result of harm.
Despite an underwhelming build-up, South Africa stay decided to problem for the title, whereas Australia purpose to show their event pedigree as soon as once more. With a semi-final berth on the road, count on a high-stakes, high-intensity battle in Rawalpindi.