Rachin Ravindra vs. Kane Williamson: Who Stole the Show in the Champions Trophy Semifinal?

Rachin Ravindra vs. Kane Williamson: New Zealand crushed South Africa in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal on March 5 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Two players stood out: Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson. Both scored centuries. Their partnership drove New Zealand to 362/6. South Africa crumbled at 259/9. This blog dives into the Rachin Ravindra vs. Kane Williamson duel. Who shaped the game more? Let’s break it down with stats, moments, and impact.

Contents

How the Centuries Unfolded Key Stats from Rachin Ravindra vs. Kane Williamson Ravindra’s Power vs. Williamson’s Precision Their Partnership Changed Everything Player Highlights and Records South Africa’s Bowling Collapse What It Means for New Zealand Conclusion FAQ Related To Rachin Ravindra vs. Kane Williamson

How the Centuries Unfolded

Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson turned the game upside down. New Zealand lost Will Young early, at 38/1 in the eighth over. Ravindra joined Williamson. They built a 164-run stand over 26.3 overs. Ravindra scored 108 off 101 balls. Williamson made 102 off 94 balls. Their runs came fast and steady. South Africa’s bowlers—Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen—struggled. Keshav Maharaj leaked 65 runs. The pair set a base for Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips to blast 112 runs in the last 10 overs. That total broke South Africa’s spirit.

Key Stats from Rachin Ravindra vs. Kane Williamson

Check the table below for a clear look at their performances.

Player	Runs	Balls Faced	Fours	Sixes	Strike Rate	How Out	Milestone Reached
Rachin Ravindra	108	101	13	1	106.93	Caught by Klaasen	2nd ton in CT 2025
Kane Williamson	102	94	10	2	108.51	Caught by Ngidi	19,000 int’l runs
Rachin Ravindra	–	46 dot balls	–	–	–	Bowled by Rabada	5th ICC ODI ton
Kane Williamson	–	38 dot balls	–	–	–	Bowled by Mulder	15th ODI ton
Rachin Ravindra	–	93 balls to 100	–	–	–	–	Youngest NZ CT century-maker
Kane Williamson	–	91 balls to 100	–	–	–	–	4th ton vs. SA
Rachin Ravindra	–	–	–	–	–	–	164-run stand (highest in CT for NZ)
Kane Williamson	–	–	–	–	–	–	Most CT runs for NZ
Rachin Ravindra	–	–	–	–	–	–	2nd ton in tournament
Kane Williamson	–	–	–	–	–	–	3rd straight ton vs. SA

Ravindra’s Power vs. Williamson’s Precision

Rachin Ravindra attacked from the start. He hit 13 fours and one six. His shots pierced the off-side. He lofted Maharaj for a six in the 18th over. That set the tone. He faced 46 dot balls but kept the scoreboard moving. At 25, he plays with hunger. His 108 runs showed flair and fight.

Kane Williamson took a different path. He started slow. His first boundary came in the 11th over off Rabada. After his fifty, he shifted gears. He hit a lofted cover drive off Maharaj. He smashed a six off Markram. With 38 dot balls, he rotated strike better than Ravindra. At 34, he brings calm control. His 102 runs anchored the innings.

Which style worked better? Ravindra pushed the pace. Williamson held it together. Together, they crushed South Africa.

Their Partnership Changed Everything

The 164-run stand was massive. It lasted 159 balls. They scored at 6.18 runs per over. South Africa had no answer. Ravindra fell in the 34th over. Williamson went in the 40th. By then, New Zealand sat at 250/2. That let Mitchell and Phillips swing hard later. The final total—362/6—was the highest in Champions Trophy history. South Africa’s chase never recovered.

Player Highlights and Records

Here’s what stood out for each.

Rachin Ravindra
- Second century of the tournament.
- Fifth ICC ODI ton overall.
- Youngest New Zealander to score a Champions Trophy hundred.
- Took on Rabada, Ngidi, and Jansen with ease.
Kane Williamson
- Hit 19,000 international runs.
- Fourth ODI ton against South Africa.
- Most runs by a Kiwi in Champions Trophy history.
- Stayed cool under pressure.

Both broke records. Ravindra leads ICC ODI centuries for New Zealand. Williamson owns the Champions Trophy run tally. Who’s the bigger legend? You decide.

South Africa’s Bowling Collapse

South Africa’s bowlers took a beating. Look at their figures.

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Economy	Key Moment
Kagiso Rabada	10	70	2	7.00	Dismissed Ravindra
Lungi Ngidi	10	72	3	7.20	Got Young and Williamson
Marco Jansen	10	79	0	7.90	No wickets, big runs leaked
Keshav Maharaj	10	65	0	6.50	Lofted for six by Ravindra
Wiaan Mulder	6	38	1	6.33	Dismissed Williamson
Aiden Markram	4	38	0	9.50	Hit for six by Williamson

Stats from Times of India live updates. Rabada’s 19-run 49th over hurt. Jansen’s 79 runs with no wickets sealed their fate.

What It Means for New Zealand

The Rachin Ravindra vs. Kane Williamson battle wasn’t just about runs. It showed a team in sync. Ravindra brings energy. Williamson offers stability. Their duel powered New Zealand to the final against India on March 9 in Dubai. South Africa’s collapse to 259/9 proved the damage. Mitchell Santner’s 3/43 cleaned up after. This win wasn’t luck—it was built on that 164-run stand.

Conclusion

Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson defined the Champions Trophy semifinal. Ravindra’s 108 off 101 brought fire. Williamson’s 102 off 94 added steel. Their 164-run partnership set a record and broke South Africa. New Zealand now eyes the title. Ravindra shows the future. Williamson proves the present. Together, they’re unstoppable. The stats back it up. The scoreboard proves it.

How many runs did Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson score together?

They scored 164 runs in their partnership. Ravindra made 108, Williamson 102.

Who hit more boundaries in the Rachin Ravindra vs. Kane Williamson duel?

Ravindra hit more. He scored 13 fours and one six. Williamson had 10 fours and two sixes.

Did their centuries help New Zealand win?

Yes. Their 164-run stand set 362/6. South Africa fell to 259/9, losing by 103 runs.