Weekly CRICKET Review - LXXXvii | 2025 ICC Champions Trophy - before the Finals

damithudaya (76)modmemberin Steem Sri Lanka • 4 days ago

Hello, fellow Cricket Enthusiasts,

You already know I am sharing a weekly wrap-up of what is happening within the Cricket community. It's the 87th edition now. There is nothing else going on in the Cricket World, other than 2025 ICC Champions Trophy!

In the last week, I summarized up to 10 matches of the Group stage. So, let's see what happened from there.

After 10 out of 12 Group stage matches, India, New Zealand, and Australia advanced to the knockout stage early. Who got the next spot, and what's happened at the knockouts?

As I said earlier, the 08 teams are in two groups, and here is the standing, after the Group stage, of 12 matches.

ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 - Points Table

Group A

12th Match, New Zealand vs India - This was a dead rubber as both the teams were selected to the semis. Anyway, this result affected their opponent.

On a slow pitch in Dubai, India started the batting. They lost the top 03 for 30, but Iyer, Pandya, Axar, and the rest of the crew carried the inning nicely to a respectable total. They made 249/9. Matt Henry took a fifer.

Kiwis lost Rachin early, but Williamson anchored the inning well with a little support from others. Eventhough they all get started, couldn't hold their ends. India kept taking wickets, and finally, NZ was all out for 205, India winning it by 44 runs. Varun Chakravarthy became the MoM with a fifer.

Group B

11th Match, South Africa vs England - Well, this match decided the fate of other semi-finalist. Anyway, as I said last week, it was a tough ask for Afghanistan.

England was not in this game too, from the start. Opting to bat first, they could put just 179 runs on the board, which is way below average. SA ballers were ruthless and consistent here.

Proteas easily chased down the target, in 29.1 overs with 7 wickets remaining.

With that defeat, England opted out without a single win, and Butler ended his short tenure as whiteball captain.

Semi-Finals

India vs Australia, 1st Semi-Final (A1 v B2) - Well, once again it was between India vs Australia match. Everyone was waiting for this after the 2023 World Cup final. Anyway, the Aussies were a bit on the weaker side, without most of the senior players.

Aussies batted first, and the misery continued for Connolly. Another duck for him and, Indian headache Head got a start but got out for 39. Smith anchored from one end, and with the help of Carey and others, they reached 264/10.

It was a good total, but Indian batters took the chase more sensibly. After losing the openers, Kohli, and Shreyas batted nicely against spin with plenty of singles and doubles. Then Axar, KL, and Pandya drove well, against some regular wickets. Anyway, India chased the target at 48.1 overs with 4 wickets remaining.

src

With that win, Rohit Sharma becomes the first-ever captain to reach the final in all four Men’s ICC tournaments; ICC World Test Championship (2023), ODI World Cup (2023), T20 World Cup (2024), and ICC Champions Trophy (2025).

South Africa vs New Zealand, 2nd Semi-Final (B1 v A2) - Well, another choke for South Africa. They are playing some good cricket in the last few years, but still fall short at some point. Anyway, the Kiwis are in a good run, deserving and sealing a place at the finals.

The Kiwis won the toss on this flat surface and their batters responded impressively to the decision. After a 48-run opening stand, Rachin and Kane completely set the foundation with a 164-run stand for the second wicket with two centuries. Then Daryl Mitchell and Glen Phillips cameos to reach 362/6.

src

SA has the muscle power to chase that, but things didn't go that way. Their start was too slow, and then Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen tried, but couldn't continue the required rate steadily. They passed 150/3 in 25 overs, and a lot of power hitters to come. But when Markram and Klaseen were out their hopes faded away. Miller tried his best playing solo inning at the end. He reached his fity in the 47th over and reached a century in the last ball of the match.

The final score was 312/9, and New Zealand won by 50 runs.