Lahore: As the Champions Trophy final approaches on Sunday, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner is eager to draw on the confidence gained from the positive elements observed during their earlier group stage loss to India in Dubai.
On Wednesday evening, New Zealand secured their place in Dubai with a convincing 50-run victory over South Africa at the scenic Gaddafi Stadium.
"I believe we faced a strong opponent today, and now we look forward to Dubai, where we've already played against India. We anticipate a similar challenge on that surface, and we will focus on recovery to be fully prepared," Santner stated during the post-match presentation.
In their previous encounter with the 'Men in Blue,' Santner and his team initially performed well but ultimately faltered against India's spin strategy, resulting in a 44-run defeat. However, Santner is determined to focus on the positives rather than the outcome as they prepare for the final.
"Yes, I think being able to put them under pressure at times in the last game was beneficial for our confidence moving forward. We had a chance to analyze each other, and we can take away what worked and what didn’t. Our key bowlers performed exceptionally well to take three wickets early on. Winning the toss would also be advantageous," he added.
Since their memorable title victory against India in the Champions Trophy final in 2000, New Zealand has been on a quest for their next ICC ODI title. After a 25-year wait, they are now on the brink of adding another trophy to their collection.
In a scenario reminiscent of their previous clash with India in the tournament final, the Kiwis are once again tasked with overcoming the same opponent to break their ICC ODI trophy drought by securing a victory against formidable odds.
The Blackcaps are well aware of both their rivals and the playing conditions, drawing insights from their earlier group stage match.
As they approached the semifinal against South Africa, Kane Williamson (102) and Rachin Ravindra (108) led New Zealand's charge with impressive centuries. While Ravindra maintained his aggressive approach, Williamson adapted his game, attacking at an impressive strike rate to capitalize on the favorable conditions.
The pair forged a significant 164-run partnership, setting the foundation for Daryl Mitchell (49) and Glenn Phillips (49*) to unleash a powerful assault on South Africa's pace attack.
"Williamson continues to deliver. That partnership was crucial for us; he managed to keep the momentum going during the middle overs. South Africa put us to the test, but we were able to capitalize and post 360 runs. We believed that 320 might not suffice," Santner remarked.
On the bowling front, Santner (3/43) took the lead in securing vital breakthroughs, claiming the wickets of Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, and the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen. Rachin Ravindra (1/20) and Glenn Phillips (2/27) provided valuable support, collectively contributing to three dismissals.
"I was really pleased to take three wickets today. It simplifies my role; we have four all-rounders capable of bowling spin and batting effectively. Rachin's five overs were exceptional," he noted.
New Zealand faced an injury concern in the 29th over when their pace spearhead, Matt Henry, sustained a shoulder injury while attempting to catch a ball from Heinrich Klaasen. He left the field to receive treatment from the physiotherapist.
Henry made his way back to the field and was assigned the responsibility of bowling the 44th over. He took the wicket of Kagiso Rabada in the 46th over, concluding the match with bowling figures of 2/43.
Santner provided a health update on the fast bowler, stating, "I need to monitor Matt Henry's shoulder. It's somewhat sore. We'll have to wait a few days to assess the situation."
