New Zealand secured their place in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy with a dominant 50-run victory over South Africa, setting up a rematch with India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson helped New Zealand post a formidable total, and despite a late flurry from Glenn Phillips, South Africa never looked like mounting a serious challenge in their pursuit.

Dinesh Karthik, who has been in South Africa for the SA20 and is now covering the Champions Trophy for media duties, voiced his frustration at South Africa’s lackluster performance. The Proteas came into the tournament as one of the favorites, but their performance in the semifinal left much to be desired.

“I want to make it clear: New Zealand annihilated South Africa; it was as simple as that,” Karthik said in his assessment. “South Africa were never really in the game. I expected them to put up a fight, to challenge New Zealand, but they didn’t. You expected more from a team like South Africa.”

New Zealand set the stage with a strong partnership between Ravindra and Williamson, laying a solid foundation. Glenn Phillips then finished things off with a powerful cameo, pushing the total beyond 360 and further increasing the pressure on South Africa.

In response, the Proteas’ chase faltered almost immediately. Ryan Rickelton, in good form, was dismissed early, and although Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen briefly steadied the ship with a solid partnership, it was broken just as quickly. From there, South Africa’s batting line-up crumbled under pressure, losing regular wickets and finishing with little hope of a revival.

“This was a meek surrender,” Karthik remarked. “They were never really in the game, not from the very start. You can’t show up to a semifinal just happy to be there. You have to play like a champion team.” Karthik’s frustration stemmed from the fact that South Africa had ample time to mount a competitive chase. “You can always back yourself to get 90 in the last ten overs, or 85. But you cannot have 140,” he explained. “Even in T20 cricket, that’s almost impossible. With fewer wickets and a slightly older ball, it’s next to impossible.”

New Zealand, in the end, were never seriously threatened, cruising to victory with their total largely unchallenged throughout South Africa’s chase. The Proteas, despite a spirited late century from David Miller, who struck an impressive 100 off just 67 balls, were undone by a collapse in the middle overs. The loss of key wickets in quick succession, particularly from Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram, left them reeling at 189-5.

Karthik pointed to the middle-order collapse as the key turning point in South Africa’s downfall. “That’s where the game was lost,” he said. “The inability of players like Klaasen and Markram to settle in really hurt South Africa. Once they lost wickets in the middle overs, the game was effectively over.”

With New Zealand emerging comfortable winners, their attention now shifts to a rematch with India. The Kiwis will face an Indian side in top form, having already beaten them earlier in the tournament in Dubai. Despite the setbacks, New Zealand will enter the final full of confidence, while South Africa will be left to reflect on a performance far below their potential. Karthik’s words offer a sobering reminder: a semifinal isn’t a place to just show up—it’s a place to compete. And for South Africa, they failed to do that on the big stage.