Mitchell Santner slowly is coming to terms with his role as the New Zealand white-ball captain as he put on a spin clinic when it mattered most, the Champions Trophy semi-final against South Africa on Wednesday, March 5, in Lahore. Chasing 362, South Africa succumbed under scoreboard pressure and managed to reach 312, thanks to David Miller’s unbeaten century. That simply shows it’s a good wicket, but still, Santner showed what he can do even when the surfaces offer him very little.
With guile and using his height and high-arm action to fullest, the New Zealand captain got the maximum amount of turn among all spinners in the match and broke the back of the Proteas’ chase with key wickets of Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen, two of whom were set. Santner’s bowling figures of 3/43 took his wickets to seven and will now have an opportunity to break the Champions Trophy record on Sunday in the final.
Santner now shares the record for most wickets as captain in Champions Trophy history with seven, a record previously held solely by former Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori. Legendary South African pacer Shaun Pollock is at the top with eight wickets in the tournament as captain.
Santner had South Africa rocking before Miller restored a measure of respectability to the South African total as New Zealand made it to their third final in the Champions Trophy. Back to Dubai one last time, it is to be hoped that New Zealand can continue to add to their fine run.