While South Africa are unbeaten so far at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, New Zealand arrive into the semi-final on the back of a defeat at the hands of India.
South Africa are 72/1 after 12 overs, with van der Dussen on 22 and Bavuma on 33.
Earlier, Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson both made centuries as New Zealand set a big total of 362/6.
Only twice in one-day international history has a total that big been successfully chased down in the second innings – and both times it was South Africa who did it.
Ravindra fell for a well-played 108 off 101 balls – caught by Heinrich Klaasen off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada – with Williamson making 102 off 94 before being caught by Lungi Ngidi off Wiaan Mulder.
Will Young had been the first wicket to fall, caught by Aiden Markram off Ngidi, leaving New Zealand on 48/1.
But Ravindra and Williamson created an excellent partnership, brought to an end only in the 34th over.
Tom Latham managed only four before he was bowled by Rabada, and then Daryl Mitchell fell agonisingly short on 49 off 37 balls, with four fours and one six.
Michael Bracewell was out on the penultimate ball of the innings having made 16 off 12 deliveries.
And Glenn Phillips missed out on taking the strike for the last ball of the innings, meaning he also missed out on a half-century, finishing with 49 off 27 balls – including six fours and a maximum.
Captain Mitchell Santner had the last word, with two scampered from that last delivery.
A day after the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team punched their ticket in the Champions Trophy Final, the Black Caps and Proteas will lock horns in Lahore to set the summit clash on Sunday.
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bat first.
The Proteas finished atop Group B, with two wins from three outings while their game against Australia was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
New Zealand on the other hand were the second ranked side in Group A, with convincing wins over Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Playing XI
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William ORourke
