The second semi-final of the Champions Trophy will be played between South Africa and New Zealand (SA vs NZ) at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The winning team will face India in the final.
Match Overview
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 2:30 PM local time.
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Competition: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final.
Recent Performance and Head-to-Head
Recent Performance: New Zealand has shown strong form, winning against Pakistan and Bangladesh but losing to India. South Africa has been unbeaten in the tournament, with wins over Afghanistan and England.
Head-to-Head: South Africa leads the head-to-head 42-26 against New Zealand.
Pitch and Weather Condition
Pitch Report: The Gaddafi Stadium pitch is expected to be conducive for batting, with high-scoring matches likely.
Weather Forecast: No specific weather concerns have been reported for the match day.
Key Battles and Expectations
- Both teams are former champions of the Champions Trophy, with South Africa last winning in 1998 and New Zealand in 2000.
- The match is expected to be closely contested, with both sides having strong batting and bowling lineups.
- New Zealand will aim to replicate their recent win over South Africa in the Tri-Nation series, while South Africa will look to capitalize on their full-strength squad.
Injury Updates
Aiden Markram has been ruled out for South Africa due to a hamstring injury, with George Linde called up as cover.
These statistics highlight South Africa’s historical dominance over New Zealand in ODIs, but New Zealand has shown strong form in recent matches, especially in knockout stages.
