Champions Trophy 2025: Semi-final 1, SA vs NZ Match Prediction

SA vs NZ Match Preview

The second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be played between South Africa (SA) and New Zealand (NZ) at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5. The Proteas are currently unbeaten in the ongoing tournament with two wins in the league stage with one game getting washed out. On the other hand, the Black Caps are also looking strong with just one loss in the three league matches in group B.

The inaugural champions (1998) South Africa have entered their third consecutive final in the ICC events in the last two years and will be looking to make it to the final for the second time after the 2024 T20 World Cup. Talking about New Zealand, the 2000 champions will also be looking to clear the hurdles in the ICC tournaments. Let’s have a look at today’s cricket match prediction, pitch report, head-to-head and key players ahead of the semi-final 2 of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 between South Africa and New Zealand.

SA vs NZ Match Details

Match	South Africa vs New Zealand, Semi-Final 2
Venue	Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Date & Time	Wednesday, March 5, 2:30 pm (IST)
Live Broadcast & Streaming Details	JioHotstar (app and website) and Star Sports Network

SA vs NZ Pitch Report

The surface of the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has become a paradise for the batters in recent times.There is minimal help for the fast bowlers but the batters enjoy to score runs due to perfect bounce and pace of the pitch. However, as the match progresses, there can be a slight help for the spinner. Out of 76 ODI matches played at this ground, the team batting first has won 38 times while the chasing team came out victorious on 36 occasions. The average first innings score in ODIs at Gaddafi Stadium is 255 runs.

SA vs NZ Head-to-Head Records in ODI

South Africa and New Zealand have faced each other 73 times in the ODI format so far. Out of these 73 matches, South Africa have won 42 times while New Zealand have defeated them on 26 occasions with five matches ending in no result between both teams in the ODI format.

Matches played	73
South Africa Won	42
New Zealand Won	26
No Result	5

SA vs NZ Weather Report

weather report 2

SA vs NZ Probable Playing XIs

South Africa

Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

New Zealand

Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William ORourke

SA vs NZ Full Squads

South Africa:

Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma, Tabraiz Shamsi, Corbin Bosch

New Zealand:

Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William ORourke, hNathan Smith, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Devon Conway

Key Players

Temba Bavuma: South African skipper Temba Bavuma hasn’t been able to play a big knock in the ongoing Champions Trophy so far. Now, the right-hander will be looking to lead from the front in the semi-final and guide South Africa to the final.

Marco Jansen: Fast bowlers Marco Jansen is among South Africa’s top wickekt taker in the ongoing tournament. Along with the bowling, Jansen can also produce some big hits as a handy batter which could be crucial for the Proteas in the semi-final.

Rachin Ravindra: Rachin Ravindra went on to score a century in his first match at the Champions Trophy against Bangladesh. The young Kiwi batter will look to get another big knock in the semi-final clash against South Africa.

Matt Henry: Fast bowler shone with a five-wicket haul in the last game against India and got his form back right before the semi-final. The right-arm pacer will be looking to deliver shining figures and help New Zealand to enter the final.