Match Details
Date: March 5, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM (IST)
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Live ball-by-ball commentary: SportsTiger APP
Preview
The second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be played between South Africa and New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5. Both the teams are coming after a dominating performance in the group stage and will look to enter the final of the ongoing tournament. Both teams also met during the semi-final of the 2015 ODI World Cup where New Zealand defeated South Africa in a thrilling encounter to enter the final. Now, the Proteas will be looking to get different result this time.
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.
Team Analysis
South Africa
The inaugural champions of the Champions Trophy, South Africa are coming after a dominant performance in group B where they finished at the top of the points table with wins over Afghanistan and England. There one game against Australia was washed out due to rain. The Proteas have also shown great form in the ICC events in the last two years, which included reaching the semi-final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, final of the 2024 T20 World Cup and the final of the World Test Championship in 2025. Now, South Africa will look to clear the final hurdles this time and enter the final of the Champions Trophy this year.
South Africa Champions Trophy 2025 squad
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
New Zealand are also coming after a convincing performance in the group B with wins over the hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh. However, they lost their last league game against India and finished second in the points table. The 2000 champions also have to clear the lsat few hurdles to get their hands on the trophy after 25 years and will look to dominant South Africa in the semi-final.
New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 squad
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
Match Prediction 
Conclusion
New Zealand are likely to have an upper hand in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025 against South Africa. However, the Proteas also turned out to be a strong side and can give a tough fight to New Zealand in the upcoming encounter.
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