SA vs NZ Match Prediction | 2nd Semi Final

Betting Tips

New Zealand will rely on their key players to stand up against a side that has gone unbeaten this tournament. Mitchell Santner will have his work cut out for him when he goes up against a more experienced ODI captain in Aiden Markram of South Africa.

The South Africans have peaked when it matters during this tournament after a dismal build-up to the competition. They have formed a settled ODI squad over the past two or three years. Some of their key contributors may be playing in their final ICC event and will be looking to head out with silverware.

South Africa vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record

New Zealand is slightly ahead on head-to-head in the past five ODIs, leading their opponents by three wins to two. The Proteas won the previous ICC ODI World Cup match between them. The Black Caps won the most recent match in the Pakistan Tri-Nations Series.

South Africa vs New Zealand Live-streaming and Broadcast

New Zealand and South Africa will meet for semi-final two of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The game will take place on Wednesday, 5 March 2025. TV broadcast and live-streaming options for this match will be available in India on the Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar app respectively.

SA vs NZ Team Previews

South Africa

Opening the batting is one of the sensations of South Africa’s SA20, Ryan Rickelton. He combines classical technique with aggressive stroke play. The Proteas have been bold by promoting Tristan Stubbs to open the batting. He is a rising star and has quickly made his mark in international cricket with a maiden Test century against Bangladesh in October 2024.

Rassie van der Dussen's consistency and adaptability make him a linchpin in the batting lineup to give the team stability in crucial situations. He hit 72 runs unbeaten in his previous innings. Wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen is in scintillating form, having scored fifties in his last five ODI matches, including a vital 64 off 56 balls against England.

David Miller's explosive batting style adds depth when the team needs firepower in the death overs. Captain Aiden Markram leads with a blend of tactical acumen and batting prowess, exemplified by his record-breaking 49-ball century against Sri Lanka in October 2023.

All-rounder Wiaan Mulder offers versatility with valuable runs and as a handy medium-pace bowling option. The towering Marco Jansen poses a dual threat with his left-arm pace and bounce. He has shown lower-order batting resilience in white ball cricket too. Both Mulder and Jansen took three wickets against England.

Spinner Keshav Maharaj brings control in subcontinental spinning conditions. The pace duo of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi provides firepower with their ability to generate pace and movement in the first ten overs. Rabada has nine ODI wickets in his previous four matches of the format.

South Africa Expected Playing 11

New Zealand

Will Young anchors the batting lineup with his consistent performances. His ability to adapt across formats and situations makes him a crucial asset in setting solid foundations. He has 319 runs in his last ten ODIs. Left-hander Rachin Ravindra is a versatile all-rounder. Ravindra recently demonstrated his prowess by scoring a match-winning century against Bangladesh in his Champions Trophy debut.

Kane Williamson, returning from a brief hiatus, brings invaluable experience and leadership. His recent form in the Pakistan Tri-Nations Series, highlighted by an unbeaten 133 against South Africa, underscores his readiness to anchor the innings and guide younger players. He also hit 81 runs against India.

Daryl Mitchell is renowned for his adaptability and power-hitting in the middle. His aggressive batting style makes him a must-have in this Black Caps batting lineup. Mitchell’s batting average in ODIs is almost touching 50 with an ODI batting strike rate a fraction over 95.

Glenn Phillips injects energy with his explosive batting and athletic fielding. His off-spin bowling provides an additional option on a spinning surface. He hit 61 runs in his opening innings of the tournament.

Mitchell Santner, leading the side as captain, brings a strong strategic brain and consistency. His left-arm orthodox spin and dependable lower-order batting are complemented by his leadership qualities which have resulted in silverware prior to this tournament.

Matt Henry spearheads the pace attack with his right-arm fast-medium bowling. His experience and ability to extract seam movement with the new ball make him a formidable force with ball in hand. His qualities came to the fore with five wickets against India.

Will O'Rourke has moved from the ranks of a promising young fast bowler to quickly rising into an international star. His ability to generate extra bounce and deliver at speeds up to 150 kilometres per hour draws comparisons to Kyle Jamieson. O’Rourke took two wickets in his previous match versus South Africa.

New Zealand Expected Playing 11

SA vs NZ Toss Prediction

South Africa have often found success in batting first. That could be their recipe for success in this semi-final with a potent bowling lineup. Four of the past five ODIs between the team have been won the team chasing. New Zealand may prefer chasing.

Pitch and Conditions

In day-night One Day Internationals at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, the pitch is traditionally batter-friendly. This should be an ideal surface for a fair contest between bat and ball over the course of the full match.

While fast bowlers may find limited assistance after the opening powerplay. The spinners can expect some support from the surface with turn on a used pitch. Dew in the evening may slightly help batting in the second innings. South Africa set New Zealand a target of 305 in February 2025 at Lahore. The New Zealanders chased that down with eight balls remaining.

Matchday conditions will be sunny with no chance of rain. Although temperatures will be in the early 20s in degrees Celsius, it will feel very humid at the ground.

SA vs NZ Betting Tips

These two teams have been part of some memorable ICC knockout matches for over a decade. New Zealand beat South Africa in the quarter-final of the 2011 ICC ODI Cricket World Cup and a 2015 ICC ODI Cricket World Cup classic in the semi-final. The South Africans look primed to exact revenge in this year’s Champions Trophy with their consistent and powerful squad across all facets.

Bet on South Africa to win this match.