CT2025 SA vs NZ Playing 11: The second semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025 was scheduled to be played between Temba Bavuma-led South Africa and Mitchell Santner-led New Zealand on March 5 in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
India already sealed their spot in the final by winning the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025. The winner of tonight’s game will face India in the grand final of the Champions Trophy 2025 on March 9 in Dubai.
South Africa and New Zealand both have played 73 ODIs so far with South Africa leading the race with 42 wins while Kiwi managed to emerge victorious on 26 occasions.
Both teams have won this trophy, South Africa in 1998 and New Zealand in 2000, when it was still called the ICC Knockout. Notably, South Africa are the only country who have been represented in the knockout stages of the last seven ICC tournaments, regardless of age group or gender.
On the other hand, New Zealand have won both men’s knockout games they have played against South Africa, in the 2011 and 2015 World Cups.
CT2025 SA vs NZ Playing 11
New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first in the second semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025.
During the toss, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said “We are gonna have a bat first, looks like a good wicket, looks a bit dry. Privileged to captain my country and for us it’s to play good cricket. We got the same team.
Last game was foreign conditions, we have played a few games here in the tri-series. Will try to play good cricket and put pressure on them”.
New Zealand (Playing XI): Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William ORourke
On the other hand, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said “We are not too concerned but the preference would have been to bat, our bowlers need to bowl well and then our batters need to do the job. Just one change, myself, I’m feeling much better.
We have had learnings from semi-finals and finals. We need to win the key moments. We are doing a lot of work, lots of confidence, it’s another game for us irrespective of it being the semi-final”.
South Africa (Playing XI): Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
