The second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will see New Zealand (NZ) face South Africa (SA) at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on March 5, 2025, at 2:30 PM IST. Both teams have performed well throughout the tournament and will be aiming to book their place in the final.
Let’s analyze the toss prediction, match prediction, team performances, head-to-head records, and other key insights for today’s big clash.
Match Details
| Match | New Zealand vs South Africa, Semi-Final 2, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Date & Time | Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 2:30 PM (IST) |
| Live Streaming | Sports18 / Star Sports Network, JioHotstar (App & Website) |
NZ vs SA Toss Prediction
Toss plays a crucial role in cricket matches, especially in high-stakes knockout games like this one. South Africa has a higher toss-winning percentage against New Zealand in recent encounters. Based on previous 10 toss results, SA has won 7 times, while NZ has won 3 times.
Toss Winner Prediction: South Africa Likely to Win the Toss
New Zealand won the toss & elected to bat
| Team | Matches | Toss Won | Toss Win % |
| South Africa | 10 | 7 | 70% |
| New Zealand | 10 | 5 | 50% |
The Gaddafi Stadium pitch favors batting first, making the toss even more crucial. The team winning the toss is expected to bat first and set a high total.
NZ vs SA Match Prediction
Team Form & Recent Performance
South Africa has been in dominant form throughout the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, remaining undefeated in the tournament. They secured big wins against top teams and dominated England in their last league game.
New Zealand, on the other hand, has won two out of three group-stage games but faced a 44-run defeat against India in their last match. Their batting struggled to chase an easy target, which might be a concern in this knockout game.
Head-to-Head Record (ODIs)
| Total Matches | South Africa Wins | New Zealand Wins | No Result |
| 73 | 42 | 26 | 5 |
Pitch & Weather Report
- Pitch: The surface at Gaddafi Stadium is known for being batting-friendly with an average first innings score of 338 runs.
- Weather: Clear skies with no rain expected.
- Ideal Strategy: Bat first and put runs on the board.
Key Players to Watch
South Africa
- Batsmen: Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, Ryan Rickelton
- Bowlers: Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj
New Zealand
- Batsmen: Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra
- Bowlers: Matt Henry, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson
Probable Playing XI
South Africa (SA):
- Temba Bavuma (C)
- Ryan Rickelton (WK)
- Rassie van der Dussen
- Aiden Markram
- Heinrich Klaasen
- David Miller
- Marco Jansen
- Wiaan Mulder
- Keshav Maharaj
- Kagiso Rabada
- Lungi Ngidi
New Zealand (NZ):
- Tom Latham (WK)
- Will Young
- Kane Williamson
- Rachin Ravindra
- Daryl Mitchell
- Glenn Phillips
- Michael Bracewell
- Mitchell Santner (C)
- Matt Henry
- William O’Rourke
- Kyle Jamieson
Read Also: SA vs NZ Head to Head record in Champions Trophy
Winning Prediction: South Africa to Win the Match
While New Zealand has a good record against South Africa in ODIs, recent performances and current form favor South Africa. The Proteas have shown dominance in both batting and bowling, making them the favorites to win.
Match Winning Scenarios:
- If South Africa wins the toss and bats first: SA will aim for 330+ and have the bowling attack to defend it.
- If New Zealand wins the toss and bats first: NZ will look for 310-320, but SA’s strong middle order and depth might chase it down.
Prediction: South Africa to win the match.
