NZ vs SA Semifinal: In a thrilling showdown at Gaddafi Stadium, New Zealand delivered a commanding performance, crushing South Africa by a huge margin in the second semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
With this decisive victory, the Kiwis have booked their spot in the grand finale, where they will take on India in a high-stakes battle for glory at the Dubai International Stadium on March 9.
The Kiwi batter set the big total and gave a lot of room to their bowlers. Kane and Rachin Ravindra starred at the top, and Glenn Phillips gave the finishing touches to get past 350. Mitchell Santner bowled exceptional spells and dismantled the middle order. David Miller gave his all in the chase, but it was New Zealand who defeated South Africa to seal the deal.
<h2>New Zealand vs South Africa Match Summary</h2>
New Zealand won the toss, and Santner had no doubt to bat first. The captain made the call, and the batters delivered at the top. After Will Young's wicket inside the powerplay, South Africa hustled for the next 15 overs to get the second wicket. The commanding partnership between Rachin and Kane Williamson set the stage for the middle order to put forth a big total against the Proteas. 
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202503/image_430x256_67c87c194596b.jpg" alt="">
Rachin and Kane both smacked thundering centuries, carrying a strike rate of over 100. After Rachin's dismissal, Daryl Mitchell came and gave pace to the momentum, smacking a valuable 49 off 37 balls. Mulder removed Williamson and Latham followed him soon. 
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202503/image_430x256_67c87c1d67a2a.jpg" alt="">
At that time, it seemed like New Zealand would post around 300, but Phillips had other ideas. Phillips wreaked havoc in the last five overs that took New Zealand's score past 350. Glenn Phillips smashed 49 unbeaten in just 27 balls. Lungi Ngidi was the most successful bowler for South Africa, taking three wickets. South Africa had 363 to chase in 50 overs.
It was a batting track for sure, and South Africa lost their in-form opener Ryan <a href="https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/13070/ryan-rickelton" title="View profile of Ryan Rickelton" class="cb-text-link">Rickelton</a> under 20 runs. Skipper Bavuma and Van Der Dussen stitched a 105-run partnership. Just when everyone expected that South Africa would press the accelerator, Santner got the better of Bavuma (56). Santner bowled out Van Der Dussen soon for a well-made 69. 
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202503/image_430x256_67c87c27300b8.jpg" alt="">
South Africa lost quick wickets after that, and all of a sudden, New Zealand took control of the match. David Miller tried his best from one end, but wickets kept falling at the other end. David Miller smoked a fabulous last-ball century, but it went in vain as NEW ZEALAND defeated SOUTH AFRICA by 50  runs.
<h2>IND vs NZ Final on March 9</h2>
India defeated Australia in the first Semifinal at Dubai International Stadium by 4 wickets. Today, after defeating South Africa, New Zealand have reached the final. It is going to be INDIA VS NEW ZEALAND in the final of ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025.
The match will be played at the Dubai International Stadium on March 9. The match is set to start at 2:30 IST.

NZ vs SA: New Zealand Stuns South Africa, Sets Up IND vs NZ Final in ICC Champions Trophy 2025!

New Zealand outclassed South Africa by 50 runs to storm into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final. Their composed knockout performance contrasts with South Africa’s recurring struggles in ICC semi-finals and finals.

New Zealand’s dominant 50-run win seals their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final spot, while South Africa endures another heartbreaking knockout loss. Take a look at the match summary of the NZ vs SA Semifinal

nz-vs-sa-new-zealand-stuns-south-africa-sets-up-ind-vs-nz-final-in-icc-champions-trophy-2025-

NZ vs SA Semifinal: After a mouth-watering contest between India and Australia, the stage is set for another thrilling clash between the other two semifinalists- it is time for New Zealand vs South Africa in the second semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
New Zealand were slotted in Group A, along with India, host Pakistan, and Bangladesh. India topped the points table with three wins in three matches, while New Zealand ended up in second rank. They won against Pakistan and Bangladesh but couldn't get past India. 
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202502/image_430x256_67b5fedc943b2.jpg" alt="">
South Africa, on the other hand, won two games out of three, with one ending in a washout. They gathered commanding victories over Afghanistan and England, leading them to the top of the table. 
<h2>NZ vs SA, Squads and Playing11s</h2>
New Zealand Squad: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O'Rourke, Jacob Duffy, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Nathan Smith
Probable Playing11: Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Will O'Rourke
South Africa Squad: Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tony de Zorzi
Probable Playing11: Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202502/image_430x256_67b8b0d2328d6.jpg" alt="">
<h2>NZ vs SA, Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report</h2>
The surface at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has been a paradise for batters throughout this Champions Trophy, with an impressive average scoring rate of 6.65. The pitch offers good pace and bounce, making stroke play easier. Fast bowlers may find little assistance from the deck, especially under hot conditions, and will have to rely on variations and hard lengths to make an impact. 
Spinners, on the other hand, have accounted for around 39% of the wickets and are expected to find some turn, particularly in the second innings. Given the nature of the track, teams winning the toss might prefer to chase unless the pitch is unusually dry. Another high-scoring encounter is likely, as the flat surface continues to favor aggressive batting.
<h2>Gaddafi Stadium ODI Stats</h2>
Total Matches Played: 76 Matches Won Batting First: 38 Matches Won Chasing: 36 Average 1st Innings Score: 256
<h3>Record-Breaking Totals</h3>
Highest Team Total: 375/3 (50 Ovs) – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe (2015) Lowest Team Total: 75/10 (22.5 Ovs) – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka (2009) Highest Successful Run Chase: 356/5 (47.3 Ovs) – Australia vs England (2025) Lowest Total Successfully Defended: 170/8 (40 Ovs) – West Indies vs Pakistan (1980)
<h3>Individual Brilliance</h3>
Most Runs at the Venue: Shoaib Malik (Pakistan) – 1030 Runs Highest Individual Score: Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan) – 177 vs England (2025) Most Sixes Hit: Shoaib Malik (Pakistan) – 18
<h2>Lahore weather Forecast</h2>
Lahore is set for a pleasant day on Wednesday, with clear skies and a maximum temperature of around 22-23 degrees Celsius. Last week's rain has given way to dry and sunny conditions, ensuring no interruptions for the semi-final clash. With ideal weather for cricket and no threat of showers, fans can expect an uninterrupted and thrilling contest on a batting-friendly surface. 
<h2>NZ vs SA, Who Will Win?</h2>
New Zealand and South Africa are strong when it comes to comparison. Even on man-to-man marking, you won't be able to place one team above the other and this competition have made things more exciting. 
One thing that gives an edge to New Zealand over South Africa is that New Zealand's performance in eliminators have been better than South Africa's, but not by a big lead. We saw how South Africa panicked in the ICC T20 World Cup final last year, losing a match from a winning situation. New Zealand never leave a chance; in fact, they don't need a second chance to make their way. 
If New Zealand bat first, they are probably going to win the match and enter the final. However, there is no doubt about what South Africa can do with their explosive batting lineup.

Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report and Weather Forecast

The two fierce teams are all set to have a bout against each other in the stage of semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The winner will play against India at Dubai in the Finals.

For an exciting battle between New Zealand and South Africa, the stage of Gaddafi Stadium is set and fans are waiting to see, who will win 2nd Semifinal between New Zealand and South Africa.

NZ vs SA, Who will WIN 2nd Semifinal? Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report, Lahore Weather Forecast, and Strongest Playing11 Prediction

nz-vs-sa-who-will-win-2nd-semifinal-gaddafi-stadium-pitch-report-lahore-weather-forecast-and-strongest-playing11-prediction

The ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025, being played in Pakistan and the UAE, has reached its business end as the group stage phase of the tournament has concluded. The eight participating teams were divided into two groups consisting of four teams each, with Bangladesh, Team India, Pakistan, and New Zealand forming Group-A , while Group-B consisted of England, Afghanistan, Australia &amp; South Africa. 
The first group got early semi-final confirmations as both Team India and New Zealand won their opening two contests versus Bangladesh &amp; Pakistan respectively to seal their spots in the knockout phase. 
The Men in Blue defeated the Kiwis in the final group-A clash to finish off the group stage phase as the table toppers. Both Bangladesh and the host Pakistan didn't perform well and failed to advance to the knockout stage, thereby being eliminated from the tournament. 
Talking about the second group, i.e, Group-B, the Aussies became the first team to secure the semi-finals berth as they secured easy wins over arch-rivals England and Afghanistan while their encounter versus South Africa was washed out due to rain. 
South Africa, on the other hand, won versus Afghanistan and England to become the fourth &amp; final team to qualify for the all-important semi-finals phase of the Champions Trophy. 
The Rohit Sharma-led Team India will be squaring off versus arch-rivals Australia in the first semi-final, scheduled to be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on the 4th of March. 
Mitchell Santner &amp; his men will face off the Proteas in the second semi-final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on the 5th of March. 
If the Indian team manages to defeat the Australians and qualifies for the all-important Trophy deciding clash of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 on the 9th of March, then the Final will be played in Dubai. In case the Men in Blue get defeated in the semis, then Lahore will play host to the Final.
Ahead of these exciting encounters, let's take a look at the important information you need to know related to the semi-finals of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025.
<h2>ICC Champions Trophy Semi-finals: Qualified teams</h2>
India (Group-A), New Zealand (Group-A), South Africa (Group-B) and Australia (Group-B) 
<h2>ICC Champions Trophy Semi-finals: Full Schedule, dates and timings of the matches</h2>
4th of March, Tuesday: 1st Semi-final - India versus Australia at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, 2:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time) 
5th of March, Wednesday: 2nd Semi-final - New Zealand versus South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, 2:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time)
<h2>ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-finals: Venues for the semi-finals</h2>
1. Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai (India versus Australia) 
2. Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (New Zealand versus South Africa) 
<h2>ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-finals: Live Streaming &amp; Telecast details</h2>
<h4>When and Where will the first semi-final between Team India and Australia take place? </h4>
The first semi-final of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 between Team India and Australia will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Tuesday, 4th of March. The match will commence from 2:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time) onwards
<h4>When and Where will the second semi-final between New Zealand &amp; South Africa take place? </h4>
The second semi-final of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 between New Zealand and South Africa will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday, 5th of March. The match will commence from 2:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time) onwards.
<h4>Which Television channel will telecast the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 matches between India - Australia and New Zealand - South Africa? </h4>
The ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 matches between India - Australia and New Zealand - South Africa will be telecasted live on the Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD and Sports 18 1 HD channels. 
<h4>Which OTT platform will live stream the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 matches between India - Australia and New Zealand - South Africa? </h4>
The ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 matches between India - Australia and New Zealand - South Africa will be exclusively live-streamed on the application &amp; website of Jio Hotstar for free. 
<h4>ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-finals: Full Squads of all four teams</h4>
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy
Australia: Steve Smith (Captain), Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Alex Carey, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell,  Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Short, Tanveer Sangha and Adam Zampa.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (Captain), Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Kyle Jamieson, Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Matt Henry,  Will O’Rourke, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Kane Williamson, Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy and Will Young.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (Captain), Marco Jansen, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Aiden Markram,  Lungi Ngidi, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Tabraiz Shamsi, Corbin Bosch and Rassie van der Dussen.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/three-matches-three-wins-india-tops-over-new-zealand-in-dominating-fashion-check-updated-champions-trophy-points-table-2025-after-ind-vs-nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Three Matches, Three Wins! India TOPS over New Zealand in Dominating Fashion! Check Updated Champions Trophy Points Table 2025 After IND vs NZ</a>

2025 ICC Champions Trophy: India vs Australia 1st Semi-Final (L) and New Zealand vs South Africa 2nd Semi-Final (R) | Image Credits: Instagram (ESPNcricinfo)

2025 ICC Champions Trophy: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final match-ups have been confirmed. Team India will face Australia in the first semi-final on Tuesday in Dubai, and New Zealand will play South Africa in the second semi-final on Wednesday in Lahore. Check out the Full Schedule, venues, dates, live streaming details, and timings of the semi-finals in this article.

2025 ICC Champions Trophy:  South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and India are the teams competing in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals. India will play Australia in the first semi-final on March 4, 2025, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. New Zealand and South Africa will face off in the second semi-final on March 5, 2025, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi Finals: Full Schedule, venues, dates, live streaming details and timings

icc-champions-trophy-2025-semi-finals-full-schedule-venues-dates-live-streaming-details-and-timings

England had to once face defeat in the ICC Men's Champions Trophy as Aiden Markram-led South Africa eased past the Three Lions by defeating them by seven wickets in the final Group-B match of the tournament. This defeat meant that Jos Buttler's England ended the tournament with 0 points to their name and failed to win a single game. 
Batting first, England could only manage to put up a mere score of 179 runs on the board and the Proteas easily chased down this small target of 180 runs by seven wickets in 29.1 overs. 
With this spectacular win, the 2024 T20 World Cup runners-up ended Group-B as the table toppers. They will now face the loser of tomorrow's India versus New Zealand match in the semi-finals. 
Four South African players played a vital role in helping them win the match. First the duo of Marco Jansen &amp; Wiaan Mulder wreaked havoc with the ball, picking up three wickets a piece. Ngidi, Rabada and Keshav Maharaja also contributed with one and two wickets respectively. 
Then in the batting department, Rassie Van der Dussen &amp; Heinrich Klassen completely dominated the English bowlers. The former played an impressive unbeaten inning of 72 runs while the latter scored 64 runs. 
Chasing a small total of 180 runs, the Proteas were dealt an early blow as Triston Stubbs got out for a duck while opening the batting. However, wicketkeeper batter Ryan Rickelton continued playing in his natural aggressive style, scoring 27 runs in 25 deliveries with the help of five boundaries before perishing off the bowling of Jofra Archer. 
The Aiden Markram-led team lost two wickets at the score of 47 runs and the English fans got a slight hope of making a comeback in the game but, Rassie van der Dussen &amp; Heinrich Klassen had some other plans as they got involved in a partnership of 127 runs for the third wicket and helped their side cross the finish line. 
The veteran batter's knock of 72 runs from 87 deliveries consisted of six fours and three huge sixes while his partner at the other end played an explosive inning of 64 runs in just 56 balls with the help of 11 fours. In the end, David Miller hit a six to give the team victory. He remained unbeaten on seven runs from two balls. 
As a result, the 2019 ODI World Cup winners ended their 2025 Champions Trophy campaign without securing a single win. England suffered defeat in all three of its matches. First, Australia defeated England, followed by Afghanistan, and now South Africa.
<h2>Updated Champions Trophy Points Table</h2>
<table class="table" style="width: 75.5166%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 35.7853%;">Team</td>
<td style="width: 10.7356%;">Mat.</td>
<td style="width: 11.0934%;">Won</td>
<td style="width: 10.3777%;">Lost</td>
<td style="width: 15.0298%;">Points</td>
<td style="width: 16.4612%;">NRR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 35.7853%;">South Africa (Q)</td>
<td style="width: 10.7356%;">3</td>
<td style="width: 11.0934%;">2</td>
<td style="width: 10.3777%;">0</td>
<td style="width: 15.0298%;">5</td>
<td style="width: 16.4612%;">+2.395</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 35.7853%;">Australia (Q)</td>
<td style="width: 10.7356%;">3</td>
<td style="width: 11.0934%;">1</td>
<td style="width: 10.3777%;">0</td>
<td style="width: 15.0298%;">4</td>
<td style="width: 16.4612%;">+0.475</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 35.7853%;">Afghanistan</td>
<td style="width: 10.7356%;">3</td>
<td style="width: 11.0934%;">1</td>
<td style="width: 10.3777%;">1</td>
<td style="width: 15.0298%;">3</td>
<td style="width: 16.4612%;">-0.990</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 35.7853%;">England</td>
<td style="width: 10.7356%;">3</td>
<td style="width: 11.0934%;">0</td>
<td style="width: 10.3777%;">3</td>
<td style="width: 15.0298%;">0</td>
<td style="width: 16.4612%;">-1.159</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<a href="https://x.com/ICC/status/1895858508505264260">https://x.com/ICC/status/1895858508505264260</a>
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-vs-new-zealand-champions-trophy-weather-report-and-pitch-report-of-dubai-international-stadium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy: Weather Report and Pitch Report of Dubai International Stadium</a>

South Africa national cricket team vs England cricket team: Marco Jansen (C) of South Africa celebrates with his teammates after getting the wicket of Ben Duckett of England | Image: ICC

South Africa national cricket team vs England cricket team: England Cricket team lost its last group stage match in the 2025 Champions Trophy as South Africa defeated them by 7 wickets. This win helped the Proteas seal their semi-final spot while the Three Lions got knocked out of the tournament without securing a single win in three games

South Africa national cricket team vs England cricket team:  England Cricket team lost its last group stage match in the 2025 Champions Trophy as South Africa defeated them by 7 wickets. This win helped the Proteas seal their semi-final spot while the Three Lions got knocked out of the tournament without securing a single win in three games

South Africa secure semi-final spot with comfortable victory over England | Updated Champions Trophy Points Table

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The South Africa National Cricket Team, under the leadership of Temba Bavuma, are set to take on Jos Buttler's England in the final Group-B match of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 on Friday, 1st of March. The game will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi and it will commence from 2:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time) onwards. 
The Proteas are currently sitting at the top of the Group-B points table with three points to their name. They are followed by Australia at the 2nd place but since the Net-Run-Rate (NRR) of the South Africans is better, they are ahead of the Kangaroos in the overall standings. 
England, on the other hand, are already knocked out of the tournament after losing both their first two group stage games. The 2019 ODI World Cup winners kicked off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a five-wicket defeat to arch rivals Australia before going on to suffer a shocking 8-run defeat at the hands of Afghanistan in Lahore.
A win in this match will guarantee Semi-finals qualification to the Tema Bavuma-led side while England will be looking to end the eight-team tournament on a high by defeating the Proteas in their final match. Ahead of this thrilling contest, let's take a look at the pitch report of Karach's National Stadium. 
<h2>South Africa vs England Champions Trophy: Pitch Report of Karachi's National Stadium</h2>
The last two encounters played at the National Stadium in Karachi have shown that there's enough support from the surface for the batters to score 300 runs. So, yet another good batting track is anticipated to be on display for the forthcoming South Africa versus England contest. 
Bowlers will have to work hard to keep the batters in check, otherwise they will put up a score of more than 300 runs on the board easily. Both seamers and spinners shall receive a balanced amount of support from the surface. 
Considering the previous two games at this ground have been won by the teams defending totals of 300+ runs, the toss winning captain should opt to bat first. 
<h2>South Africa vs England Champions Trophy: Probable playing 11s of both teams</h2>
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (captain), Aiden Markram, David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen, Wiaan Mulder, Heinrich Klassen, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Lungisiani Ngidi.
England: Jamie Smith (WK), Phil Salt, Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Jamie Overton, Jos Buttler (Captain), Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/rsa-vs-eng-will-rain-play-spoilsport-at-the-national-stadium-of-karachi-check-out-the-weather-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RSA vs ENG: Will rain play spoilsport at the National Stadium of Karachi? Check out the weather report</a>

Temba Bavuma of South Africa (L) and Jos Buttler of England (R) | Image Credits: Getty Images

On Saturday, March 1, at the National Stadium in Karachi, South Africa will play England in Match 11 of the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. The Proteas will guarantee their place in the semi-finals if they win, making it a pivotal game for South Africa. Nevertheless, if they don't, their semi-final qualification will be in jeopardy and they will have to depend on the outcome of the Afghanistan vs Australia match

The game holds little chance of qualifying for England, who have already lost two close games and are out of the competition. Even though they won't be competing in the semi-finals, England will be motivated to finish the tournament strong.

RSA vs ENG: Will the National Stadium of Karachi favor batters or bowlers? Check-out the pitch reports

rsa-vs-eng-will-the-national-stadium-of-karachi-favor-batters-or-bowlers-check-out-the-pitch-reports

Cricket heavyweights South Africa and England are set to lock horns against each other in the final Group-B clash of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 on Saturday, 1st of March. This exciting clash is scheduled to be played at the National Stadium in Karachi. A win by a big margin of England in Karachi will help the South Africans to qualify for the semi-finals of the eight-team tournament and also end Group-B as the table toppers. 
The Proteas will come into this upcoming match versus the Three Lions after securing a comprehensive 107 run win over Afghanistan in their opening encounter played at the same ground on the 21st of February, while their second group stage fixture against Australia in the city of Rawalpindi was washed out due to rain so both teams had to share one point a piece with each other.
England, on the other hand, have suffered embarrassing defeats in both the matches they have taken part in so far in the competition. In their first match versus arch-rivals Australia, they failed to defend the big total of 351 runs as Josh Inglis wreaked havoc with the bat, thanks to his magnificent century, and in the second fixture against Afghanistan, they could only manage to score 317 runs in the run chase of 326 runs. 
With two defeats in two matches, the Three Lions are out of the semi-finals race and they would be looking to end the tournament on a positive note by securing a win over the Proteas. Ahead of this exciting encounter, let's take a look at the weather report of the National Stadium in Karachi.
<h3>South Africa vs England Champions Trophy: Weather Report of Karachi</h3>
According to the weather forecast reports of AccuWeather, the weather in the city of Karachi on the match day is anticipated to be bright &amp; sunny. The temperature is expected to be around the 31 degrees Celsius region and the chances of rain intervening with the match are going to be negligible. 
The wind is anticipated to blow from the Western side at a speed of 15 km/h. All in all, the temperature &amp; weather conditions are going to be perfect for the match between South Africa &amp; England.
<h2>South Africa vs England Champions Trophy: Playing 11's of both teams</h2>
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (captain), Aiden Markram, David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen, Wiaan Mulder, Heinrich Klassen, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Lungisiani Ngidi.
England: Jamie Smith (WK), Phil Salt, Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Jamie Overton, Jos Buttler (Captain), Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ravindra-jadeja-mohammed-shami-to-miss-new-zealand-clash-rohit-sharma-doubtful-replacements-finalised-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami to miss New Zealand clash, Rohit Sharma doubtful; replacements finalised</a>

RSA vs ENG: Will rain play spoilsport at the National Stadium of Karachi? Check-out the weather report

rsa-vs-eng-will-rain-play-spoilsport-at-the-national-stadium-of-karachi-check-out-the-weather-report

England National Cricket Team skipper Jos Buttler has stepped down as the captain of the white-ball team. This comes after his poor performances as captain in the ongoing 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where the Three Lions faced a group-stage exit. 
England National Cricket Team was eliminated from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy after they suffered a disappointing defeat against the Afghanistan National Cricket Team. This was their second consecutive loss in the ODIs, having faced a poor defeat against Australia in their tournament opener. 
After England got eliminated from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, skipper Jos Buttler faced a lot of criticism. The keeper-batter has been having a torrid time as a leader as even before the tournament, his team were at the receiving end of thrashing against India and England in T20Is. 
Jos Buttler will be leading the England National Cricket Team for the one final time in the game against South Africa in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The match between the teams will be taking place at the National Stadium in Karachi on Saturday (28th February).
<h2> Hopefully somebody else who can come in and work closely alongside Baz to take the team back to where it needs to be - Jos Buttler </h2>
Jos Buttler made the decision public during the press conference ahead of the game against South Africa. He believes that it was the right time for him to step down as the captain and an opportunity for someone else to take the team forward along with coach Brendon McCullum. Speaking about his decision, he said: 
"Just to let you all know, I'm going to stand down as England captain. It's the right decision for me, it's the right decision for the team and hopefully somebody else who can come in and work closely alongside Baz to take the team back to where it needs to be. 
I think it's quite clear that this tournament was going to be important results-wise for my captaincy and obviously two losses and being out of the tournament with a bit of a hangover from some tournaments before, I think I just probably reached the end of the road for me and my captaincy, which is a shame." 
Jos Buttler guided England to the win in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. However, after that, the Three Lions faced a group stage exit in the ICC World Cup 2023, lost in the semi-final against India in the T20 World Cup 2024 and again group stage exit in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/watch-spencer-johnson-delivers-the-ball-of-the-tournament-to-remove-rahmanullah-gurbaz-in-afg-vs-aus-ct-2025-/">Watch: Spencer Johnson delivers the ball of the tournament to remove Rahmanullah Gurbaz in AFG vs AUS CT 2025</a>

Jos Buttler steps down as England captain {PC:X}

England National Cricket Team skipper Jos Buttler has stepped down as the captain of the white-ball team.

Jos Buttler will be leading the England National Cricket Team for the one final time in the game against South Africa in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

Jos Buttler steps down as England captain after debacle in 2025 ICC Champions Trophy

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ICC Champions Trophy Updated Points Table

With a match abandoned between South Africa and Australia, the equation has been more complicated in Group B. Here is the updated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Points table.

Australia-South Africa clash washed out, shaking up Group B. Check the latest updated points table of ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

GAME ON for ENGLAND! Check Champions Trophy Points Table 2025 After AUS vs SA Wash Out

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Cricket heavyweights Australia and South Africa are set to take on each other in the crucial Group-B clash of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy on Tuesday, 25th of February at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. The Proteas are currently the Group-B table toppers with a Net Run Rate (NRR) of +2.140 to their name after securing a comfortable win over Hashmatullah Shahidi-led Afghanistan by a margin of 107 runs at Karachi's National Stadium. 
Opening batter Ryan Rickelton's phenomenal inning of 103 runs laid the foundation for South Africa's spectacular total and fifties from the likes of Rassie Van der Dussen, captain Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram propelled their side to 315 for six. Experienced seamer Kagiso Rabada led the bowling attack of the Proteas from the front, dismissing three Afghani batters, while the duo of Wiaan Mulder &amp; Lungisiani Ngidi also picked up two scalps apiece as Afghanistan got all-out for 208 runs in 43.3 overs.
The Australians, on the other hand, made history in their opening match of the competition versus Ashes-Rivals England. Not only did they went on to defeat them by a margin of five wickets at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, they also created the record of executing the highest successful run-chase in the history of the eight-team ICC event. Despite the struggles faces by their bowling unit as the Three Lions went on to post 351 runs for eight on the board, the Kangaroos responded in magnificent fashion. 
Wicketkeeper batsman Josh Inglis played an incredible knock of 120 runs in just 86 deliveries with the assistance of eight fours and six big maximums, guiding his side to a record breaking victory with 15 deliveries to spare. With both teams looking to secure their semi finals spots, a win in the forthcoming match would bring both of them closer to booking their semifinal berths.
Ahead of this mouth watering clash between the two heavyweights, let's take a quick sneak peak at the Pitch Report &amp; Weather Report of Rawalpindi. 
<h2>Australia versus South Africa Champions Trophy: Pitch Report of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium</h2>
The pitch of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium generally offers excellent batting conditions where the batters are given the freedom to play their shots at will and exploit the conditions on offer. The seam bowlers will not get any kind of seam movement on this track. Unlike the surface of Lahore, where the fast bowlers get resilient bounce, the pace &amp; bounce in Rawalpindi are anticipated to be similar, which will help the batters in terms of stroke play. 
The spinners, on the other hand, might be able to extract some turn from the pitch of this stadium but the pitch is unlikely to slow down as the game progresses. Since chasing down targets has become the norm in recent times, the toss winning captain may choose to field first
Australia versus South Africa Champions Trophy: Weather Forecast of Rawalpindi
The weather in the city of Rawalpindi is anticipated to be cloudy and cool on Tuesday, 25th of February. There's a 62% chance of rainfall on the match day and the humidity levels are anticipated to be around 74%. The temperatures are expected to hover between 11 degrees Celsius to 18 degrees Celsius. 
Australia versus South Africa Champions Trophy: Probable playing 11's of both teams
Australia: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Marnus Labuschsgne, Steven Smith (Captain), Alex Carey, Josh Inglis (WK), Ben Dwarshuis, Glenn Maxwell, Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa. 
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (Captain), Ryan Rickelton (WK), Aiden Markram, Rassie Van der Dussen, Marco Jansen, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungisiani Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada.

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan | Image Credits: X

Australia, captained by Steve Smith, will face Temba Bavuma's South Africa in their second Champions Trophy encounter on Tuesday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Check out the weather forecast and pitch report for the crucial 2025 Champions Trophy match between the two Cricket heavyweights

Australia versus South Africa Champions Trophy: Australia, captained by Steve Smith, will face Temba Bavuma's South Africa in their second Champions Trophy encounter on Tuesday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. he Proteas are currently the Group-B table toppers with a Net Run Rate (NRR) of +2.140 to their name after securing a comfortable win over Hashmatullah Shahidi-led Afghanistan by a margin of 107 runs at Karachi's National Stadium. 

Australia versus South Africa Champions Trophy: Pitch Report & Weather Report of Rawalpindi

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The seventh match of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 will witness Cricket heavyweights Australia (AUS) and South Africa (RSA) taking on each other at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, 25th of February. 
This match will be important for both teams as the winner will get the golden opportunity to seal their spot in the semi-final phase of the eight-team tournament. The Aussies won their opening encounter versus Ashes Rivals England by a margin of five wickets thanks to the magnificent century of Josh Inglis. 
The South Africans, on the other hand, also have the winning momentum available with them as they are also going to enter this match on the back of a strong opening match victory versus Afghanistan by 107 runs as wicketkeeper batter Ryan Rickelton slammed a hundred. Captain Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, and Rassie van der Dussen also smashed fifties in that very game. 
Both the teams are in good form heading into this forthcoming encounter and it will surely be a great contest between the two heavyweights. The two teams have played 110 ODI games versus each other and the Proteas have the advantage over the Kangaroos as they have gone on to secure victories on 55 occasions while the Aussies have triumphed in 51 games. One game between the two teams ended in a no-result situation, while three games ended in a tie. 
With both sides eager to secure their Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final berths, let's take a look at the best Dream 11 teams, hot picks and captaincy choices for this breathtaking contest. 
<h2>Pitch Report &amp; Weather Forecast</h2>
The pitch of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium generally offers excellent batting conditions where the batters are given the freedom to play their shots at will and exploit the conditions on offer. The seam bowlers will not get any kind of seam movement on this track. Unlike the surface of Lahore, where the fast bowlers get a resilient bounce, the pace &amp; bounce in Rawalpindi are anticipated to be similar, which will help the batters in terms of stroke play. 
The spinners, on the other hand, might be able to extract some turn from the pitch of this stadium but the pitch is unlikely to slow down as the game progresses. Since chasing down targets has become the norm in recent times, the toss-winning captain may choose to field first. 
Talking about the weather forecast, The weather in the city of Rawalpindi is anticipated to be cloudy and cool on Tuesday, 25th of February. There's a 62% chance of rainfall on the match day and the humidity levels are anticipated to be around 74%. The temperatures are expected to hover between 11 degrees Celsius to 18 degrees Celsius.
<h2>Australia versus South Africa Champions Trophy: Probable Playing 11's of both teams</h2>
<h4>Australia's Probable Starting 11</h4>
1. Travis Head
2. Matthew Short
3. Marnus Labuschsgne
4. Steven Smith (Captain) 
5. Alex Carey
6. Josh Inglis (WK) 
7. Ben Dwarshuis
8. Glenn Maxwell
9. Spencer Johnson
10. Nathan Ellis
11. Adam Zampa
Recent form of Australia: It's difficult to draw too many conclusions from Australia's form, given that they overcame their recent two subpar performances in Sri Lanka by defeating England in a record run chase to start their tournament campaign. Their English opponents hammered 351/8 on Saturday, raising questions about whether this Australian bowling outfit can mount a strong defensive defense. 
This Australian team definitely has less room for mistake without the main bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, &amp; Josh Hazelwood.
South Africa's Probable Starting 11
1. Tony de Zorzi
2. Temba Bavuma (Captain) 
3. Ryan Rickelton (WK) 
4. Aiden Markram
5. Rassie van der Dussen
6. Marco Jansen
7. David Miller
8. Wiaan Mulder
9. Keshav Maharaj
10. Lungisiani Ngidi
11. Kagiso Rabada
Recent form of South Africa: The recent ODI form of the Proteas has also been on &amp; off, with their recent triumph over Afghanistan by a margin of 107 runs bringing an end to their six-match winless streak in the format, dating back to October of 2024 where they lost to Ireland.
But they will undoubtedly feel quite confident after their first-up showing in Pakistan. Four of their top six players turned starts into milestone knocks, with three reaching fifties and opener Ryan Rickelton scoring 103 runs off of 106 balls. All six players reached double digits.
<h2>HOT Picks for Australia vs South Africa Dream11 Grand League Team  </h2>
<h4>Australia:  </h4>
- Adam Zampa: Given the absence of Australia's main seam bowling trio of Starc Hazelwood &amp; Cummins, leg spinner Adam Zampa will be the main man in the bowling unit versus the Proteas. He's the most experienced bowler in the squad and he's also a limited-overs specialist who approaches the game in an aggressive manner and picks up wickets regularly. Coming off on the back of a 2-64 in 10 overs outing versus the Three Lions, Zampa's contribution will prove to be crucial in his team's fierce contest versus the Proteas. 
- Travis Head: The dangerous Travis Head can prove to be an important pick in the match versus the Proteas. He loves to play his shots freely and has scored a total of 2,663 runs in 70 matches in the 50-over format. While he wasn't able to do much with the bat versus the Three Lions, you don't wanna take the risk of omitting him from your dream 11 teams and his ability to roll his arm over with his part-time off-spin bowing can help you get some important fantasy points. 
- Nathan Ellis: Right-arm seamer Nathan Ellis will be tasked with the duty of spearheading the Australian pace bowling unit and he will certainly play a key role with the ball versus the South Africans. His ability to deliver perfect bouncers and toe-crushing yorkers can prove to be problematic for the opposition batters and he can prove to be a good budget pick for your fantasy teams. 
<h4>South Africa:</h4>
- Marco Jansen: Fast bowling All-Rounder Marco Jansen can prove to be an excellent choice for your Dream 11 teams. Being an all-rounder makes him a very good captaincy pick and his ability to pick up wickets at crucial moments in the game makes him very lethal. He was the leading wicket-taker in the recently concluded edition of the SA 20 and you surely won't want to make the mistake of not selecting him. 
- Temba Bavuma: South Africa's Captain Temba Bavuma is in the form of his life. He has amassed a total of 1,733 runs in 46 games at an average of 44 and these stats show how special he is. He has scored fifties in back-to-back matches and an in-form Bavuma will be an amazing pick for your fantasy teams. 
-Heinrich Klassen: Heinrich Klassen is an explosive batter and a tremendous player of spin. He will enjoy smashing the balls over the short boundaries of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and if he goes on to score a big score, he will end up providing you with a lot of valuable points.
<h2>Best Dream11 Team for Australia vs South Africa, Match No. 7</h2>
Wicketkeeper- Josh Inglis and Ryan Rickelton
Batters- Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Travis Head and Steve Smith 
All-Rounders- Aiden Markram, Glenn Maxwell, and Marco Jansen 
Bowlers-  Ben Dwarshuis and Kagiso Rabada
<h2>Australia vs South Africa Champions Trophy: Best Captain &amp; Vice-Captain options</h2>
Temba Bavuma, Travis Head, Marco Jansen and Glenn Maxwell
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pakistan-eliminated-from-the-champions-trophy-as-new-zealand-and-india-secure-semi-finals-spot-points-table/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pakistan eliminated from the Champions Trophy as New Zealand and India secure Semi Finals spot | Points Table</a>

Australia and South Africa will square off in an intense Group A match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium as the Champions Trophy 2025 enters its most intriguing phase. In the renowned ICC event, both teams have won their previous games and are hoping to build on their winning streaks and increase their chances of making it to the competition's semifinals.

AUS vs RSA Champions Trophy 2025: The seventh match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 between the Australia National Cricket Team and the  South Africa National Cricket Team will be played on 25 February (Tuesday) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.  The two top teams of Group B of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Australia and South Africa, will face each other for their next match. This will be the second match between the two teams in the tournament. Both had registered a big win in their first match and now they would like to secure a place in the semi-finals by winning the second consecutive match.

AUS vs RSA Champions Trophy 2025: Dream 11 team prediction, best player picks and captaincy choices

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South Africa National Cricket Teams latest news, match report and updates

South Africa

Delhi Capitals (DC) continued their unbeaten run with a comfortable six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), chasing down 163 with 13 balls to spare. KL Rahul anchored the innings with a composed half-century, supported by Tristan Stubbs after DC recovered from an early 39/3 slump. Earlier, RCB started strong with Phil Salt's explosive batting but collapsed to 102/5 before Tim David's late surge took them to a modest total. Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam took two wickets each for DC. The win keeps DC second in the table (8 points, NRR 1.278), while RCB stays third (NRR 0.539) with their second loss.

RCB vs DC IPL 2025: Delhi beat RCB by 6 wickets, won the match courtesy of KL Rahul's explosive innings

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Today's clash at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium (7:30 PM IST) features RCB (3 wins/4 matches) against unbeaten DC (3 wins/3 matches). RCB, led by Patidar, rides high after Kohli's recent fifty, while DC's KL Rahul (77* last match) anchors their strong form. Head-to-head favors RCB (19-11). Key players: Kohli, Rahul, Starc, Hazlewood. Prediction: RCB (55%) slight favorites over DC (45%).

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals IPL 2025: Who will win today's IPL 2025 match between Bengaluru & Delhi?

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Cricket returns to the Olympics in **LA 2028** after 128 years, with **six-team men's and women's T20 tournaments**. The **USA likely gets automatic entry**, while five other teams will qualify. This follows cricket's only prior Olympic appearance in **1900**—a British-French 12-a-side match. The **IOC confirmed** its inclusion alongside baseball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash, marking a major milestone for the sport's global growth.

Olympics Cricket: Cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics: 6 teams to take part, USA's participation fixed..!

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The 2025 IPL's 24th match on April 10 features RCB (led by Rajat Patidar, 3 wins in 4 matches) vs. DC (captained by Axar Patel, unbeaten in 3 games) at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium. Key Dream11 picks include RCB's Patidar (325 pts, 161 runs), Kohli (312 pts, 164 runs), Hazlewood (285 pts, 8 wickets), and Starc (312 pts, 8 wickets), along with DC's KL Rahul (180 pts, 92 runs) and Krunal Pandya (243 pts, 4 wickets). A high-stakes clash awaits.

RCB vs DC Dream 11 Prediction: 4 must pick players for your dream 11 teams, the performance of these players has been exceptional in the last four games

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IPL 2025 Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals players eyeing major milestones ahead of the match at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium .