At the 22-over mark, New Zealand has reached 122/1 in the semi-final against South Africa. After winning the toss and opting to bat, Rachin Ravindra has led the charge, hitting a commanding 67 off 65 balls with 10 fours. He is well-supported by captain Kane Williamson, who is at 31 off 44 balls, contributing to a 74-run partnership after Will Young’s dismissal for 21 off 23 balls.
South Africa’s bowlers have struggled to break this growing partnership, with Marco Jansen’s figures standing at 0/37 in 6 overs and Keshav Maharaj being economical with 0/9 in 3 overs.
Also Read: Defending Champion and Host Pakistan Eliminated from the Champions Trophy
Projected Score:
If New Zealand maintains their current run rate of 5.54, they are projected to score around 313 by the end of the innings, setting a challenging target for South Africa.
Playing XI:
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke.
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
Pitch Report:
The Gaddafi Stadium pitch has been conducive to high-scoring matches in this tournament, with big totals being chased and defended. The track is expected to favor the batsmen, continuing the trend of a run-fest.
Weather Report:
The weather in Lahore is forecasted to be clear, with temperatures around 20°C, providing ideal conditions for uninterrupted cricket.
Head-to-Head Record:
- ODIs: South Africa has the upper hand, winning 42 of the 73 matches played against New Zealand, while the Black Caps have won 26.
- ICC Champions Trophy: New Zealand and South Africa have each won one match in their two encounters.
- ODI World Cups: New Zealand leads with 6 wins out of the 9 matches, while South Africa has won 3.
The winner of this semi-final will face India in the ICC Champions Trophy final on Sunday. With both teams known for their competitive performances in big tournaments, an exciting contest is in store.
