Little separates New Zealand and South Africa on the map.

The Champions Trophy 2025 match between New Zealand and South Africa is set to be a closely contested one, with little to separate the two teams. Former cricketer Herschelle Gibbs struggled to predict a winner, highlighting the competitive nature of the upcoming semifinal in Lahore.

Both teams have had similar travel schedules, with New Zealand arriving in Lahore after playing in Dubai and South Africa coming from the same location. The last time these two teams met in an ODI was just 24 days ago, with New Zealand emerging victorious. However, South Africa will have a different lineup this time around.

Despite some differences in performance, both teams have shown strong performances in the tournament. New Zealand and South Africa have each scored over 300 in a match, showcasing their batting abilities. The match is expected to be high-scoring, with favorable weather conditions in Lahore.

In terms of team news, New Zealand may opt for Nathan Smith over Kyle Jamieson for his batting abilities. South Africa will have Aiden Markram back in the squad for the game. Overall, the match promises to be a closely fought contest between two evenly matched teams. The probable XI for the upcoming match includes Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi. South Africa has consistently reached the knockout stages of the last seven ICC tournaments, across various age groups and genders. New Zealand has a good record against South Africa in knockout games, having won in the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. Both teams have previously won the trophy, with South Africa winning in 1998 and New Zealand in 2000 when it was known as the ICC Knockout. Mitchell Santner highlighted scheduling challenges in international cricket, while Temba Bavuma shared that South Africa made the most of their time in Dubai before the tournament. Cricbuzz holds the copyright for the content.

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