🏏ICC Champions Trophy 2025: SA vs NZ: 2nd Semi Final: 5 March 2025🏏 - Page 5

Vicky: "India wont mind SA in the finals but they will prefer NZ and look to settle some old scores off late." The rickshaw driver, who gave me a ride to the office, had the same opinion. He felt SA are stronger.

Ravi: "What's the turn out at the stadium? Or expected?" The stands are mostly empty 55 minutes ahead of the game but should build up. It's a hot afternoon in Lahore, the sun is beating down with no cloud in sight. Heinrich Klaasen is having wicket-keeping drills in the outfield. Tabraiz Shamsi's having a bowl while wearing shades. Daryl Mitchell is having a chat with Matt Henry, who's marking his run up, along with Kyle Jamieson.

Ravi: "What's the turn out at the stadium? Or expected?" The stands are mostly empty 55 minutes ahead of the game but should build up. It's a hot afternoon in Lahore, the sun is beating down with no cloud in sight. Heinrich Klaasen is having wicket-keeping drills in the outfield. Tabraiz Shamsi's having a bowl while wearing shades. Daryl Mitchell is having a chat with Matt Henry, who's marking his run up, along with Kyle Jamieson.

The New Zealand team are out in a huddle, arms mostly folded, as Mitchell Santner addresses everyone with snappy hand movements. No surprises that they're calm, planned and organised. It's just what they do. This is a game where the bowling is likelier to take the spotlight. And for NZ, the benefit is that they have six genuine options with ample variety.

Madhavan: "@Vicky: Is SA stronger than India? I feel otherwise at the moment. Given India's current strength, they seem unbeatable right now. Additionally, SA has its own jinx with knockouts, semifinals, and finals."

Shishank Dahiya: "Steve Smith is just 35 and could very well have been part of 2027 ODI WC and he is still playing well. So i was actually surprised that he retired. In fact he is open to play T20Is (along with tests) which is even more surprising. "

Purvesh: "Any possibility of rain today?" NO! Heat might be the bigger issue

Sowmya : "The man , The Mystic , The one and only Mitchell Santner ! Feel this match would be decided by how he fares as a captain and as a bowler!"

Pitch Report: Looking at the dimensions, it's 75m downtown, to my left is 70m and to my right is 67m. This pitch has been fabulous for run-scoring and boundary-hitting. It's a lovely day for cricket. It's a hard and flat surface, there's a fresh covering of grass so the ball will skid on. Three of the world's tallest bowlers are playing today so they will get extra bounce. There's something for them to work with. The bowlers need to get it absolutely spot on as this surface is tailor-made for batting, reckon Bazid Khan and Dale Steyn.

NZ won the toss and opted to bat first.