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New Zealand are set to face South Africa in the second semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday, March 5.
The Black Caps have played in an emphatic manner so far. They dominated Bangladesh and Pakistan in their opening group stage contests, although they fell short against India.
Mitchell Santner & Co. has the ability to upset the Proteas in the high-stakes encounter.
Major strengths and weakness of the Black Caps
With Rachin Ravindra and Will Young as openers, they have a strong duo to start the innings for the Black Caps. Kane Williamson showed promising signs during the clash against India and his return to his usual momentum could further solidify New Zealand’s batting line-up.
However, not everything is fine for the Kiwis. A lack of traditional spinners in the squad has exposed them in sub-continent conditions. Additionally, the middle order has slipped-up against India and has shown vulnerabilities in bits and pieces during the course of the tournament.
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New Zealand’s Playing XI against South Africa in semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025
1. Will Young
- Role: Utilize the power play restrictions and score some quick runs on the board.
- Strength: Ability to attack relentlessly and take the game to the opposition. Young is responsible for providing the BlackCaps a solid start to their innings.
2. Rachin Ravindra
- Role: Dynamic batter with sound batting technique
- Strength: Adjust according to the conditions of the game and exhaust the early help pitch provides to the pacers.
3. Kane Williamson
- Role: Provide strength and stability to the top-order of the BlackCaps
- Strength: Responsible for building up the innings and keeping the fall of wickets in check.
4. Daryl Mitchell
- Role: Support the top-order and score some quick runs on the board.
- Strength: Responsible for playing the majority of the middle overs and exhaust the options of the Proteas on sub-continent conditions which generally helps spinners as the game progresses.
5. Tom Latham
- Role: Keeping the flow of runs steady from one end and supporting the middle order in giving a strong platform for the batters to go for the big hits in death overs.
- Strength: A temperamental batter who is responsible for dictating the intensity of the game according to the conditions.
6. Glenn Phillips
- Role: To score some quick runs on the board and provide the depth the kind of batting depth required during the death overs.
- Strength: A power hitter in ODI format and an emphatic fielder known for his charge up skills on the field.
7. Michael Bracewall
- Role: Playing a handy knock with the bat and providing crucial spin support to the Black Caps bowling unit.
- Strength: Responsible for displaying his all-round abilities both with the bat and the bowl.
8. Mitchell Santner
- Role: Skipper of the team, responsible for providing breakthrough with the ball
- Strength: Leader of the spin attack, responsible for maintaining pressure on one end with his spin bowling.
9. Matt Henry
- Role: An emphatic pacer known for providing early breakthroughs
- Strength: Responsible for providing crucial early breakthroughs to the team with his lateral seam movement.
10. Will O’Rourke
- Role: Right arm pacer responsible for keeping up the pace attack going on the other end.
- Strength: Ability to bowl pace overs during the middle overs and maintain pressure with his economic bowling.
11. Kyle Jamieson
- Role: Seasoned pacer with the ability to provide breakthroughs at crucial junctures
- Strength: Ability to break crucial partnerships and keep the pressure from one end with his wicket-taking ability.
