Champions Trophy | SA, Kiwis chase a shot at glory

New Zealand and South Africa clash in ICC Knockouts semifinals, both aiming to end 25-year white-ball title drought.

Though both South Africa and New Zealand won the ICC Knockouts, as the Champions Trophy was known earlier, it has been 25 years since either of them have been able to win a global white-ball title.

So, when they meet at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday in a semifinals clash, both stand a chance of inching closer to making history. But as Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand captain, points out, “it’s one at a time.”

Since the last edition of the Champions Trophy, in 2017, New Zealand and South Africa have faced each other just thrice in ODIs, and even though they play against each other for the first time at the iconic venue, the Kiwis have an advantage as they come on the back of a six-match winning streak in the country.

But South Africa, which over the years, has earned the ‘choker’s’ tag for fumbling in major events, is under no pressure, and as captain Temba Bavuma says, “We’ll approach it as we normally would.”

However, there are injury concerns. While the team management is yet to take a call on Aiden Markram, who underwent a fitness test on the eve of the game, Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi have recovered from illness.

With another run-feast expected at the venue, where average first innings total has been 316 in the group stage, it would be interesting to see how both teams approach it. Though New Zealand’s batting unit looks sorted, it will face a dilemma in terms of choosing the right batting order.

Rachin Ravindra and Will Young have scored centuries in the tournament, and they will once again be in focus, along with the seasoned Kane Williamson. South Africa is likely to field a couple of all-rounders, two quicks and a specialist spinner in Keshav Maharaj.