South Africa will face New Zealand in the second semi-final of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Lahore on Wednesday (March 4) – here's what the Betfair odds for the match are.
South Africa finished the group stage at the top of Group B. They beat Afghanistan and England by large margins, while their clash against Australia was washed out. New Zealand, on the other hand, beat Pakistan and Bangladesh before losing to India and finishing runners-up in Group A.
New Zealand return to Pakistan, where they had beaten the hosts and Bangladesh, after being humbled by the Indian spinners in Dubai. South Africa, too, are coming off a hectic experience: unaware of which semi-final they would play in, they flew to Dubai, then to Lahore – all over the space of less than an hour.
Neither side has, however, played in Lahore in this Champions Trophy, which hosted only matches featuring England, Australia, and Afghanistan in the group stage.
Who are better suited to the conditions?
Lahore has been a high-scoring haven. The five completed innings here are among the seven highest scores in the 2025 Champions Trophy, while Australia made 109-1 in 12.5 overs in the other. Teams have scored at 6.65 an over here, well clear of the 5.66 at Karachi, the next-best. Fast bowlers have gone for 6.76 an over here while taking a wicket every 35 balls. For spinners, the numbers read 5.93 and 49.
Both teams have strong pace attacks and all-rounders, and are generally evenly matched. South Africa have been dented by some illnesses and injuries, but they do boast of more power hitters. They have superior odds of 8/11 on Betfair Sportsbook, compared to New Zealand, who are valued at 1/1.
Who are the players who can rise to the occasion?
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma missed the England match due to an illness. However, at 4/1, he is valued as his team’s joint-best batter along with Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen. Having recovered from his elbow injury, Klaasen returned against England to make his fifth consecutive ODI fifty. Van der Dussen, on the other hand, has hit fifties in both his outings, and averages a shade under 50 in ODIs.
Slightly behind them are Aiden Markram, who might have recovered from the hamstring injury he had sustained against England, and Ryan Rickelton, who smashed a hundred against Afghanistan. Betfair Sportsbook have odds of 9/2 on them.
Kane Williamson’s 81 kept New Zealand in the race against India for some time. A giant of New Zealand cricket, he is also their best-rated batter, at 11/4. He is followed by Devon Conway (7/2 despite missing the India match), Rachin Ravindra (4/1), and Daryl Mitchell (4/1).
The pacers are the most-valued bowlers for both teams. Kagiso Rabada is priced at 13/5 on Betfair Sportsbook and Marco Jansen on 3/1, while Matt Henry (11/4) and Will O’Rourke (16/5) top the lists for New Zealand.
You can bet on every match in-play during the Champions Trophy with the Betfair Exchange. This alternative way of betting allows customers to bet against each other rather than a traditional bookmaker. This way you often find much higher in-play odds than with traditional fixed markets.
