Champions ODI Cup, 2025

Match 7: AUS vs SA

Preview

Australia and South Africa will cross swords for the seventh match of the Champions Cup ODI 2025. The game is scheduled to be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, February 25. This match will be interesting to watch as the team that triumphs will be cruising directly to the semifinals. 

The Aussies registered a record-breaking victory against the Three Lions in their first match by 5 wickets. Jos Inglis stole the spotlight with his stunning century, along with Matt Short and Alex Carey, scoring fifty-plus scores to power the run chase. Their bowlers need to level up their game, as only taking wickets is not the target they need to achieve. Ben Dwarshuis took three alongside Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne, who picked up two apiece but failed to stop the flow of runs.

Meanwhile, South Africa triumphed in their first match against Afghanistan by 107 runs, with Ryan Rickelton scoring a century. At the same time, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, and Temba Bavuma contributed with half-centuries. The Proteas bowlers were up to their duties as Kagiso Rabada picked up a three-wicket haul, along with Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder taking two each to restrict Afghanistan to a humiliating 107-run defeat. 

The two teams have faced each other in 110 matches, of which South Africa has secured 55 victories while Australia has earned 51 wins. One match ended without a result, and three games were tied.

Match Details

Match: AUS vs SA, 7th Match, Group B, Champions ODI Cup, 2025

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Time: 2:30 PM

Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Squad News

Australia

As we can gather from Australia’s last match against England, Matt Short and Marnus Labuschagne were the standout players from the top order. However, Labuschagne missed his chance to score a half-century. The lower middle order of the Aussie side is in excellent form. Jos Inglis will aim to maintain his momentum after his impressive century. Travis Head is also a crucial player, contributing to the strength of the batting lineup, even though he faced an early dismissal last time. Maxwell's consistency in the role of finisher is commendable, and the management hopes he continues to find his rhythm as they face a strong South African side. Ben Dwarshuis, with a three-wicket haul in the previous game, has shown his bowling prowess and will look to build on that momentum. 

South Africa

South Africa’s last game against Afghanistan went by like a hot knife through butter. Ryan Rickelton scored a century, supported by Kagiso Rabada’s impressive three-wicket haul. Additionally, the middle-order trio of Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, and Rassie van der Dussen, with their consistent contributions, placed the Proteas in a strong position. David Miller needs to find his rhythm as a senior player since his impact has the potential to turn big matches in their favour. 

Pitch and Weather Report

The Rawalpindi stadium is marked by its fast outfield, creating a dynamic environment that is favourable for batting. Batters can expect the ball to make clean contact with the bat. This allows the batsmen to fully capitalize on their skills. However, bowlers, particularly spinners, may encounter some surprising level of turn in the early phase of the game.

Looking ahead to the weather conditions, the forecast indicates a predominantly cloudy sky, which raises concerns about the likelihood of rain interrupting play. The temperature is expected to hover around a moderate 16℃, with the humidity level at 59% and wind speed of 3 kmph. 

AUS vs SA Squads

AUS: Steven Smith (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Short, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson, Sean Abbott, Aaron Hardie, Jake Fraser McGurk, Tanveer Sangha

SA: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch

AUS vs SA Probable Playing XIs

AUS: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

SA: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Match Prediction

Both teams enter this game at full strength and are confident after their opening victories. We expect a tight contest, but with a more robust bowling lineup, we predict South Africa will emerge victorious in this encounter.

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