South Africa v New Zealand: ICC Champions Trophy semi-final
So, who will meet India in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday?
The South African Proteas, unbeaten so far and possessing a formidable bowling arsenal and a batting unit in form? Or the New Zealand Black Caps, forever punching above their weight with a team that is more than the sum of its parts?
On paper, you'd think the Saffas should have this wrapped up, but this is an ICC knockout game, and we all know how those tend to go for the men in green and gold.
South Africa enjoy a 42-26 head-to-head record against New Zealand but the one that sticks in my memory is the 2015 World Cup semi-final, where Grant Elliott clobbered Dale Steyn for six in the last over to secure a remarkable victory. Oh, what about the quarterfinal in Mirpur when the Proteas (not for the first, or last time) managed to bottle a run chase from a winning position.
The Proteas will be keen to shift the narrative today.
Will do they do? We'll find out together.
Do write in if you've got some thoughts.
I'll be back later with the toss and team news.
First ball at 9am GMT. Share
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
15 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
England name team for Women's Rugby World Cup opener against the United States
Red Roses boss John Mitchell has kept faith with the same starting 15 from the 40-6 victory over France, their second of two warm-up fixtures which took place earlier this month. Skipper Zoe Aldcroft leads the squad at blindside flanker, with number eight Alex Matthews and openside Sadia Kabeya alongside her in the back row and Abbie Ward and Morwenna Talling lining up in the second row. Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir complete the forwards. Vice-captain Megan Jones continues at centre alongside Tatyana Heard, while Jess Breach, Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne make up the back three, Natasha Hunt starts at scrum-half and Zoe Harrison is at fly-half. World Cup debutants Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati and Emma Sing are named as replacements and veteran Emily Scarratt is also on the bench as she prepares for her fifth tournament. England team to face USA: Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach, Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward, Zoe Aldcroft (capt), Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews. Replacements: Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Bern, Rosie Galligan, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Emily Scarratt, Emma Sing.
Rhyl Journal
15 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
England name team for Women's Rugby World Cup opener against the United States
Red Roses boss John Mitchell has kept faith with the same starting 15 from the 40-6 victory over France, their second of two warm-up fixtures which took place earlier this month. Skipper Zoe Aldcroft leads the squad at blindside flanker, with number eight Alex Matthews and openside Sadia Kabeya alongside her in the back row and Abbie Ward and Morwenna Talling lining up in the second row. Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir complete the forwards. Vice-captain Megan Jones continues at centre alongside Tatyana Heard, while Jess Breach, Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne make up the back three, Natasha Hunt starts at scrum-half and Zoe Harrison is at fly-half. World Cup debutants Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati and Emma Sing are named as replacements and veteran Emily Scarratt is also on the bench as she prepares for her fifth tournament. England team to face USA: Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach, Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward, Zoe Aldcroft (capt), Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews. Replacements: Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Bern, Rosie Galligan, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Emily Scarratt, Emma Sing.
Glasgow Times
15 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
England name team for Women's Rugby World Cup opener against the United States
Red Roses boss John Mitchell has kept faith with the same starting 15 from the 40-6 victory over France, their second of two warm-up fixtures which took place earlier this month. Skipper Zoe Aldcroft leads the squad at blindside flanker, with number eight Alex Matthews and openside Sadia Kabeya alongside her in the back row and Abbie Ward and Morwenna Talling lining up in the second row. England begin their World Cup campaign on Friday (John Walton/PA) Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir complete the forwards. Vice-captain Megan Jones continues at centre alongside Tatyana Heard, while Jess Breach, Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne make up the back three, Natasha Hunt starts at scrum-half and Zoe Harrison is at fly-half. World Cup debutants Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati and Emma Sing are named as replacements and veteran Emily Scarratt is also on the bench as she prepares for her fifth tournament. England team to face USA: Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach, Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward, Zoe Aldcroft (capt), Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews. Replacements: Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Bern, Rosie Galligan, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Emily Scarratt, Emma Sing.
