Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report For SA vs NZ Champions Trophy Semifinal

Debashis Sarangi

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore [Source: AP]Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore [Source: AP]

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On Wednesday, South Africa will lock horns with New Zealand in the second semifinal of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. The much-awaited clash will be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. 

Led by Temba Bavuma, South Africa entered the semifinal as an unbeaten team. They secured emphatic wins over Afghanistan and England and would be keen to sustain their dream run. Meanwhile, New Zealand won consecutive group-stage games before losing their final match against India. 

Both teams have formidable squads, which is why we expect a nail-biting semifinal. As they gear up to take on each other, let's see how the surface at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will behave throughout the contest.

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Stats

Criterion
Data
Matches played76
Matches won batting 1st38
Matches won bowling 1st36
Average 1st innings score256
Average 2nd innings score220


Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report Today

The surface at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has been favourable to stroke play in this Champions Trophy edition, as evidenced by the average scoring rate of 6.65 at this venue. 

The track's pace and bounce will likely be conducive to batting. With hot weather predicted at the venue, the fast bowlers might not get assistance off the deck. So, the pacers will likely rely on hitting the deck and varying their pace to succeed in Lahore. 

The spinners could get decent turn, especially in the latter half of the game. Statistically, the spinners have got 39.02 per cent of the total wickets at the venue in this Champions Trophy edition. 

Overall, it has been a good batting track, and the trend is expected to remain the same in the semifinal. Unless the track is very dry, expect the toss-winning team to bowl first. 

Players To Watch Out For At Gaddafi Stadium

Rachin Ravindra

  • New Zealand's prominent opener Rachin Ravindra loves batting on true decks. He struck a blistering hundred against Bangladesh and could play a key role if he survives the first few overs. 

Rassie van der Dussen

  • Experienced South African batter Rassie van der Dussen has oozed his class in the tournament, scoring 124 runs at a superb strike rate of 93.23. Considering his red-hot form, we reckon Van der Dussen could be a huge threat to the BlackCaps.  

Matt Henry

  • New Zealand's in-form fast bowler Matt Henry has been sublime with the ball, scalping eight wickets in just three matches. Apart from outfoxing the batters with his scrambled-seam bowling, Henry can be effective in the middle and death overs. 

P.S: Apart from these players, the eyes will be on Kagiso Rabada, Heinrich Klaasen, Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell.