Australia vs South Africa LIVE Score, Prediction, Key Roles, Champions Trophy 2025.

Australia and South Africa are set to clash today in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, starting at 2:00 PM local time. This Group B encounter is crucial as both teams seek a semifinal spot. Australia comes in with strong momentum after a historic run chase against England, where Josh Inglis’ unbeaten 120 led them to victory despite missing key bowlers like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc. Meanwhile, South Africa began their campaign with a comfortable win over Afghanistan but faced concerns over Heinrich Klaasen’s fitness due to an elbow injury. Captain Temba Bavuma stressed the need to stay wary of Australia’s resilience and highlighted that the toss could play a key role, with dew potentially affecting bowling conditions in Rawalpindi.

Probable Playing 11:

Australia

• Matthew Short
• Travis Head
• Steve Smith (c)
• Marnus Labuschagne
• Josh Inglis (wk)
• Alex Carey
• Glenn Maxwell
• Ben Dwarshuis
• Nathan Ellis / Sean Abbott
• Adam Zampa
• Spencer Johnson

     Bangladesh

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

Head-to-Head:

• Australia and South Africa’s 2025 Champions Trophy match is a first for them in this tournament. 1  Though they have a long ODI history and frequent ICC event clashes, especially in World Cups, they’ve never met in the Champions Trophy. This makes the upcoming game a new and exciting chapter in their rivalry.

Pitch Conditions:

• Rawalpindi is known for batting-friendly pitches, likely leading to high scores. 1  Expect good bounce and pace, with spin potential later. 2  Rain could affect play, and teams winning the toss might opt to field.

Weather Forecast:

Expect cool temperatures (15-17°C), high humidity, and cloudy conditions, with a significant chance of rain interruptions.

Strengths and Weaknesses:

         Australia :

• Strengths: Strong batting, versatile all-rounders, ICC experience.
• Weaknesses: Bowling inconsistency, potential spin vulnerability, reliance on key players.

       South Africa:

• Strengths: Balanced team, strong pace attack, explosive middle order.
• Weaknesses: “Chokers” tag, inconsistency, dependence on key bowlers.

Score Prediction:

• Australia batting first: 280-320 possible.
• South Africa batting first: 270-310 possible.
• Chasing teams could score over 300.

Key Considerations :

This Champions Trophy clash hinges on how teams handle Rawalpindi’s batting-friendly pitch and potential rain. Australia’s ICC experience and strong batting give them a slight edge, but South Africa’s pace attack and middle order pose a significant threat. Sharp fielding, pressure handling, and strategic adaptability will be crucial, with key player battles shaping the outcome. Ultimately, the team that best manages these factors and adapts to the conditions will emerge victorious.