Players.bio is a large online platform sharing the best live coverage of your favourite sports: Football, Golf, Rugby, Cricket, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA, plus the latest sports news, transfers & scores. Exclusive interviews, fresh photos and videos, breaking news. Stay tuned to know everything you wish about your favorite stars 24/7. Check our daily updates and make sure you don't miss anything about celebrities' lives.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE Updates, Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final: Lungi Ngidi got the crucial breakthrough for South Africa after New Zealand were quick to get off the blocks in their Champions Trophy semi-final in Lahore. Ngidi dismissed Will Young in the eighth over after the Kiwis opted to bat.
South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE Streaming, Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final: Group B toppers South Africa take on Group A runners-up New Zealand in the second semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025. South Africa displayed immense skill to comfortably win both completed games against Afghanistan and England, and look one of the most well-rounded teams in the competition. On the other hand, New Zealand stuttered to defeat against India after two resounding victories over Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Kiwis will also take heart from their win over South Africa in the very same stadium three weeks earlier, during the tri-series ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble has hailed an exceptional Varun Chakaravarthy for picking 5-42 in India's 44-run win over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy, saying the wrist-spinner has won matches for the teams he played for in last 1.5 years and that his recent performance is very encouraging for the Rohit Sharma led-side. At the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, Chakaravarthy returned figures of 5-42, the combined best bowling figures in the ongoing tournament, in just his second ODI game to bamboozle New Zealand and ensure India end as Group A toppers.
Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu believes the clash between talismanic batter Virat Kohli and Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa will be a key battle to watch out for in the all-important Champions Trophy semifinal at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday. Kohli has been dismissed five times by Zampa in ODIs since 2017, making this a keenly contested match-up on the slow pitches of Dubai. The India star has been dismissed five times by leg-spinners since the start of 2024, while amassing only 37 runs against them at a strike-rate of 48.68. "It's going to be Adam Zampa versus Virat Kohli (a key battle in the semi-final). Virat has struggled a bit against leg-spinners lately, but the kind of form he has shown in this tournament will serve him well against Australia," said Rayudu to JioHotstar.
Spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patel lavished praises on mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy for his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs in India's 44-run over New Zealand in the last Champions Trophy Group A game in Dubai, saying it is really difficult to read the spinner's mind, and if a batter misses his googly, there is a high chance of losing a wicket. New Zealand's bowlers did well to restrict India's batting line-up, with Shreyas Iyer (79) and Hardik Pandya (45) leading the way as the Asian side posted a competitive total of 249/9 after they were sent in to bat first.
Shreyas Iyer's pressure-defying fifty and Varun Chakravarthy's spin masterclass helped India script a 44-run win over New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday to top Group A, setting up the semifinal against Australia in the Champions Trophy. Iyer made a composed 79 off 98 balls under pressure but New Zealand, led by pacer Mark Henry (5/42), managed to stifle India to an under-par 249 for nine. Chasing 250 was not a tall order for New Zealand's capable batting unit but they struggled against India's spin quartet led by Chakravarthy (5/42) to be all out for 205 in 45.3 overs. Kane Williamson's gritty 81 went in vain. India will face Australia, who finished second in Group B, in the first semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday while the Kiwis play South Africa in the other semifinal in Lahore on Wednesday.
Indian cricket team manager R Devraj left the side in the middle of Champions Trophy 2025 after his mother died on Sunday, according to a report by Cricbuzz. The report stated that Devraj left for Hyderabad immediately after receiving the news. Devraj, who is currently the secretary of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), was in Dubai with the Indian cricket team but it remains unclear if he will resume his managerial duties. India will play in the first semi-final match on Tuesday and if the Rohit Sharma-led side is able to reach the final, the summit clash will take place on Sunday.
Shreyas Iyer produced a composed fifty under pressure but New Zealand, led by pacer Mark Henry, managed to stifle India to an under-par 249 for nine in their Champions Trophy Group A match on Sunday. Iyer (79 off 98 balls) shared a well-paced 98 runs alliance with Axar Patel (42 off 61 balls) for the fourth wicket and Hardik Pandya (45 off 45) played a quick-fire innings towards the end to help India survive a top-order meltdown. Henry (5/42) was the most successful bowler for New Zealand, who also made an impact with their terrific fielding. It was a slightly different situation for Iyer as in the last few matches, the top three batters had given him the cushion of runs.