Australia Leads Tight Semi-Final Against New Zealand in Champions Trophy

Dubai, UAE – Australia faced off against New Zealand in a thrilling 1st Semi-Final of the Champions Trophy on March 4, 2025, as the match heated up in the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After winning the toss, Australia chose to bat first and set a target of 287 runs for New Zealand.

As of 38 overs, Australia scored 205 runs for the loss of six wickets, maintaining a run rate of 5.46. Despite a few wickets falling in crucial moments, the Australian batting lineup has shown resilience.

Glenn Maxwell, who was recently brought to the crease, managed to contribute with 7 runs off 5 balls, hitting one six. However, he was a quick departure, caught by Patel.

Scores from the top order reflected a strong but tumultuous batting performance. Travis Head made 33 runs, while Steven Smith top-scored with 56 runs. The middle order attempted to consolidate the innings, as Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Inglis added 34 and 12 runs, respectively.

In the bowling department, New Zealand put up a strong challenge, with Patel taking multiple crucial wickets that destabilized the Australian batting strategy. Overall, New Zealand’s bowlers collectively restricted Australia to 205 runs within 37.3 overs.

The current conditions in Dubai remain favorable for batting, and forecasts suggest Australia may reach the total of 287 they aim for, with a required run rate now keenly set at 7.80 for the remaining overs.

Australia has a win probability of 52.39%, indicating a close contest ahead. As fans eagerly wait to see how New Zealand will respond in their innings, the excitement of this thrilling semi-final continues to build.