AUS vs SA Today Live Update | Australia vs South Africa ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Toss Delayed Due to Rain Match Preview, Playing XI, Fantasy Picks & Predictions, Weather Forecast, Winning Prediction

Toss Delayed Due to Rain

Nothing much to report, the rain is still falling and we continue to lose time and overs. There's nothing new to update as it continues to drizzle and the covers are firmly in place. We will start losing overs in around half an hour's time. We will start losing overs an hour from now, at 3 PM local time. The floodlights have taken effect at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The forecast for the evening isn't promising either. The waiting game continues! The drizzle hasn't subsided. The covers remain firmly in place. By the looks of things and the dark clouds hovering overhead, the delay is likely to extend. The toss was supposed to take place now but it's still drizzling. The main cover was taken off a while back with the drizzle having stopped momentarily but it has made a return. The conditions are pretty gloomy. The Super Soppers are doing their bit but the rain has to stop for the action to unfold. Well, seems like there's a slight drizzle around in Rawalpindi. The pitch and the square are under covers.

Latest Update: We're hearing that the cut-off time for a 20-over contest is 7:32 PM local time. We're already losing overs, and this rain hasn't abated one bit. There's no bright news to share with you folks! Conditions continue to remain gloomy. It continues to drizzle. The umbrellas are up in the crowd. There are puddles of water all over the covers. The ground does look OK, but we need this rain to stop as soon as possible.

Australia and South Africa Set for a Run-Fest in Rawalpindi

Both teams have strong batting lineups and that raises the expectations of a high-scoring clash. Whenever these two teams lock horns in an ICC event, there’s always excitement and thrill around! In the 2023 ODI WC semi-final, the Proteas were restricted to a modest score of 212 by Australia. The Protean bowlers, however, put their best foot forward and pushed the Aussies to the hilt. Australia managed to scamper through to a tense 3-wicket victory in the death overs. Will we see a run-fest this time around?

Whichever team wins today, they will bolster their chances to make it to the semi-finals. The team losing today’s contest will face a do-or-die situation in their final group game. Let’s hope the rain clouds stay away. Toss and team lineups will be announced shortly.

South Africa, on the other hand, won their opening game with flying colors. They have been exposed against quality spin in the past but their batters ensured that they kept the Afghani spinners largely at bay. Rickelton’s brilliant century laid the foundation while their middle-order put in a solid performance. The Proteas defended 315 with consummate ease, scripting a 107-run win that boosted their net run-rate significantly.

South Africa are also missing a few of their key seamers in this tournament but their bowling performance against Afghanistan was terrific. Their seamers prospered while their lone spinner in Maharaj was frugal.

Probable Playing XIs

Australia:

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

South Africa:

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

Dream 11 Fantasy Cricket Picks

For fantasy cricket enthusiasts, the key to winning big will be selecting players who can maximize points through aggressive batting and crucial wickets.

Top Picks for Dream11:

• Batters: Steve Smith, Travis Head, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen

• All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen

• Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa

• Wicketkeepers: Josh Inglis, Ryan Rickelton

Given the nature of the pitch, heavy batting selections could be the ideal strategy, with a preference for explosive top-order batters and impactful all-rounders.

Match Conditions: Weather and Pitch Report

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has been known for producing flat wickets that favor batters, and this match is expected to be no different. Historically, teams batting first have had an edge when posting high totals, but with the presence of dew in the latter half, chasing may not be a bad option.

Weather Forecast:

• Temperature: Cool conditions with a high of 17°C

• Rain Probability: 62% in the afternoon, increasing to 71% by the evening

• Dew Factor: Likely to play a role, making it easier to chase under lights

If rain interrupts the game, the DLS method could come into play, adding another layer of complexity to the match.

Winning Prediction: Who Holds the Edge

Both teams are heading into the contest with strong batting performances in their opening matches. However, Australia’s ability to chase down a mammoth total against England gives them a psychological edge. Their middle-order, led by Steve Smith and Alex Carey, has already shown resilience under pressure.

South Africa, on the other hand, boasts a well-balanced squad with a lethal combination of aggressive batters and a disciplined bowling attack led by Kagiso Rabada. If their pacers can exploit Australia’s slightly inexperienced bowling unit, the Proteas could emerge victorious.

Prediction: Australia holds a slight advantage, but expect a close contest that could be decided by fine margins.

Final Thoughts

Australia vs South Africa is more than just another Champions Trophy fixture it’s a battle between two cricketing giants with a history of producing some of the most memorable ODIs. Given the recent form of both teams and the batting-friendly conditions, this match has the potential to be a record-breaker. Will Australia’s aggressive approach trump South Africa’s tactical brilliance? Or will the Proteas' all-round depth prove too strong? Cricket fans worldwide are in for a high-scoring spectacle in Rawalpindi.