In a commanding display of cricket, South Africa has secured its spot in the Champions Trophy semifinals, triumphing over a beleaguered England by seven wickets in the last match of Group B on Saturday. This emphatic victory came on the back of a spectacular bowling performance, which saw the English side bundled out for a mere 179 runs — the lowest total in this edition of the tournament — in just 38.2 overs.
Already eliminated from contention for the knockout rounds, England had hoped for a miracle victory that would have seen them needing to triumph by at least 207 runs to extend their hopes of qualifying for the semifinals, contingent upon Afghanistan’s results. South Africa, however, were in no mood to entertain such dreams, dismantling the English batting line-up with precision and flair. Marco Jansen was particularly impressive with the ball, clinching 3 wickets for 39 runs, supported by Wiaan Mulder’s stellar figures of 3 for 25 and Keshav Maharaj’s economical 2 for 35.
The South African bowlers maintained relentless pressure on their opponents, preventing them from establishing any rhythm throughout their innings. With the English batting faltering, it was clear that South Africa had their eyes on the semifinals from early on.
In response to the modest total, the Proteas’ chase was both confident and calculated. They reached their target comfortably, scoring 181 runs for the loss of just three wickets in 29.1 overs. The partnership between Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen proved pivotal, as the duo combined for a formidable 127 runs for the third wicket. Klaasen contributed 64 runs, while van der Dussen remained unbeaten with a solid 72 runs, guiding his team with assurance to victory.
With this victory, South Africa has topped Group B with five points from three matches, ahead of Australia, who finished with four points. Now, all eyes are on the final Group A match between India and New Zealand, which will determine the complete line-up for the semifinals.