South Africa came up with a fine all-round performance to defeat the already-out England and secured a place in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen hit fifties each and shared a stand of 127 runs off 122 balls following a potent bowling display as South Africa beat England by seven wickets at the National Stadium in Karachi on Saturday.
The win also helped South Africa finish with five points and take the top spot in Group B with Australia finishing second with four points.
South Africa started on a positive note with pace all-rounders Wiaan Mulder (3-39) and Marco Jansen (3-25) picking three wickets each to bowl out England for a dismal 179 all out in 38.2 overs. Keshav Maharaj bagged 2-35 for South Africa as England were restricted to less than 200.
In their chase of 180, South Africa lost two early wickets. After sending down a 10-ball first over which included five wides, Jofra Archer took the wickets of both Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs to reduce South Africa to 47/2.
But Van der Dussen and Klaasen shared a vital partnership to revive their innings. Van der Dussen was steady in his 72 not out off 87 balls, laced with six fours and three sixes. Klaasen, on the other hand, hit a quick 56-ball 64, including 11 boundaries, to play a crucial hand in another clinical win for South Africa, who completed the chase in 29.1 overs.
Earlier, on electing to bat first, England put on a shoddy batting performance with Joe Root emerging as the top-scorer with 37. Their wickets fell in clumps as South Africa struck at regular intervals and were superb in holding on to their chances.
Jos Buttler, playing his last game as England's captain, scored 21 while Archer contributed 25 as they managed to go past the 150-run mark. Later, in the post-match press conference, all-rounder Marco Jansen termed it a good team performance.
I think it was a good team performance all in all. As a bowling unit, I think we did the majority of what we wanted to do or what we planned out or set out to do. And then obviously the batters went out and did their job really nicely. Russey and Classy went out and played with good intent and obviously, they got us over the line quite easy.
Aiden Markram, who stood in as captain in the absence of Tamba Bavuma, said his players adapted well to the slowness of the pitch.
I thought the boys were really good. The wicket was quite slow, slower than we expected. The boys adapted really well. Kept trying to hold a length for as long as they could. We took wickets throughout.
The seasoned batter also praised Jansen for his contribution.
He's been huge for us. We all know in the power-play, especially in conditions like this, you need to be taking wickets upfront. He's been peaking at the right time for us.
England captain Jos Buttler was disappointed with ending his captaincy with another embarrassing defeat.
A really disappointing performance. We were so far short of the mark there today. It was a decent surface - pretty slow but a bit two-paced. We're not going on and making those big, telling contributions which has been a story of this side for some time now with the bat.
I don't know, to be honest. As a whole group, we're not getting the results and that takes away some confidence. Time for everyone to go away, have a change of scene, work hard.
Buttler also said England will have to rebuild the white-ball squad.
There's now a huge opportunity for everyone in the dressing room and those outside to put their hand up and say they want to be part of these white-ball teams. There's no doubt that the talent is there. I'm sure Brend (McCullum, head coach) and the guys at the top will formulate some plans, and it's down to individuals as well to say they want to be part of something and get this team back to where it should be.
There's now a huge opportunity for everyone in the dressing room and those outside to put their hand up and say they want to be part of these white-ball teams. There's no doubt that the talent is there. I'm sure Brend (McCullum, head coach) and the guys at the top will formulate some plans, and it's down to individuals as well to say they want to be part of something and get this team back to where it should be.
