South Africa defeated England by seven wickets in Lahore, securing a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals and eliminating Afghanistan. Rassie van der Dussen’s 72 not out led South Africa’s chase of 180 runs, while England was dismissed for just 179 runs, marking a disappointing end to their tournament. Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder shone with the ball for South Africa, as England struggled with their batting.
South Africa triumphed over England by seven wickets in Lahore, securing their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 while simultaneously eliminating Afghanistan from contention. Rassie van der Dussen led the team’s charge, scoring an unbeaten 72 runs off 87 balls, showcasing a brilliant performance that placed South Africa atop Group B. England, who had already lost to Australia and Afghanistan, finished at the bottom of the table without a win.
In their innings, England opted to bat first after winning the toss but struggled, managing only 179 runs all out in 38.2 overs. Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder were instrumental in dismantling the English batting order, capturing three wickets each. Following a lackluster effort by England, South Africa’s response was swift, achieving 181 runs for the loss of three wickets in just 29.1 overs.
England’s innings started poorly, losing early wickets and struggling to build partnerships. Joe Root was the top scorer with 37 runs. Despite a decent pitch for batting, England succumbed to regular dismissals, with Jos Buttler lamenting, “It was a really disappointing performance, and we were short of our mark today.” This loss signifies a troubling trend for England, marking their seventh consecutive defeat in One Day Internationals.
As South Africa chased a modest target, they too faced early setbacks, but the partnership between van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen proved pivotal, contributing 127 runs for the third wicket. Klaasen scored 64 runs before being dismissed, leaving South Africa well on course to victory, which they achieved comfortably with ample overs to spare. Aiden Markram, the stand-in captain, was unable to contribute due to a hamstring injury.
This match not only highlighted South Africa’s strength as they progress to the semifinals but also concluded England’s disappointing tournament campaign. Australia secured the second position in Group B, setting the stage for their upcoming semifinal clash against either India or New Zealand. Afghanistan’s exit reflects the harsh realities of tournament cricket, where margins can be unforgiving.
In summary, South Africa’s decisive victory over England not only propelled them to the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 but also eliminated Afghanistan from advancing. The outstanding performances from players such as Rassie van der Dussen and Marco Jansen underscored South Africa’s dominance in the match. Conversely, England’s dismal showing continues to raise concerns regarding their ODI form, particularly under the leadership of Jos Buttler, who announced his resignation following this significant defeat.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
