In the Champions Trophy 2025, England suffered a defeat against South Africa, scoring only 179 runs. Fast bowlers Macro Jansen and Wlaan Mulder dominated the English batting lineup. With this loss, England was eliminated from the tournament, affecting Afghanistan’s chances of qualification, which required a substantial victory by England to advance.
In a disappointing performance for England, the team collapsed to just 179 runs in their final match of the Champions Trophy 2025 against South Africa. Key innings contributions came from Joe Root and Jofra Archer, but they were insufficient to mount a competitive score. South African fast bowlers Macro Jansen and Wlaan Mulder each took three wickets, significantly weakening England’s batting order.
Jos Buttler, England’s captain, opted to bat first after winning the toss. The decision was grounded in the team’s desire to restore some pride after a series of poor outings. England made one change to their line-up, bringing in Saqib Mahmood in place of Mark Wood, whereas South Africa’s Temba Bavuma did not play due to illness, leading Aiden Markram to captain the side.
today’s match held importance not just for the teams involved but also for Afghanistan, which needed a specific outcome to qualify for the semi-finals. Following a rain-affected match where Afghanistan faced Australia, both teams shared points, affecting Afghanistan negatively. For Afghanistan to advance, England required a momentous victory over South Africa, needing to overcome them by a substantial margin to lower the Proteas’ net run rate (NRR).
To illustrate the qualification scenario: Should England set a target of 301 runs, they would need to win by at least 207 runs to position South Africa’s NRR below Afghanistan’s. This scenario, while challenging, represented Afghanistan’s last glimmer of hope in the tournament.
England’s disappointing exit from the Champions Trophy was marked by their inability to perform under pressure, finishing with a mere 179 runs against South Africa. With fast bowlers Jansen and Mulder showcasing their skills, England’s batting lineup faltered. The defeat not only ended England’s campaign but simultaneously dashed Afghanistan’s hopes of qualification, hinging on an unlikely victory for England over South Africa.
Original Source: dunyanews.tv
