South Africa defeated England by seven wickets in Lahore to reach the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals, eliminating Afghanistan from the tournament. Rassie van der Dussen led the scoring with 72 not out, while Marco Jansen impressed with his bowling. England’s continued losses resulted in Buttler stepping down as captain after failing to win in their group matches.
South Africa secured a comprehensive victory over England by seven wickets in Lahore, successfully reaching the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Rassie van der Dussen was instrumental, scoring an unbeaten 72 runs off 87 balls. This win not only propelled South Africa to the top of Group B but also dashed Afghanistan’s hopes of progression, securing their elimination from the tournament.
The match concluded with South Africa chasing down England’s total of 179 runs set in 38.2 overs, finishing at 181-3 in just 29.1 overs. Marco Jansen took the spotlight with his bowling performance, claiming 3 wickets for 39 runs in seven overs, while Wiaan Mulder contributed with 3 wickets for 25 runs in 7.2 overs. England’s batting performance fell short, leaving them at the bottom of the table.
Earlier, England had lost to both Australia and Afghanistan, failing to secure any victories in the tournament and marking a disappointing end to Jos Buttler’s captaincy. Following the match, Buttler announced his resignation due to the team’s poor performance, including defeats in previous tournaments. Australia also qualified for the semifinals from Group B, setting up a clash against either India or New Zealand.
England’s inning began poorly after winning the toss, with early wickets falling quickly due to Jansen’s bowling. Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, and Ben Duckett all contributed to an early collapse, leaving the team at 37-3 before Joe Root managed to stabilize the innings with his 37 runs. However, the batting team suffered continuous losses, ultimately being all out for a subpar score. Buttler expressed disappointment over the team’s performance, particularly concerning their inability to convert promising positions into wins.
In summary, South Africa’s dominant win against England propelled them into the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy, while eliminating Afghanistan from contention. Rassie van der Dussen’s crucial innings and a powerful bowling performance from Marco Jansen defined the match. England’s continued poor performance raised questions about the future of their captain Jos Buttler, as they finished bottom of Group B without a win.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
