England faced a devastating seven-wicket defeat against South Africa in their final Champions Trophy match, marking Jos Buttler’s last game as captain. England struggled to manage their innings, getting bowled out for 179. South Africa comfortably chased the target, securing their place in the semi-finals and sending England home after losing all three matches in the tournament.
In a disappointing end to their Champions Trophy campaign, England lost to South Africa by seven wickets in Karachi, marking Jos Buttler’s final match as captain. England, after winning the toss and opting to bat, crumbled to 179 all out with 12 overs remaining. Their innings faltered from 37-3 in the powerplay to losing three wickets for just eight runs, with Buttler contributing 21 runs.
Joe Root emerged as England’s top scorer with 37, forming a brief partnership with Harry Brook, who scored 19. However, South Africa’s bowlers, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen, took critical wickets to limit England’s total. South Africa, despite facing illness in their squad, secured a place in the semi-finals with a commanding performance.
Responding to England’s total, South Africa chased down the target comfortably, finishing with over 20 overs to spare. Heinrich Klaasen (64) and Rassie van der Dussen (72 not out) anchored the innings, sharing a crucial 127-run partnership that ensured victory. Adil Rashid managed to dismiss Klaasen, but South Africa needed only six runs off 128 balls at that point.
With this win, South Africa topped Group B with five points, advancing to the semi-finals, while England ended at the bottom of the group after three consecutive losses. The match’s outcome means South Africa will now face the winner of Group A, while India and New Zealand complete their final group matches to determine the semi-final bracket.
England’s early exit from the Champions Trophy sees them finishing last in Group B after losses in all their matches. South Africa’s strong performance, highlighted by key partnerships and effective bowling, propels them to the semi-finals as they look forward to facing Group A’s top team. Jos Buttler’s departure as captain adds further context to England’s struggle in the tournament.
Original Source: www.skysports.com
