South Africa defeated England by seven wickets, advancing to the Champions Trophy semifinals and eliminating Afghanistan. Rassie van der Dussen’s 72 not out was pivotal in their success, while England suffered their third loss, finishing last in Group B. Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder were key bowlers for South Africa, contributing significantly to England’s downfall.
South Africa triumphed over England by seven wickets in Lahore, securing a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals and eliminating Afghanistan from contention. Rassie van der Dussen was instrumental in this victory, scoring an unbeaten 72 off 87 balls, which highlighted South Africa’s dominant performance on Saturday. They topped Group B, while Afghanistan, finishing third, was knocked out of the tournament.
The Proteas successfully chased down England’s total of 179 runs, concluding their innings at 181-3 in just 29.1 overs. England, already eliminated after two prior losses, chose to bat first after winning the toss, but their batting lineup faltered, leading to their downfall. Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder excelled with the ball, taking three wickets apiece to dismantle England’s batting order.
With this loss, England ended their Champions Trophy campaign as the bottom team in the group, marking a disappointing conclusion to Jos Buttler’s captaincy. Buttler, who announced his resignation following this defeat, faced scrutiny due to England’s poor performances in recent tournaments, including the T20 World Cup and the One Day World Cup.
As South Africa progressed to the semifinals, they were joined by Australia, who qualified after a washed-out game against Afghanistan. The latter had hoped for a chance at qualification had England achieved a significant victory, but those hopes faded with South Africa’s commanding performance.
England’s batting collapsed after a promising opening, with Phil Salt and Jamie Smith dismissed cheaply. Joe Root managed to score 37 runs but was unable to prevent the team’s collapse, leading to their final total of 179 all out. Buttler’s reflection on the match highlighted a collective failure to capitalize on opportunities: “It was a really disappointing performance, and we were short of our mark today,” he stated.
South Africa faced early setbacks during their chase as well, losing two quick wickets. However, a crucial partnership between Van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen, whom both scored half-centuries, steadied the innings and ensured a safe passage to victory. Klaasen’s contribution of 64 off 56 balls helped seal the match, securing a successful end to the group stage for the Proteas.
In summary, South Africa’s significant win against England allowed them to advance to the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals while simultaneously eliminating Afghanistan from the tournament. The match showcased strong individual performances, particularly from Rassie van der Dussen and key bowlers Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder. England’s continued struggles under Buttler’s captaincy resulted in their disappointing exit from the tournament.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
