South Africa has officially booked their spot in the semi-finals after a dominant seven-wicket victory over England in Karachi.
It was a tough day for England, who were already out of contention after earlier losses. South Africa, on the other hand, played brilliantly, topping Group B with five points, just ahead of Australia.
Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen were the heroes with the ball, tearing through England’s batting lineup and dismissing them for a paltry 179. South Africa then chased down the target with ease, losing only three wickets. Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen put on a fantastic partnership, ensuring a comfortable win.
England’s batting woes continued, with Joe Root being their top scorer with just 37. It’s been a really disappointing tournament for them, and Jos Buttler, who stepped down as captain, summed it up by saying they haven’t been making those big, telling contributions with the bat.
South Africa, despite some illness in the team, were in control from start to finish. They bowled superbly, fielded sharply, and batted with confidence. Now, they’ll be looking forward to the semi-finals, where they’ll join Australia, India, and New Zealand.
Speaking of India and New Zealand, their match in Dubai on Sunday will decide the final semi-final line-ups. India, due to political tensions, will play their semi-final in Dubai regardless of their group position.
So, it’s South Africa moving on, and England heading home. It’s been an action-packed Champions Trophy, and we’re all looking forward to the semi-finals!
