South Africa secured a convincing seven-wicket win against England in Lahore, ensuring their semifinal spot in the Champions Trophy while eliminating Afghanistan from progression. Rassie van der Dussen’s unbeaten 72 runs led the way, supporting a strong bowling display from Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder, which dismantled England’s batting lineup for a low score of 179 runs.
South Africa triumphed over England by seven wickets in Lahore, securing a place in the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy while simultaneously eliminating Afghanistan from contention. Rassie van der Dussen led the charge with a stellar unbeaten 72 runs off 87 balls, highlighting South Africa’s efficient performance as they topped Group B, followed by Australia and Afghanistan languishing in third place.
Finishing their innings at 181-3 in 29.1 overs, South Africa capitalized on England’s dismal batting display that saw them bowled out for a mere 179 runs in 38.2 overs. England, having suffered back-to-back defeats prior to this match, opted to bat first after winning the toss, marking a calamitous end to their campaign in the tournament.
Marco Jansen was a key figure with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 39 runs in seven overs, while Wiaan Mulder impressed with figures of 3-25 in 7.2 overs, contributing to England’s lackluster performance. This defeat further solidified England’s struggles under the captaincy of Jos Buttler, who has announced his decision to step down following the team’s exit from both the Champions Trophy and previous World Cup failures.
Australia, the second team to qualify from Group B, will face the winner of the upcoming match between India and New Zealand, who are vying for the top position in Group A. Afghanistan’s hopes of progressing relied heavily on an unrealistically high-margin victory for England over South Africa, which ultimately did not materialize.
England’s innings faltered with early dismissals, as Jansen’s impressive bowling scalped key wickets, including Phil Salt and Ben Duckett. Joe Root, who scored the highest for England with 37 runs, attempted to stabilize the innings, yet a series of regular wickets prevented any substantial recovery. England’s collapse was further compounded by consistent breakthroughs from the South African bowlers, ultimately concluding their innings far short of a competitive total.
In pursuit of a modest target, South Africa experienced early setbacks, losing their makeshift opener Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton quickly. However, van der Dussen stabilized the innings alongside Heinrich Klaasen, putting together a crucial partnership of 127 runs for the third wicket. Klaasen contributed 64 runs, enabling South Africa to steer towards a convincing victory without their regular captain, Aiden Markram, who was unable to bat due to injury.
In conclusion, South Africa’s decisive victory over England in the ICC Champions Trophy not only secured their place in the semifinals but also marked the end of Afghanistan’s aspirations in the tournament. Rassie van der Dussen’s standout performance, coupled with a strong bowling display from Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder, ensured England’s downfall and emphasized the Proteas’ dominance in the match. England’s root causes for failure point towards a disappointing run under Jos Buttler, leading to his resignation following the team’s dismal exit.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
