South Africa secured their place in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy on Saturday with a dominant seven-wicket victory over England in a Group B clash in Karachi.
Wiaan Mulder (3-25) and Marco Jansen (3-39) were the stars with the ball as they bowled England out for just 179 in 38.2 overs. South Africa comfortably chased down the target in 29.1 overs, losing three wickets along the way.
The victory saw South Africa top Group B with five points, a point ahead of Australia, and book their spot in the last four. As a result, South Africa joins Australia in the semi-finals, while India and New Zealand, who face off in Dubai on Sunday, are also through to the semi-finals from Group A.
England, on the other hand, have had a dismal tournament, suffering their third loss after defeats to Australia and Afghanistan, which ended their hopes of advancing with a game to spare.
The India-New Zealand match will finalize the semi-final line-ups. India, whose government had refused to send the national team to Pakistan due to political tensions, will play their semi-final in Dubai, regardless of their group position.
If India reach the final, it will be played in Dubai on March 9; if not, the final will be held in Lahore.
England’s Jofra Archer made early inroads into South Africa’s batting lineup, dismissing Tristan Stubbs (0) and Ryan Rickelton (27) with the score at 47.
However, Rassie van der Dussen (72*) and Heinrich Klaasen (64) steadied the ship with a crucial 127-run partnership for the third wicket. Klaasen, who hit 11 boundaries in his 56-ball knock, was dismissed by Adil Rashid with just five runs needed for victory, a target that David Miller sealed with a six.
Dussen, who played a controlled knock, struck three sixes and six boundaries off 87 balls to remain unbeaten. Archer finished with figures of 2-55, while Rashid took 1-37.
Earlier, Mulder and Jansen destroyed England's top order after they won the toss and opted to bat.
Keshav Maharaj also impressed with 2-35 as England's batting lineup crumbled. Joe Root was the highest scorer for England with 37 runs.
Jansen was instrumental in the early breakthroughs, removing Phil Salt (8), Jamie Smith (0), and Ben Duckett (24) in a fiery opening spell. He then took a brilliant diving catch off Maharaj to dismiss Harry Brook for 19, ending a 62-run fourth-wicket stand with Root.
The collapse continued as Root was bowled by Mulder for 37, and England's middle order fell apart. Liam Livingstone (9) and Jos Buttler (21) couldn't build any momentum, and despite a late 42-run stand for the eighth wicket between Buttler and Archer (25), the innings ended quickly.
Once Archer fell to Mulder, the last two wickets fell with just eight more runs added.
South Africa, despite the absence of regular captain Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi, who were both unwell, as well as stand-in skipper Aiden Markram, who was forced to leave the field with a hamstring injury, proved too strong for England on the day.
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