The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 witnessed a dominant performance from South Africa, who stormed into the semi-finals with a 7-wicket victory over England at the National Stadium, Karachi. With this loss, England exits the tournament without a single win, marking a disappointing campaign for the former world champions.
Match Summary
- England: 179 all out (38.2 overs)
- South Africa: 181/3 (29.1 overs)
- Result: South Africa won by 7 wickets
- Player of the Match: Marco Jansen
England’s Batting Struggles Continue
England’s struggles in ODI cricket continued as their batting lineup collapsed once again. After winning the toss and opting to bat, England never looked comfortable against the disciplined South African attack. Joe Root (37) provided some resistance, while Ben Duckett (24) looked promising but couldn’t convert his start.
South Africa’s bowlers were clinical, with Marco Jansen leading the attack with 3/39 in 7 overs, dismantling England’s top order early. Wiaan Mulder was equally impressive, finishing with 3/25 in 7.2 overs, while Keshav Maharaj provided crucial breakthroughs with 2/35 in 10 overs.
Van der Dussen & Klaasen Seal a Comfortable Chase
Chasing a modest target, South Africa made light work of England’s total, thanks to a solid partnership between Rassie van der Dussen (72)* and Heinrich Klaasen (64). The duo dominated the English attack, ensuring a comfortable victory with 125 balls to spare.
England’s bowlers failed to create pressure, and South Africa’s batters capitalized on the weak attack to finish the group stage on top.
Jos Buttler Steps Down as England Captain
Following England’s disastrous campaign, Jos Buttler announced his resignation as England’s white-ball captain. Under his leadership, England struggled in recent months, and their win-loss ratio in ODIs dropped significantly.
🔹 Jos Buttler as England ODI Captain:
- Matches: 45
- Wins: 18
- Losses: 26
- No Result: 1
- Win/Loss Ratio: 0.692 (2nd lowest among England captains with 15+ matches)
With Buttler stepping down, England will look for a fresh start and a new direction in white-ball cricket.
South Africa Advances to the Semi-Finals
With this victory, South Africa topped Group B and secured their place in the semi-finals. Their strong performances throughout the group stage make them one of the top contenders for the title.
What’s Next? India vs New Zealand – A Semi-Final Decider
The next big game in the tournament is India vs New Zealand in Dubai. The result of this match will determine the semi-final matchups.
Stay tuned for more updates on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025!
Also Read: Afghanistan Stuns England to Seal Historic Win, Knocks Them Out of Champions Trophy 2025!
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