Champions Trophy 2025: South Africa qualify for semi-finals with dominant win over England

South Africa qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy on Saturday after securing a commanding seven-wicket victory over a hapless England in a Group B match in Karachi.

Wiaan Mulder (3-25) and Marco Jansen (3-39) were the standout bowlers, dismantling England's batting line-up as they bowled them out for a meagre 179 in 38.2 overs. South Africa, in response, chased down the target for the loss of three wickets in just 29.1 overs.

This victory meant that South Africa, who topped Group B with five points—one more than Australia—joined the Aussies in the semi-finals. India and New Zealand, who are set to meet in Dubai on Sunday, have already secured their spots in the semi-finals from Group A.

England's tournament woes continued, with this defeat being their third in a row, following losses to Australia and Afghanistan. As a result, England's hopes of progressing in the tournament were dashed with a game to spare.

The outcome of the India-New Zealand clash will determine the semi-final line-ups. The first semi-final will take place in Dubai on March 4, while the second semi-final will be held in Lahore the following day.

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 where they finish in the group.

If India qualify for the final, it will be held in Dubai on March 9, but if they do not make it, the final will be staged in Lahore.

Stand-in captain Aiden Markram praised the efforts of Marco Jansen. "He's been huge for us," Markram said. "We all know that, especially in conditions like this, you need to take wickets up front in the powerplay. He has been peaking at the right time for us."

England's outgoing captain Jos Buttler expressed his disappointment with another poor performance. "A really disappointing performance," Buttler said. "We're not going on and making those big, telling contributions, which has been the story of this side for some time now with the bat."

In the chase, England's fast bowler Jofra Archer dismissed Tristan Stubbs (nought) and Ryan Rickelton (27) with the score on 47. However, Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen kept South Africa on track with a crucial 127-run partnership for the third wicket. Klaasen, who scored a 56-ball 64 with 11 boundaries, was dismissed by spinner Adil Rashid when only five runs were needed for victory. David Miller then sealed the win with a six.

Van der Dussen played a key role, scoring 72 not out from 87 balls, including three sixes and six boundaries. Archer took 2-55, while Rashid finished with 1-37.

Earlier, Mulder and Jansen wreaked havoc on England's top-order after they won the toss and chose to bat. Keshav Maharaj also contributed with figures of 2-35, leaving England's batting line-up in disarray. Joe Root was the top scorer for England with 37 runs.

England, already eliminated from the tournament after two defeats in as many games, looked dispirited, especially after Buttler announced his resignation following the match.

Jansen's incisive first spell of five overs saw him remove openers Phil Salt (eight), Jamie Smith (nought), and Ben Duckett (24). He then took a brilliant diving catch at long-on off Maharaj to dismiss Harry Brook for 19, ending a 62-run stand with Root.

England's problems deepened when Root was bowled by Mulder for 37, and when Liam Livingstone fell to Maharaj for nine. Root’s knock of 44 balls included one six and four boundaries.

Buttler (21) and Archer (25) added 42 runs for the eighth wicket, but once Archer was dismissed by Mulder, the last two wickets fell quickly, adding just eight more runs to the total.

South Africa had to make several adjustments to their line-up due to illness, with regular captain Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi both unwell, and Markram also forced to leave the field with a hamstring injury.