South Africa secured their place in the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy after defeating England by seven wickets during their last Group B match at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on March 1, 2025. This victory not only showcased the Proteas' resilience but also confirmed their spot at the top of Group B with five points, setting the stage for their next challenge.
England, coming off previous losses, were already out of contention prior to the match and ended their tournament campaign winless, succumbing to their third consecutive defeat. South Africa dominated the game, easily chasing down England's meager total of 179, which allowed them to finish the group stage with two wins from three matches, with another game against Australia resulting in shared points.
Marco Jansen was the standout performer with the ball for South Africa, taking three early wickets and setting the tone for the innings. He dismissed Phil Salt and Jamie Smith for just eight runs and zero runs, respectively, with Ben Duckett contributing 24 runs before falling to Wiaan Mulder, who also took three wickets, leading England’s collapse.
It was clear from the start of the innings when Jos Buttler, leading the Three Lions for the last time, elected to bat after winning the toss. The decision backfired spectacularly as England's batsmen failed to build any momentum or solid partnerships. They were bowled out quickly and cheaply within 39 overs, marking their lowest score of the tournament.
Jansen’s bowling display was complemented well by Keshav Maharaj, who took two wickets including the key one of Harry Brook, caught spectacularly by Jansen himself. The Proteas, effective both with ball and glove, produced excellent fielding throughout, holding on to several catches and capitalizing on England's missteps.
England's innings was marked more by their careless strokeplay than by any effective strategy. Joe Root’s 37 was the top score, and he struggled to find support as wickets continued to tumble around him. Even as the odds were stacked against England, with the pressure of elimination looming large, they were unable to produce the kind of performance they needed to forge any comeback.
Once the Proteas began their chase, the match visibly shifted momentum. Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen led the charge, both scoring impressively, with van der Dussen finishing unbeaten on 72 and Klaasen scoring 64 runs off just 56 balls. Their partnership of 127 runs for the third wicket was decisive, calming any potential nerves within the squad as they sought to secure the win and their place in the semifinals.
The chase began on shaky footing, as Tristan Stubbs tried to fill the void left by captain Temba Bavuma, who was absent due to illness and was bowled for no runs. Despite their early struggles, Ryan Rickelton and later van der Dussen and Klaasen took control, snuffing out any hope England had of salvaging the match.
Victory was completed comfortably, with David Miller hitting the winning runs. He smashed the ball sent down by Liam Livingstone over the boundary, sealing the deal with seven wickets and more than 20 overs to spare. This triumph marks the third consecutive major ICC tournament where South Africa has reached the knockout stage, following their qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup semifinals.
Coach Rob Walter was optimistic after the victory, stating, “We weathered some early setbacks and showed great determination to emerge with the win today.” The Proteas will now await the results of the looming match between India and New Zealand to learn their semifinal fate, hoping to face whichever team loses. Given their current performance, confidence will be high heading forward.
England’s dismal outing reflects the challenges they faced throughout the tournament. With their captaincy transition looming over the squad and the realization of their elimination weighing heavily, they seemed to check out of the competition prematurely, falling victim to cumulative fatigue and mental exhaustion.
Buttler, who announced this was to be his last match as England captain, described the loss as disappointing but indicative of the growth needed within the team, saying, “We have to rebuild and come back stronger for the next tournaments.”
With both teams finishing their respective group stages, the path for South Africa looks promising. They’re finally geared up to break their ICC trophy curse, having faced criticism and disappointment over the years. With key players recovering from injury and illness, the Proteas can head confidently toward the semifinals, equipped with lessons learned from their World Cup campaigns.