S Africa reach Champions Trophy semis

FE Team | Published: March 02, 2025 23:58:01

KARACHI, Mar 02 (AFP): South Africa qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy on Saturday with a convincing seven wicket win over a hapless England in a Group B match in Karachi.
Wiaan Mulder (3-25) and Marco Jansen (3-39) bowled out England for a paltry 179 in 38.2 overs before South Africa chased down the target for the loss of three wickets in 29.1 overs.
The victory means South Africa, who topped Group B with five points, a point more than Australia, join the Aussies in the semi-finals while India and New Zealand -- who meet in Dubai on Sunday -- are in the last four from Group A.
As for England, they have endured a wretched tournament, with this their third loss coming after defeats to Australia and then to Afghanistan which ended their interest in the tournament with a game to spare.
The India-New Zealand clash will determine the semi-final line-ups, the first in Dubai on March 4 while the second in Lahore a day later.
India, whose government refused to send its national team to Pakistan over political tensions, will play their semi-final in Dubai irrespective of where they finish in the Group.
If India qualify for the final it will be played in Dubai on March 9. If not, Lahore will stage the final.
Fast bowler Jofra Archer dismissed Tristan Stubbs (nought) and Ryan Rickelton (27) with the score on 47 but Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen kept South Africa on track with a 127-run stand for the third wicket.
Klaasen, who scored a 56-ball 64 with 11 boundaries, fell to spinner Adil Rashid with just five needed for victory which David Miller completed with a six.
Dussen hit three sixes and six boundaries in his unbeaten 87-ball 72.
Archer had figures of 2-55 while Rashid took 1-37.
Earlier, Mulder and Jansen destroyed the top-order after England won the toss and batted.
Spinner Keshav Maharaj had figures of 2-35 as England's batting chart presented a sorry picture with Joe Root the highest scorer with 37.