South Africa become group champions by thrashing England; fiery spell from Jansen

By Ehsan Qureshi at National Stadium, Karachi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

South Africa stormed into the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 when they thrashed England by seven wickets at National Stadium, Karachi, on March 1 in what turned out to be a one-sided encounter. 

Playing excellent cricket, the South Africans also became the Group B champions with their tally of five points, relegating Australia to the runners-up slot who aggregated four points. 

England ended pointless after suffering their third successive defeat. Overall, it was their seventh defeat in a row in One Day Internationals, already leading to the resignation of their captain, Jos Butler, a day before the third and final league fixture. 

For the rampaging South Africans, batters Heinrich Klassen and Rassie van Der Dussen scored enterprising half-centuries after their lanky left-arm speedster Marco Jansen picked up top three wickets in a fiery spell. 

Chasing a modest victory target of 180, they romped home with more than 20 overs remaining. They lost openers Tristan Stubbs for duck and Ryan Rickelton for 27, both of them to the giant fast bowler, Jofra Archer. 

But der Dussen and Klassen repaired early damage and later charged with brutal power-hitting. The pair put on 127 runs for third wicket to lay the foundation for another comfortable victory. 

Klassen went after making a fluent 64 off 56 balls laced with 11 sizzling boundaries under dazzling lights in the 29th over. Dussen finished undefeated on 72 and his 87-ball knock was studded with six fours and three sixes. 

Electing to bat first, England were jolted by southpaw Jansen, who delivered a sensational opening spell, claiming three wickets in rapid succession. His lethal bouncers proved too hot to handle for the English batters. Later, Wiaan Mulder, a medium-pacer, caused the middle-order wobble with the figures of 3 for 25 and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took two wickets for 35 runs as England disappointingly got bowled out for 179 in the 39th over. 

Opener Phil Salt hit a couple of boundaries in Jansen’s first over. But on the last ball, he topedged his shot to be neatly caught Dussen for eight. Jamie Smith went for duck after facing just three balls caught by Aiden Markaram off Jansen.

Before England could recover from the setback, in-form opener Ben Duckett also topedged a bouncer. It was a big blow to their chances of compiling a decent score as they crashed to 37 for three in the 17th over. 

Trying to put England innings on track, Joe Root and Harry Brook added 50 runs for the fourth wicket off 52 balls. But Brook’s indifferent form continued as he was brilliantly caught by Jansen for 24. He hit four boundaries in his 21-ball knock. 

Root, when looking good, was bowled by Mulder 37. He clubbed five fours and a six in his 44-ball 37. Liam Livingstone followed him quickly stumped by Dussen. He made only nine. Archer showed flashes of brilliance while making 25 but England’s final total of 179 was below par on a pitch which had plenty of runs. 

Butler’s last outing as captain of England turned out to be a nightmarish one. His job was on the line after the dismal results under his command and he chose to quit voluntarily when his team was knocked out of the event after losing to Afghanistan.