In the latest Champions Trophy showdown, Rassie van der Dussen played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 72 runs off 87 deliveries, propelling South Africa to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over England. This win secured South Africa’s place in the semi-finals while sending England to the bottom of Group B without any points, marking their third consecutive loss in the tournament.
England, after having previously succumbed to defeats against Australia and Afghanistan, now faces scrutiny as they finished winless in the group stage, signalling a dismal end to captain Jos Buttler’s leadership. Following this poor outing, Buttler announced his decision to step down from the captaincy amid growing concerns regarding England’s performance in the recent T20 and ODI World Cups.
The Proteas’ dominance was evident from the start, as they chased down England’s meager total of 179 all out in just 29.1 overs, finishing at 3-181. Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder showcased impressive bowling skills, with Jansen claiming 3-39 and Mulder taking 3-25, dismantling England’s batting line-up that appeared lacklustre throughout.
England’s innings fell apart early on, with Jansen capitalising on the conditions to take crucial wickets, including that of Phil Salt for just eight runs and Jamie Smith for a duck. Joe Root attempted to stabilise the innings, scoring 37 runs; however, his efforts were not enough as wickets fell consistently. England’s final collapse saw them lose their last seven wickets for only 80 runs, reflecting a disheartening drop in form.
Buttler acknowledged the team’s disappointing performance, stating they fell short of expectations on what was ostensibly a good batting surface. Moreover, the loss marks England’s seventh consecutive ODI defeat, raising questions about the direction of the team under Buttler’s captaincy.
In response to England’s low score, South Africa did not have an ideal start either, losing their opener Tristan Stubbs for a duck. However, the partnership between van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen, who scored 64 off 56 balls, proved decisive as they added 127 runs for the third wicket. Van der Dussen reached his fifty after 72 deliveries, hitting six fours and three sixes in a commanding display.
Stand-in captain Aiden Markram did not bat due to a hamstring injury sustained while fielding. Following this outing, South Africa’s victory not only eliminated Afghanistan from contention but also showcased their strength as they topped Group B. As South Africa progresses, Australia will also move forward from the group, gearing up for their semi-final clash against either India or New Zealand.