Images from the ICC Champions Trophy match between England and South Africa in Karachi on Saturday.
South Africa stormed into the Champions Trophy semi-finals after thrashing a hapless England by seven wickets in the last Group B match in Karachi on Saturday.
South Africa bowled out a struggling England for 179 in 38.2 overs -- the lowest total of the tournament, before they raced to victory in 29.1 wickets, to win with more than 20 overs to spare.
England, who had earlier lost to Australia and Afghanistan, finished bottom of Group B.
Pacer Marco Jansen (3/39) shone with the new ball, while Wiaan Mulder (3/25) and Keshav Maharaj (2/35) applied pressure throughout the middle overs, ensuring that South Africa's knockout berth was secured even before the run chase began after restricting England to under 200.
Rassie van der Dussen guided the Proteas home with a fluent knock of 72 from 87 balls, while Heinrich Klaasen stroked a quickfire 64 from 56 balls, as the duo put on 127 runs for the third wicket.
South Africa finished top of Group B with five points, as they joined Australia in the semis from Group B.
The semi-final line-up will be confirmed after the final Group A match between India and New Zealand on Sunday.
Chasing 180 for victory, South Africa lost opener Tristan Stubbs (0) early, with Jofra Archer cleaning him up. Ryan Rickelton (27) played a quick-fire knock, smashing five boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Once Rickelton was dismissed by Archer, van der Dussen and Klaasen settled in and built a vital partnership, taking South Africa closer to the target.
Klaasen, returning to action after missing earlier matches due to a soft tissue injury to his left elbow, played an aggressive knock, hitting 11 boundaries in his 56-ball innings. Van der Dussen hit six fours and three maximums during his unfinished innings.
Klassen was caught by Saqib Mahmood off Adil Rashid (1/37) late in the run chase before David Miller slammed a six to take the Proteas to victory in grand style.
Earlier, in his final game as England's ODI captain, Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to bat, but the decision backfired as Jansen wreaked havoc early, reducing England to 37/3 by the seventh over.
Opener Phil Salt (8) top-edged a rising Jansen delivery, while Jamie Smith (0) failed to handle a short ball and followed Salt back to the pavilion. Ben Duckett (24) then perished to a caught-and-bowled effort by Jansen, as England's top-order collapsed.
Harry Brook (19) and Joe Root (37) attempted a recovery with a 62-run stand, but just when the partnership seemed to gain momentum, South Africa struck twice in quick succession.
Brook fell to Maharaj as Jansen took a superb catch in the deep while Root's off-stump was sent cart-wheeling by Mulder.
England's woes continued as Liam Livingstone (9) and Jamie Overton (11) quickly followed, leaving the side in disarray at 129/7 in the 26th over.
Buttler (21) and Jofra Archer (25) added some respectability to the total with a partnership of 42, but Archer was dismissed by Mulder, and the England skipper was then removed by Lungi Ngidi with a slow ball.
© 2025