South Africa qualified for the semifinals of the Champions Trophy 2025 by bowling out England for 179 runs. Jos Buttler, in his last appearance as ODI captain, won the toss and chose to bat, a decision that led to a chaotic batting performance. The top order collapsed early, and despite some resistance from Buttler and Archer, England faced a substantial defeat that confirmed South Africa’s advancement.
In a pivotal clash during the Champions Trophy 2025, South Africa secured their place in the semifinals by bowling out England for a mere 179 runs. England’s situation in Group B remains uncertain, as the top team will dictate the forthcoming knockout match fixtures involving India and New Zealand. Jos Buttler, in his farewell match as England’s ODI captain, opted to bat after winning the toss, a decision that quickly turned disastrous as England found themselves at 37 for 3 within just seven overs due to effective bowling from Jansen.
Opener Phil Salt’s early dismissal came from a top-edge off a rising delivery from Jansen, while Jamie Smith failed to handle a short ball, both contributing to a dramatic top-order failure. Ben Duckett’s innings ended at 24, caught off a Jansen catch, further deepening England’s batting troubles. Attempting to stabilize the innings, Harry Brook (19) and Joe Root (37) forged a partnership of 62 runs but quickly fell victim to South African wickets as they lost steam under pressure.
Brook’s dismissal, via Maharaj, occurred with Jansen claiming a remarkable catch. Following this, Root’s off-stump was dislodged by Mulder, signaling a rapid deterioration of the batting lineup, which plunged to 129 for 7 by the 26th over. England’s woes continued with quick dismissals of Liam Livingstone (9) and Jamie Overton (11), highlighting their batting collapse. Despite some resistance from Jos Buttler (21) and Jofra Archer (25), who formed a 42-run partnership, their dismissals, including that of Buttler by Lungi Ngidi, sealed England’s fate in the match.
In summary, England’s decision to bat first backfired spectacularly against South Africa, leading to their elimination from the Champions Trophy 2025 with a dismal total of 179 runs. Contributions from top-order batsmen were minimal as they succumbed to the fierce South African bowling attack. The match solidifies South Africa’s position in the semifinals, leaving the standings in Group B to be determined for India and New Zealand’s next match-ups.
Original Source: m.economictimes.com
