Karachi: Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen smashed commanding fifties after a superb show by the bowlers, led by Marco Jansen, as South Africa secured their place in the Champions Trophy semifinals after hammering a struggling England by seven wickets in the last Group B match here on Saturday.
South Africa first dismissed England for just 179 before comfortably chasing down the target with 20.5 overs to spare.
England, already eliminated from the semifinal race, needed a victory by at least 207 runs to give Afghanistan a chance of qualifying for the last-four stage based on net run-rate.
However, South Africa quickly quashed any hopes, bundling out their opponents for the lowest total of this edition in just 38.2 overs.
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.
South Africa completed the chase with ease, reaching 181/3 in 29.1 overs, thanks to impressive fifties from Klaasen (64) and van der Dussen (72 not out). Klassen and van der Dussen added 127 runs for the third wicket.
With this victory, South Africa joined Australia in the semifinals from Group B. The Proteas topped the group with five points from three matches ahead of Australia (4 points).
The semifinal line-up will be confirmed after the final Group A match between India and New Zealand on Sunday.
Chasing 180 for a win, 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.
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 for 3 by the seventh over.
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.
England’s woes continued as Liam Livingstone (9) and Jamie Overton (11) quickly fell, 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.
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