In a gripping conclusion to the Group B matches of the Champions Trophy 2025, South Africa bowled England out for a meager 179 runs, sealing their spot in the semi-finals and dashing Afghanistan’s hopes of advancing in the tournament.
The match took place at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, where England’s batting woes continued, culminating in their dismissal in just 38.2 overs.
This result not only secured South Africa’s progression but also confirmed Australia’s place in the semi-finals. As a consequence, Afghanistan, who required England to secure a victory by at least 207 runs, found themselves eliminated from the competition.
The Group B encounters were marked by intense competition and several rain-interrupted matches, with South Africa and Afghanistan tied at three points each. However, the fate of Afghanistan was sealed when their match against Australia was washed out, leaving them to rely on an improbable outcome in the England-South Africa clash.
In what turned out to be Jos Buttler’s final game as England’s captain, the team once again struggled with the bat. Despite a valiant effort from Joe Root, who top-scored with 37 runs off 44 balls, England’s “Bazball” approach fell short, leading to their elimination and South Africa’s triumphant entry into the semi-finals.
As the four semi-finalists are now finalized, the Group B teams will head to Dubai, where the excitement continues in the Champions Trophy 2025.
For more updates, stay tuned to our live coverage.
