Karachi, March 1 – South Africa delivered a dominant performance to defeat England by seven wickets in the Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Stadium in Karachi on Saturday. Led by stellar half-centuries from Rassie van der Dussen (72) and Heinrich Klaasen (64), the Proteas comfortably chased down England’s modest target of 180 with ease.
England’s Struggles with the Bat
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, England struggled against South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack. The Proteas’ pacers and spinners kept the English batters under pressure, restricting them to a below-par 179 all out in 43.2 overs.
Key performances for South Africa:
- Kagiso Rabada (3/34) led the bowling attack, dismantling England’s top order.
- Keshav Maharaj (2/28) kept things tight in the middle overs.
- Anrich Nortje (2/36) provided crucial breakthroughs to ensure England never gained momentum.
England’s batting faltered, with only Ben Stokes (45) and Jos Buttler (39) putting up a fight. The rest of the lineup failed to capitalize, as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Clinical Chase by South Africa
South Africa’s chase was steady and composed, anchored by Van der Dussen and Klaasen’s brilliant partnership.
- Van der Dussen’s 72 off 85 balls provided stability.
- Klaasen’s 64 off 55 balls added firepower to the middle order.
- Aiden Markram (24)* finished things off in style, guiding South Africa home in 38.4 overs.
What’s Next?
With this convincing victory, South Africa has strengthened its position in the Champions Trophy 2025 standings, while England faces an uphill battle to qualify for the next stage.
South Africa’s next match will be against Pakistan, while England will look to bounce back against New Zealand.