South Africa secure semi-final spot with comfortable victory over England | Updated Champions Trophy Points Table

England had to once face defeat in the ICC Men's Champions Trophy as Aiden Markram-led South Africa eased past the Three Lions by defeating them by seven wickets in the final Group-B match of the tournament. This defeat meant that Jos Buttler's England ended the tournament with 0 points to their name and failed to win a single game. 

Batting first, England could only manage to put up a mere score of 179 runs on the board and the Proteas easily chased down this small target of 180 runs by seven wickets in 29.1 overs. 

With this spectacular win, the 2024 T20 World Cup runners-up ended Group-B as the table toppers. They will now face the loser of tomorrow's India versus New Zealand match in the semi-finals. 

Four South African players played a vital role in helping them win the match. First the duo of Marco Jansen & Wiaan Mulder wreaked havoc with the ball, picking up three wickets a piece. Ngidi, Rabada and Keshav Maharaja also contributed with one and two wickets respectively. 

Then in the batting department, Rassie Van der Dussen & Heinrich Klassen completely dominated the English bowlers. The former played an impressive unbeaten inning of 72 runs while the latter scored 64 runs. 

Chasing a small total of 180 runs, the Proteas were dealt an early blow as Triston Stubbs got out for a duck while opening the batting. However, wicketkeeper batter Ryan Rickelton continued playing in his natural aggressive style, scoring 27 runs in 25 deliveries with the help of five boundaries before perishing off the bowling of Jofra Archer. 

The Aiden Markram-led team lost two wickets at the score of 47 runs and the English fans got a slight hope of making a comeback in the game but, Rassie van der Dussen & Heinrich Klassen had some other plans as they got involved in a partnership of 127 runs for the third wicket and helped their side cross the finish line. 

The veteran batter's knock of 72 runs from 87 deliveries consisted of six fours and three huge sixes while his partner at the other end played an explosive inning of 64 runs in just 56 balls with the help of 11 fours. In the end, David Miller hit a six to give the team victory. He remained unbeaten on seven runs from two balls. 

As a result, the 2019 ODI World Cup winners ended their 2025 Champions Trophy campaign without securing a single win. England suffered defeat in all three of its matches. First, Australia defeated England, followed by Afghanistan, and now South Africa.

Updated Champions Trophy Points Table

https://x.com/ICC/status/1895858508505264260

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