South Africa made light work of England in their final Group B match of the 2025 Champions Trophy to reach the semi-finals as the top team on Group B points table. The victory ensures that both Australia and South Africa advance from Group B, eliminating Afghanistan from the tournament.
Afghanistan, who had been hoping for an England upset, needed Jos Buttler’s team to pull off a big win against the Proteas to keep their semi-final hopes alive. However, South Africa proved too strong, cruising to a seven-wicket win and knocking Afghanistan out of the tournament.
South Africa’s win also means that both Group B semi-finalists have been confirmed, with Australia already securing qualification after their rain-affected match against Afghanistan in Lahore.
Jos Buttler failed to inspire his team in his final assignment as captain, as his side crumbled to 179 all-out against a disciplined bowling attack. The chase proved to be straightforward, with Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen easily guiding their team to victory. England’s defeat also means that they exit the tournament as the only side to fail to register a single point in the competition.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s reward for topping the Group B points table will be revealed tomorrow when each team finds out their Champions Trophy semi-final opponent. South Africa will face the vanquished from the India and New Zealand fixture.
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Losses | No Result | Points | Net Run Rate (NRR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +2.395 |
| Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | +0.475 |
| Afghanistan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -0.990 |
| England | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -1.159 |
With the tournament reaching its climax, all eyes now turn to the upcoming knockouts as the top teams compete for the Champions Trophy title.