South Africa achieved a convincing victory over England by seven wickets in their latest match, effectively eliminating the latter from the tournament. The game, held on a decent surface, saw South Africa chase down England's total of 179 all out in 38.2 overs. With this win, South Africa solidified its place in the next round while England concluded its campaign winless.
England’s innings began with a lackluster performance. They batted first but struggled, ultimately scoring just 179 runs before being dismissed. Joe Root was the top scorer for England, managing 37 runs off 44 balls. Jofra Archer contributed a modest 25 runs from 31 deliveries, including four boundaries. However, the team's overall batting display was described as disinterested, according to captain Jos Buttler.
Buttler expressed his disappointment following the match, stating, "It was a really disappointing performance, and we were short of our mark today." This loss marked England’s third consecutive defeat in the tournament, following earlier losses to Australia and Afghanistan.
South Africa’s bowlers played a pivotal role in dismantling England's batting lineup. Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder led the charge, with Jansen taking three wickets for 39 runs in seven overs, while Mulder achieved impressive figures of three wickets for just 25 runs in 7.2 overs. England's batting collapse was evident as they lost their last seven wickets for a mere 80 runs.
Despite a shaky start to their innings, South Africa managed to recover well. Rassie van der Dussen anchored the chase with a stellar performance, scoring 72 not out off 87 balls. He formed a crucial partnership with Heinrich Klaasen, who contributed significantly with 64 runs off 56 balls. Together, they forged a formidable third-wicket partnership, amassing 127 runs off 122 balls, which ultimately propelled South Africa to victory.
Marco Jansen commented on the match conditions, noting, "These were good conditions from a batting point of view, and the boys worked very hard." His acknowledgment reflects the effort put forth by the South African team to capitalize on the favorable pitch and secure their place in the tournament.
