NEW DELHI: South Africa clinched a dominant victory over England by seven wickets at the National Stadium on Saturday, topping Group B in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen both scored fifties, sharing a 127-run partnership off 122 balls.
With this win, South Africa now await the semifinal draw to determine whether they will face India or New Zealand, while England suffered a disappointing exit from the tournament with three consecutive losses—Jos Buttler’s final game as captain ending in a crushing defeat.
Earlier, pace all-rounders Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen each claimed three wickets, bowling England out for a meager 179 in 38.2 overs. Van der Dussen anchored the chase with a composed 72 not out off 87 balls, featuring six fours and three sixes.
Klaasen contributed a swift 64 off 56 balls, including 11 boundaries, playing a crucial role as South Africa completed their chase in 29.1 overs.
In their 180-run chase, South Africa started with a hectic 10-ball opening over in which Jofra Archer conceded five wides.
Archer found success in the third over when Tristan Stubbs inside-edged his stumps for a five-ball duck, and Ryan Rickleton contributed 27 off 25 balls with five boundaries before falling to a well-disguised nip-backer from Archer.
Amidst the action, van der Dussen struck two boundaries with solid punches, while Klaasen hit five boundaries in seven overs—including three off Jamie Overton.
The duo rotated the strike effectively; van der Dussen later pulled and drove off Overton for two fours and punched Archer twice to reach his fifty in just 41 balls.
Klaasen continued his onslaught in the 23rd over, pulling, punching, and flicking Archer for three fours to score 14 runs.
Simultaneously, van der Dussen smacked and pulled Adil Rashid for six and four respectively, achieving his fifty in 72 balls. Shifting gears, van der Dussen then dispatched a juicy full toss from Liam Livingstone over wide long-on for six before hammering Rashid for another maximum.
After overtaking Klaasen in the chase, he added a four off Livingstone, while Klaasen sliced a delivery to backward point off Rashid. David Miller sealed the victory by finishing off the chase with a six over the ground, sparking jubilation in the Proteas camp.