🏏ICC Champions Trophy 2025: South Africa vs England, 11th M, Gr B🏏

🏏ICC Champions Trophy 2025: South Africa vs England, 11th M, Gr B🏏

South Africa will look to secure a semifinal berth in the Champions Trophy when they take on an already eliminated England on Saturday.

While India and New Zealand have comfortably progressed from Group A, Group B remains tightly contested. Australia advanced after a rain washout against Afghanistan, leaving the Proteas (3 points, 2.140 NRR) in a strong position to qualify, even in defeat.

Verily, uncertainty is the spice of sport.

What we do know for sure is that England are out of the running because they lost to the Aussies on Saturday and to Afghanistan on Wednesday, both in Lahore. And that despite Jos Buttler's team bristling with some of the finest white-ball players in the game.

Of course, this has prompted much hand wringing and something-must-be-doneism, and nobody does hand wringing and something-must-be-doneism as earnestly as the English. Something has already been done: Buttler announced at his press conference on Friday that Saturday's match would be his last as England's white-ball captain.

But enough about them. South Africa delivered a seamless performance to beat the Afghans in Karachi last Friday, when Ryan Rickelton's 103 and half-centuries by Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram powered them to 315/6.

Then Kagiso Rabada took 3/36, the best Karachi figures yet in the tournament, to help dismiss Afghanistan for 208 in 43.3 overs. It was, to use that cold, crude term, clinical.

As dominant as South Africa were, their cricketminded compatriots weren't about to wonder out loud about their team's chances of winning the trophy - which they haven't done in any ICC event since 1998 - on the strength of success alone. They've been shot in this movie too many times before to do that.

Instead, they waited for the game with Australia in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. That would tell them whether Temba Bavuma's team had what it would take to go where no South Africa side has for almost 27 years.

Australia are always South Africa's gauge for guesstimating their strengths and weaknesses. Beat them and the dream is alive. Lose and it dies. It's simplistic, but it is what it is. Except that Tuesday's match was washed out. So the answer to the question still hangs in the air. And will do until the South Africans meet either the Aussies or India.

India have drawn an unwelcome spotlight for being allowed to base themselves in Dubai, for security and political reasons, for as long as they are in the competition. The other seven teams are not as privileged and have been scattering hither and thither. Pat Cummins, Aaqib Javed and Rassie van der Dussen have remarked on the advantages that gives the Indians. Rob Walter wasn't about to join that club when he was asked his view during a press conference on Friday.

Walter's answer started with a query of his own: "Is that a serious question? If we spend our energy worrying about a disadvantage we spend less energy thinking about ourselves and what we need to be doing. The scheduling is the scheduling.

"India have been in Dubai in the same venue, in the same place, and other teams haven't. Whether that turns out to be an advantage or not will remain to be seen.

"We have to concentrate on what we're doing. We have to concentrate on spending all our energy thinking about how we're going to get through our next step, which is England, and then wherever that takes us from there."

It's the correct approach. Concern yourself with yourself. Worry about India when, or if, you must.

What to expect: Hot and dry. And flat, although not as flat as Lahore.

Pitch Report

The surface here will be a balanced one with good help for both pacers and spinners. Both teams will prefer chasing at this venue.

Player to observe--

Ryan Rickelton SA | WK

Ryan Rickelton scored a pristine 103 runs in the opening match against Afghanistan. He has been in terrific form with the bat.

Ben Duckett ENG | WK

Ben Duckett scored 165 against Australia in his first game of CT2025 and will be a good captaincy pick for this match.

Team news:

England

Mark Wood is doubtful with a knee injury. If he doesn't make the grade, Saqib Mahmood looks set to replace him. Also, this is Buttler's last game as England's captain.

Probable XI: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (capt), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood

South Africa

Heinrich Klaasen has yet to play a match in the tournament because of an elbow injury. He is now available for selection. Tony de Zorzi could make way for him.

Probable XI: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Today's Match Prediction: South Africa to win the match

Scenario 1

• South Africa win the toss and opt to bat first
• Powerplay: 50-60
• SA: 300-310
• South Africa win the match

Scenario 2

• England win the toss and opt to bat first
• Powerplay: 55-65
• ENG: 290-300
• South Africa win the match

Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.

Did you know?

- Only two of the six totals of more than 300 in the tournament have been scored in Karachi.

- The other four, including the top three, have been made in Lahore.

- Three of the tournament's 11 centuries have been scored in Karachi.

What they said:

"I'm going to stand down as England captain. It's the right decision for me and the right decision for the team. I've reached the end of the road for me and my captaincy, which is a shame. I'm sad about that." - Jos Buttler, a thoroughly decent bloke, does the decent thing.

"He's got a skillset that is right up there with the world's best, and it's great to have him in your team because you know how destructive he can be. But that is based on the confidence of the people around him and the way they play. The important piece of the puzzle is freeing him up to play the best version of his game." - Rob Walter on Heinrich Klaasen, the detonator of South Africa's explosive middle-order.

Kagiso Rabada is the spearhead of the South African bowling lineup. He bagged three crucial wickets in the game against Afghanistan and looked in great rhythm. The right-arm speedster's spell will be crucial for the Rainbow Nation.

Aiden Markam looked in ominous touch in the game against Afghanistan. He came out to bat at No. 5 and smashed an unbeaten 52 off 36 balls with the help of six fours and one six. Markram can play the anchor's role and also accelarate when required. This makes him a key asset for the Proteas.

Temba Bavuma’s South Africa will take on Jos Buttler’s England in the penultimate game of the Champions Trophy league stage. With qualification and a semi-final spot on the line, an in-form Proteas side will hope to iron out the chinks against a shaken and wobbly England unit that has lost both of its previous group-stage games to Australia and Afghanistan. South Africa enter the contest after the one-point cushion they received from the washout against Australia, shortly after thrashing Afghanistan in the opener by 106 runs. With Heinrich Klaasen likely to return, South Africa will have momentum on their side against a depleted English bowling attack.