🏏ICC Champions Trophy 2025: South Africa vs England, 11th M, Gr B🏏 - Page 3

We are shaping towards the business end of Champions Trophy, 2025. Three semi-finalists in India, New Zealand and Australia have already been confirmed. South Africa in all likelihood are also through to the semis barring they suffer a defeat by a freak margin against England today. The weather looks bright and clear in Karachi for today and that sets us up for an exciting day of cricket. The Proteas were clincial in their first group game against Afghanistan. They scored in excess of 300 and their bowlers stood up in unison to bowl Afghanistan out for 208. Their last game against Australia was washed out due to rain. Today presents an opportunity to South Africa to continue their good run and enter the knockout stage brimming with confidence. A win today will enable the Proteas to finish as table-toppers in Group B.

England have been found wanting in the tournament and already stand eliminated. With Buttler stepping down from England white-ball captaincy, things look gloomy for them. Today will mark Buttler’s last game as England captain. Their lack of discipline in bowling is the major issue that led to their losses – first against Australia and then against Afghanistan. They scored a mammoth 351 against Australia. But, the Aussies aced the run-chase to perfection, recording the highest successful run-chase in Champions Trophy history with consummate ease. Against Afghanistan, the Englishmen were bossing the game initially with their seamers flourishing but come the middle overs and the death overs, their bowlers lost the plot. They came close in the run-chase but the Afghanis held their nerves when it mattered the most.

South Africa will be pleased with the form of their batters. Rickelton struck a century while Bavuma, van der Dussen and Markram scored fifties against Afghanistan. Klaasen is also available for selection after having recovered from a minor elbow injury and that will further bolster their middle-order. Probably, de Zorzi will make way for him. As far as the English camp is concerned, Mark Wood suffered a left knee injury in their last game and might make way for Saqib Mahmood. Two games have been played at Karachi so far and both were comprehensively won by the team batting first after they posted scores above 300. The captain winning the toss will certainly prefer batting first.

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Format for predictions

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-Winning Team -- 5 points --

-Man of the Match -- 15 points --

-Hit the most 4s-- 10 Points --

-Hit the most 6s -10 points --

-Taking the majority of wickets --10 points --

-Making the most runs --- 10 points --

Can South Africa extend England's woes and confirm top spot in the group? THat's the question Firdose Moonda pondered in her preview. The power-packed Proteas came into this tournament on a run of ODI form as dismal as England's - and they have only won one game in Pakistan, with the Rawalpindi rains denying them a crack at Australia - but with most of their big names back, they look a strong prospect once again

"Although England is not the contender for CT semifinal but they should play with their full zeal and commitment," suggests Shakil Ahmad. "Buttler will also want to finish the tournament on a high note as this is his last ODI as captain."

There is no prediction of rain in Karachi. England have to play the match and win if they don't want to leave the tournament with a zero.

https://x.com/weRcricket/status/1895745827945230444

4 5 6 words

Danyal Rasool has been in touch from Karachi's National Stadium: "Really hot and sunny day. Teams are here but stands completely empty. Wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't change much." Sounds like it could be a low-key end to Buttler's captaincy - perhaps even his ODI career. He has indicated he will play on, but England clearly need a complete overhaul in the 50-over format and he would be 37 by the time the 2027 World Cup comes around. Perhaps it is time to move on, even from an all-time great (and not in the T20 format). As Andrew Miller writes, England's standards may simply have sunk along with their skipper

Thanks for the tag and thread, Madz.❤️

I thought it was India vs NZ today

Pitch Report: It's pretty warm out here, the good news is that there is no chance of rain today. Talking about the dimensions, 62m to my left and 67m to my right and 79m down the ground. It's the quickest outfield in the tournament so there's value for shots. A lot of cracks, looks very Australian in nature, it's not going to hurt the batters much. After dark, it turns more for the spinners. South Africa have already played here against Afghanistan so that gives them an advantage. It looks like a very good surface for batting, reckon Shaun Pollock and Ramiz Raja.