South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen scored an undefeated half-century to lead his team to victory over England.
Image: Asif Hassan / AFP
The Proteas can pack their bags for a third consecutive major ICC tournament semi-final after their comprehensive victory over a listless England in their Champions Trophy clash in Karachi on Saturday.
Half-centuries from Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen ensured the Proteas topped Pool B with five points while Australia finished in second place with four points.
Both teams will, however, travel to Dubai for the outcome of the India and New Zealand clash on Sunday with one of South Africa and Australia remaining in the UAE to face India, while the other will travel back to Pakistan for a semi-final clash against the Black Caps.
Van der Dussen (72 not out) and Klaasen (64) shared a match-winning 127-run partnership off 122 balls for the third wicket to help the Proteas cruise past England’s below-par 179 all out in just 38.2 overs with seven wickets to spare.
Klaasen was out shortly before the target was reached, but it did not matter as David Miller finished off the match in style with a maximum.
The Proteas were without both captain Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi, who were ruled out through illness. Stand-in skipper Aiden Markam also left the field during England’s innings with discomfort in his right hamstring forcing Klaasen to take over the leadership duties.
Proteas coach Rob Walter will hope all the trio overcome these niggling injuries and illness before next week’s semi-final.
England, meanwhile, who were already eliminated ahead of the encounter, seemed to have checked out of Pakistan already with the former double white-ball world champions producing an underwhelming effort with the bat and in the field.
Jos Buttler, in his last match as England captain, elected to take first strike but his team were soon under pressure with Proteas left-arm seamer Marco Jansen (3/39) picking up three wickets in the Powerplay.
England never recovered from the initial setback with fellow allrounder Wiaan Mulder (3/25) providing solid support also with a three-wicket haul.
Mulder would have been relieved to especially pick up the big wicket of the in-from Joe Root (37) after dropping the England star off Kagiso Rabada’s very first ball of his spell.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer (25) produced a cameo at the tailend of the innings, but it was certainly not enough for a competitive total.