KARACHI: South Africa qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy on Saturday with a convincing seven wicket win over a hapless England in a Group B match in Karachi.
Wiaan Mulder (3-25) and Marco Jansen (3-39) bowled out England for a paltry 179 in 38.2 overs before South Africa chased down the target for the loss of three wickets in 29.1 overs.
The victory means South Africa, who topped Group B with five points, a point more than Australia, join the Aussies in the semi-finals while India and New Zealand -- who meet in Dubai on Sunday -- are in the last four from Group A.
As for England, they have endured a wretched tournament, with this their third loss coming after defeats to Australia and then to Afghanistan which ended their interest in the tournament with a game to spare.
The India-New Zealand clash will determine the semi-final line-ups, the first in Dubai on March 4 while the second is in Lahore a day later.
India, whose government refused to send its national team to Pakistan over political tensions, will play their semi-final in Dubai irrespective of where they finish in the Group.
If India qualify for the final it will be played in Dubai on March 9. If not, Lahore will stage the final.
Stand-in skipper Aiden Markram praised Jansen.
"He's (Jansen) been huge for us," said Markram of the left-armer. "We all know in the powerplay, especially in conditions like this, you need to be taking wickets up front. He's been peaking at the right time for us."
Outgoing England skipper Jos Buttler rued another poor show.
"A really disappointing performance," said Buttler. "We're not going on and making those big, telling contributions which has been a story of this side for some time now with the bat."
Fast bowler Jofra Archer dismissed Tristan Stubbs (nought) and Ryan Rickelton (27) with the score on 47 but Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen kept South Africa on track with a 127-run stand for the third wicket.
Klaasen, who scored a 56-ball 64 with 11 boundaries, fell to spinner Adil Rashid with just five needed for victory which David Miller completed with a six.
Dussen hit three sixes and six boundaries in his unbeaten 87-ball 72.
Archer had figures of 2-55 while Rashid took 1-37.
Earlier, Mulder and Jansen destroyed the top-order after England won the toss and batted.
Spinner Keshav Maharaj had figures of 2-35 as England's batting chart presented a sorry picture with Joe Root the highest scorer with 37.
The fact that England were already out with two defeats in as many games and Buttler having stepped down after this match left them dispirited.
Jansen removed opener Phil Salt (eight), Jamie Smith (nought) and Ben Duckett (24) in an incisive first spell of five overs.
He then took a brilliant diving catch at long-on off Maharaj to send Harry Brook back for 19, ending a 62-run fourth-wicket stand with Root.
Just four runs later, England suffered a massive blow when Root was bowled by Mulder and the problems worsened with Liam Livingstone dismissed by Maharaj for nine.
Root's 44-ball knock had one six and four boundaries.
Buttler (21) and Archer (25) added 42 runs for the eighth wicket but once Archer was dismissed by Mulder the last two wickets fell with the addition of just eight runs.
South Africa had to leave out regular skipper Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi who were both unwell while Markram was also forced to leave the field with a hamstring problem.
South Africa upstage hapless England to reach Champions Trophy semis
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South Africa upstage hapless England to reach Champions Trophy semis
- England were bowled out for a paltry 179 in 38.2 overs, with South Africa winning by seven wickets
- Sunday’s India-New Zealand clash will determine the line-up for the semi-finals in Dubai and Lahore
Al-Ahli survive first-half scare on way to win that moves them joint-top of Saudi Pro League
- Bottom-of-the-table Al-Najma shock their hosts with 1-0 half-time lead but hat-trick from Ivan Toney helps them recover and claim an important 4-1 victory
- In an entertaining Eastern Province derby, Al-Ettifaq raced into a 3-0 lead inside 36 minutes and survived a spirited Al-Fateh comeback attempt to eventually triumph 4-3
DAMMAM: Matchday 22 in the Saudi Pro League began with what was, eventually, a comfortable victory for Al-Ahli over relegation-battling Al-Najma at home.
However, the hosts endured a tough first 45, during which they fell 1-0 behind and missed a penalty, before scoring four in the second half against visitors who were reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute.
Al-Najma arrived in Jeddah with some confidence, fresh from their first-ever victory in the Pro League after a 2-1 home win against Al-Kholood on Saturday. And despite facing an in-form Al-Ahli, they controlled the tempo early on, forcing their hosts to play on the back foot for much of the opening half hour.
The architect of Al-Najma’s bright start was head coach Nestor El-Maestro, who returned to the Saudi Pro League this month five years after a spell with Al-Taawoun. After guiding his new club to their first win in 21 matches, a result against Al-Ahli would have provided the perfect spark to ignite their survival bid.
In 2022, during his time at relegation-battling Goztepe in the Turkish Super Lig, El-Maestro said: “Life is too short to spend defending in a low block.” That philosophy certainly defined the bold approach adopted by Al-Najma against the reigning Asian Champions League Elite and Saudi Super Cup holders.
Initially, the strategy paid off. David Tijanic beat two Al-Ahli defenders with a deft move on the left flank in the 27th minute before releasing Lazaro, who guided the ball past Edouard Mendy to hand the visitors an unexpected lead.
As Al-Ahli immediately pushed for an equalizer, Ivan Toney appeared to be brought down in the box in the 29th minute, only for the referee to wave away the penalty appeals. Moments later, however, a handball inside Al-Najma’s area led to a lengthy review by the video assistant referee and, eventually, a spot-kick for the hosts.
However Toney, seeking his 21st goal of the campaign, and with a perfect record from the spot for Al-Ahli, watched as his penalty was saved by Victor Braga. Toney pounced on the rebound but the keeper recovered to claim the ball and preserve the lead.
Braga continued to frustrate the hosts with several key saves before clattering into an opponent on the verge of half-time. The referee initially awarded a second penalty to Al-Ahli, but a VAR review overturned the decision and Al-Najma went into the break still in front.
Al-Ahli knew victory was essential at this pivotal point of the season, with city rivals Al-Ittihad facing Al-Hilal in a clash on Saturday that could have a large bearing on the ultimate outcome of the title race.
And their response after the interval was swift, with Riyad Mahrez delivering a dipping cross that was met by Valentin Atangana, who headed the equalizer in the 48th minute.
Atangana was fouled 10 minutes later when Felippe Cardoso pushed him in the face. The Brazilian striker had already been booked and the referee gave him his marching orders.
With the numerical advantage, Al-Ahli asserted their control over the game. This paid off in the 69th minute when Roger Ibanez picked out Mahrez with a measured. long pass over the top. The Algerian cushioned a first-time lay-off into the path of Toney, and the English striker finished the move in clinical style.
Toney added his second of the evening, and 22nd of the season, in the 87th minute, when he met a Matheus Goncalves cross at the far post with a first-time finish. The Englishman completed his hat-trick in the fourth minute of stoppage time after Al-Najma conceded their second penalty of the night.
The win moved Al-Ahli level with Al-Hilal, at least for now, at the top of the league on 53 points. Meanwhile, El-Maestro’s task at Al-Najma grows more difficult, as Al-Riyadh’s 2-0 victory over Al-Kholood in Qassim leaves his side eight points adrift of safety.
Elsewhere, the Eastern Province derby between Al-Ettifaq and Al-Fateh produced one of the season’s most entertaining encounters. Home side Al-Ettifaq raced into a 3-0 lead inside 36 minutes, with goals from Khalid Al-Ghannam and Georginio Wijnaldum, plus an own goal, putting them firmly in control.
North African duo Mourad Batna and Sofiane Bendebka dragged Al-Fateh back into the contest with goals at the start and end of stoppage time in the first half.
Madallah Al-Olayan restored a two-goal cushion for Al-Ettifaq in 48th minute, but Batna struck again in the 71st minute to set up a tense finale. However, Al-Ettifaq held on for a 4-3 victory in Dammam.
On Friday, Al-Okhdood host Al-Qadsiah, Al-Taawoun face visiting Al-Fayha, and Al-Shabab travel to Khamis Mushait to face Damac. All games will kick off at 10 p.m. thanks to the league’s unified Ramadan schedule.
