South Africa primed to add to England’s misery

Preview: England vs South Africa: A Crucial Clash for Semifinal Spots

• Overview
  • The ICC event has reached a pivotal point, with South Africa’s fate hanging in the balance. If Australia beats Afghanistan, South Africa and Australia are in the semifinals, and the match between South Africa and England becomes irrelevant. However, if Afghanistan beats Australia, South Africa still advances unless they lose drastically to England, which could affect their net run rate. If rain halts play in Lahore on Friday, the scenario would mirror the second situation.
• England’s Disappointment
  • England’s elimination from the tournament was confirmed after losses to both Australia and Afghanistan, despite having a team brimming with top-tier white-ball players.
  • In response, England captain Jos Buttler announced that Saturday’s match would be his last as England’s white-ball captain.
• South Africa’s Clinical Performance
  • South Africa delivered a dominant performance against Afghanistan in Karachi, with Ryan Rickelton’s 103 and half-centuries from Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram setting a formidable total of 315/6.
  • Kagiso Rabada’s 3/36 helped bowl Afghanistan out for 208 in 43.3 overs, securing a clinical victory for South Africa.
  • Despite the strong performance, South African fans remain cautious, given their team’s history of falling short in ICC tournaments. South Africa’s fate hinges on their match against Australia, which was washed out, leaving them to await their next clash against either Australia or India.
• India’s Advantage
  • India’s extended stay in Dubai has sparked some controversy. Other teams have been scattered around, while India’s base has remained in the same venue throughout.
  • Some South African players, including Aaqib Javed and Rassie van der Dussen, have commented on this as a potential advantage for India. However, South Africa’s Rob Walter chose not to dwell on it, focusing instead on his team’s next challenge against England.
• Upcoming Match Details
  • When: March 1, 2025, at 14:00 Local, 11:00 SAT, 14:30 IST
  • Where: National Stadium, Karachi
  • Weather: Hot and dry with a flat pitch, though not as flat as Lahore.
• Team News
  • England: Mark Wood is doubtful due to a knee injury, with Saqib Mahmood likely to replace him. This will also be Jos Buttler’s last match as England’s captain.
    • Probable XI: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (captain), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood.
  • South Africa: Heinrich Klaasen, who has been sidelined due to an elbow injury, is now available for selection. Tony de Zorzi may make way for Klaasen.
    • Probable XI: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
• Did You Know?
  • Only two of the six totals over 300 in the tournament have been scored in Karachi.
  • The top three highest totals have been made in Lahore.
  • Three of the tournament’s 11 centuries have been scored in Karachi.
• What They Said
  • Jos Buttler: “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.”
  • Rob Walter on Heinrich Klaasen: “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. The important piece of the puzzle is freeing him up to play the best version of his game.”