Karachi, Feb 28 (UNI) South Africa will look to solidify their position at the top of Group B when they take on an eliminated England side in their final group-stage clash of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy at the National Stadium here Saturday.
South Africa, having registered a commanding 107-run victory over Afghanistan, were unfortunate to see their second match against Australia abandoned due to rain. Despite this, their strong net run rate makes a semifinal berth almost certain. Meanwhile, England have endured a disappointing campaign, suffering defeats to Australia by five wickets and Afghanistan by eight runs, thereby crashing out of the tournament.
Having already played twice in Karachi, South Africa have demonstrated their batting strength, posting totals of 352 and 315 runs at what has proven to be a high-scoring venue. A win will not only confirm their place in the semifinals but also help them avoid a possible clash with India in the knockout stage.
England’s batting lineup has shown resilience, managing scores of over 300 runs in both their games. However, their bowling attack has struggled to take wickets at crucial moments, a key factor in their elimination. Their unexpected loss to Afghanistan has left them with only pride to play for in their final match of the tournament.
South Africa may opt to rest key players with a semifinal spot nearly assured. Wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen could return from an elbow injury. England, with no qualification hopes, are likely to rotate their squad and give opportunities to fringe players such as Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Saqib Mahmood, and Rehan Ahmed.
South Africa’s strong bowling attack and consistent batting make them the favourites going into this encounter, while England’s bowling woes suggest a turnaround is unlikely. Kagiso Rabada, in fine form with eight wickets in his last three ODIs at an economy below 5.00, is expected to be a key performer and is tipped to take wickets.
England’s Joe Root remains their most reliable batsman, having scored 50 or more runs in four of his last seven ODIs, with an average of 45.33 against South Africa. He is expected to contribute significantly with the bat.
The conditions in Karachi are expected to favour batting, making another high-scoring encounter likely. South Africa will aim to maintain their unbeaten record in the tournament as they look ahead to the knockout stage.
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