South Africa Cruise to Semis, Leaving England in the Dust

South Africa's unity and purpose were on full display as they sent England packing from the Champions Trophy with a third defeat, their tails between their legs. The Proteas' dominance was emphasized by the repeated playing of Kurt Darren's Afrikaans pop hits, "Loslappie (Ek Wil Huistoe Gaan)" and "Kaptein Span die Seile", which resonated with the team's performance.

England, on the other hand, looked dispirited, disinterested, and discombobulated, lacking confidence and unable to withstand the pressure. Their dismal performance was a result of losing nine of their 10 white-ball games under Brendon McCullum, and the shock of Jos Buttler's resignation as captain.

South Africa, however, were the epitome of unity and purpose, taking in stride the absence of Temba Bavuma and the removal of Aiden Markram as captain due to injury. The team's new-ball pair, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, bowled untidily but took three wickets in the first 40 deliveries, while catches like Jansen's running take at deep midwicket and Ngidi's lurching left-hand grab at mid-on were taken.

Heinrich Klaasen's 56-ball 64 put him in a club with Quinton de Kock, Jonty Rhodes, and Kepler Wessels, while Rassie van der Dussen's 72 not out off 87 marked the fourth time in his 64 ODI innings that he had made at least a half-century in successive trips to the crease.

The partnership of 127 off 122 between van der Dussen and Klaasen sealed victory by seven wickets, 25 balls into the second half of their innings. South Africa's net runrate, which was 2.140 before the match, could not dip below Afghanistan's 0.990, confirming their semifinal spot. They will now wait to see who they will play in the semis: the losers of Sunday's game between India and New Zealand in Dubai.