After being manhandled by Afghanistan on Wednesday, an English exit from the ICC Champions Trophy is certain.
But before they leave, the Proteas may just want to dominate their age-old rivals to better their position ahead of the semi-finals in Saturday’s clash in Karachi (11am SA time start).
Regardless of their loss, England in a big tournament can’t be underestimated, but the Proteas have been on a wave of momentum since their win against Afghanistan.
The wash-out against Australia, earning them both a point each, could have been both frustrating or a sigh of relief, given the Aussies’ ability to show up at big tournaments and the South Africans’ uncanny ability to flunk out.
Captain Temba Bavuma indicated that it was frustrating not putting themselves to the test against the defending and two-time champions on Tuesday in Rawalpindi, due to heavy rain.
“We’d have obviously loved to get a game of cricket, so yeah, it is frustrating,” Bavuma said, adding that a win against the Aussies would have surely boosted their confidence going further.
The Proteas must now look ahead to Saturday, when they take on a despondent English side that have been pushed around Group B.
Coach Brendon McCullum will have to rally his troops if they are to put up a fight against an in-form Proteas and exit with their heads held high.
The introduction of Heinrich Klaasen back into the side suggests that the Proteas are strengthening their batting line-up, despite the current one showing that they are a force to be reckoned with.
Klaasen was recently deemed fit for selection after recovering from an elbow injury, which caused him to sit out the game against Afghanistan last week.
Klaasen brings added bite to an already booming Proteas batting roster that have put up quality performances in the tournament. SA have only batted against Afghanistan so far, but still showed prowess and consistency throughout the order.
Ryan Rickelton opened the batting and scored 103 from 106 deliveries, followed by half-centuries by Bavuma, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen.
The bowling unit looked tight and clinical as well, with Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder putting up good numbers.
The Proteas still have 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka on the bench, should they need to summon more pace against England, as well as Tabraiz Shamsi for an added spin option to join Keshav Maharaj.
England’s openers struggled to get going against Afghanistan last night, as Phil Salt and Jaimie Smith fell for 12 and nine respectively. Ben Duckett was the only real contributor from the top three, with his knock of 38 from 45.
Had it not been for Joe Root’s composed 120 from 111, with 11 fours and a six, who knows how fast Afghanistan would have wrapped them up.
Captain Jos Butler also put up 38 runs for his team, while the rest of the middle and lower order didn’t really get going.
As a bowling unit, Jofra Archer looked to be the only real threat to Afghanistan, claiming 3/64 from his 10 overs. The supposed world’s fastest bowler, Mark Wood, struggled to break through any defence and failed to take a wicket.
Liam Livingstone also produced decent figures of 2/28 from five overs. The English could not break through Ibrahim Zadran’s defence and by the time they did, it was already too late.
Zadran had broken the world record for the highest score in an ICC Champions Trophy game with his 177 from 146 balls.
If anything, England will need to pull two rabbits out of the same hat if they want to beat the Proteas on Saturday.
South Africa will also be looking to deliver a lethal blow that could perch them up far enough atop Group B. But that may not work out in their favour, as India currently sit second in Group A, behind New Zealand.
If the Proteas finish the group stage on top, and New Zealand stay on top of their group, the green and gold will have a brutal test of playing India in a semi-final in Dubai. Both India and New Zealand are unbeaten so far, and play each other on Sunday in what promises to be a clash of the titans.
If India beat the Kiwis, then the Proteas could be squaring off against them in the semi-finals, while India play Australia.
