Wiaan Mulder shines as South Africa tops group

South Africa has secured the top spot in the group stage of the ICC Champions Trophy, defeating England and booking their place in the semi-finals alongside India, New Zealand, and Australia. The Proteas' strong performance restricted England to 179 runs, making it impossible for them to catch up, with Aiden Markram's injury forcing Heinrich Klaasen to take over as captain.

The match was marked by poor travel logistics, with teams facing a tight turnaround for the semi-finals. The scheduling decision has been made to allow the side playing the semi-final in Dubai to have maximum time to prepare, meaning one team will have to fly back immediately to play their semi-final in Lahore. England's Harry Brook and Joe Root were dismissed in quick succession, with Brook falling to a stumping by Klaasen and Root caught off a wobble seam delivery.

South Africa's Net Run Rate (NRR) of +2.140 surpassed that of Australia's +0.475, solidifying their position in the top four. The semi-finals will take place on February 4 and 5, with the fixtures to be determined after India and New Zealand's match on Sunday. South Africa's qualification marks the end of Afghanistan's journey in the competition, with the Proteas looking strong ahead of the semi-finals.

The victory is a significant boost for South Africa, who will be looking to carry their momentum into the semi-finals. With their strong performance, they have proven themselves to be a formidable opponent, and their fans will be eagerly awaiting their next match. The semi-finals are set to be exciting, with the top four teams competing for a place in the final.