### South Africa beat England by seven wickets: Champions Trophy cricket – as it happened

**Ali Martin’s** report has landed from Karachi.

As you’d expect, it makes for grim reading and focuses on England. Make no mistake though, they were made to look ordinary by a very polished South African outfit that ticks just about every box. If they Proteas play like this in the knockouts they’ll be a handful. That is if they can avoid doing what they always do in ICC tournaments.

Time for a restart as far as England’s white ball teams are concerned. They’ll need a captain, a new opening pair, a new plan for the middle overs and some new ideas across the squad.

Thanks for keeping me company. Til next time…

**Matt Roller from ESPNCricinfo has perhaps stumbled onto the reason for England’s woes:**

> _Baffling to me just how little 50-over cricket England Lions have played since the downgrading of the One-Day Cup: no matches at all since February 2023. Should be a huge opportunity for player development_
> 
> _Then again, I’d rather sit here dreaming about what might have been than living in the pain of what isn’t._

*That’s how Andrew Benton kicks off his punchy email:*

> _However much cap’n and coach are to blame for the lack of performance, the individual players must look to themselves too. Stupid shots that are played without thinking properly have abounded, and no player who does these should be in the team. Some ‘reflective practice’ followed by a bit of arse kicking might be in order throughout. And no excuses._

Agreed. More than just the two men at the top that need to shoulder the blame.

*11th over: South Africa 59-2 (van der Dussen 27, Klaasen 6) *
*Archer remonstrates as he takes issue with another wide call down the leg side. That was tighter, but it was down the leg. That’s his seventh wide in six overs. Otherwise he’s tidy, bowling six dot balls to van der Dussen who is watchful to deliveries that rise sharply.*

**Self-reflection needed!**

*That’s how Peter Salmon:*

> _Given the relentless moralising and boost of the McCullum era, this Alice in Wonderland moment captures most press conferences where we get told how great England is._
> 
> _“When I use a word,” Baz said in rather a scornful tone, “_it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less_.”_

Dan Norcross on the BBC’s TMS podcast said that the English public were being “gaslighted” by this team. Wonder if that’s how others feel?

*13th over: South Africa 52-2 (van der Dussen 12, Klaasen 5) *
*Klaasen is in at four. This should be fun. His second ball is there to hit and he obliges with a cracking drive through the covers for four. Archer won’t mind. The full length is what brought him success with the wicket of Rickelton after getting cut for four the ball before.*

**Replays show that kept a little low.**
*I still don’t think the shot was on, or at least I don’t think Rickelton needed to go so hard at it.*

*16th over: South Africa 55-2 (van der Dussen 22, Klaasen 7) *
*The powerplay is done. England had lost three wickets by this stage. The sun is setting in Karachi and on England’s Champions Trophy. Another boundary off that over as Mahmood strays onto van der Dussen’s pads and is tickled fine for four.*

**Touched by the Alice in Wonderland chat, by the way, so keep it coming!**

*John Starbuck has suggested the perfect role for my son in his play:*

> _“One of the plum parts in Alice in Wonderland is a huge contrast with England’s fortunes: the Dodo gets to say ‘Everyone has won and all shall have prizes’.”_

I was hoping for the Chesire Cat to be honest, but maybe this is the one.

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