Champions Trophy

2009 Champions Trophy Grp B: England bt South Africa

Graeme Smith’s career-best effort in One-Day Internationals wasn’t enough to prevent South Africa crashing to a 22-run defeat to England and exiting the ICC Champions Trophy at Centurion.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Andrew Strauss (25) and Joe Denly (21) made a bright start before England’s innings took off with half-centuries from Owais Shah, Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan propelling them to the ninth-highest ODi score in their history and it was the first time that they passed 300 since February 2008.

After Denly scooped Jacques Kallis to JP Duminy at square leg and Mark Boucher pouched a superb catch to dismiss Strauss, Shah and Collingwood put on 163 for the second wicket. Shah, who smashed 98 in 88 balls and Collingwood, who made 82 in 84, peppered the leg-side boundary with some clean-hitting, Shah hitting five fours and six sixes. Eoin Morgan then provided the innings with a final flourish. He raced to 67 in just 34 balls with four fours and five sixes.

In reply, three of South Africa’s top order batsmen fell to cross-batted shots on the onside, Herschelle Gibbs (22), Jacques Kallis (12) and AB de Villiers (36) failing to go on having made starts. Gibbs was caught at mid-on by Luke Wright while Kallis and de Villiers both picked out Denly in the deep to leave South Africa at 142 for three with Smith still going strong.

He picked off 16 fours in his 134-ball stay at the crease, struggling with cramp later on his innings and unhappy when Strauss refused to allow him a runner. Some late-order defiance from Wayne Parnell (10 not out) and Dale Steyn (17 not out) ensured that South Africa at least lasted their 50 overs, Broad finishing with three for 67 and Anderson three for 42.

The result means that England qualify for the semi-finals and they will qualify alongside either Sri Lanka, or New Zealand, who they play on Tuesday 29th September.

Tags: 2009 Champions Trophy, england, South Africa