Having qualified for the semi-finals of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, Ongama Gcwabe looks back at South Africa's road to the semis, highlighting five standout performances that saw the side through.
Ryan Rickelton's maiden ODI century
Playing in his very first ICC event, replacing a player of the calibre of Quinton de Kock, Rickelton had a lot of pressure on his shoulders heading into the Champions Trophy. The 28-year-old responded well to the pressure, striking a maiden ODI century in their opening fixture in Karachi. That century helped South Africa to a 107-run victory over Afghanistan and placed them at the top of Group B.
Sensational, inspiring, and overall brilliant. What a moment for Ryan Rickelton. What an incredible century 🔥👏🏏🇿🇦.#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #ChampionsTrophy #AFGvSA pic.twitter.com/kuufI3fZCY
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) February 21, 2025
Marco Jansen's three-for
The seven-wicket victory over England in Karachi on Saturday might have looked easy, but in such fixtures where the semi-final spot was on the line, South Africa has played badly on numerous occasions in previous ICC events. This made Jansen's 3/39 against a batting unit that features Joe Root, Harry Brook and Jos Butler an even more exceptional return. The left-arm fast bowler would go on to take three catches in the match, securing a player of the match award in the process.
Marco Jansen's fiery start in the powerplay today, taking 3 wickets for 39 runs, earned him today's ICC ARAMCO Player of the Match Award 🔥🏏👏🇿🇦.#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #ChampionsTrophy #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/het842xtP6
Heinrich Klaasen's fifth consecutive half ton
Going into the tournament, Klaasen was perhaps the only batter with real form in One Day cricket having stood out at home against Pakistan during the festive season while the other batters failed as the Proteas suffered a series whitewash. Klaasen had smashed three fifties during that series and he would take that form into the Champions Trophy as the batter struck 56-ball 64 against England, his fifth consecutive half-ton in ODIs, to help South Africa top the group.
Heinrich Klaasen gets to his 5th 50 in a row in ODIs 🔥
— Werner (@Werries_) March 1, 2025
An absolute masterKlaas!! pic.twitter.com/k6dktyCBjI
Rassie van der Dussen's reliability
With so many youngsters breaking into the Proteas side recently. including Tristan Stubbs and Kwena Maphaka, the likes of Rassie van der Dussen often get forgotten about. However, the 36-year-old gave everybody a sweet reminder of his presence in the ODI side, striking a 52 against Afghanistan before closing the group stage with an unbeaten 72 against England. With the batter's consistency, South Africa finds themselves in yet another ICC semi-final.
An innings of patience and skill. Exactly what the doctor ordered following an early wicket in the PowerPlay 🏏🇿🇦👏.
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) March 1, 2025
Well played, RvD 🔥💪.#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #ChampionsTrophy #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/4l0SJ0d8b8
Kagiso Rabada's three-for
When playing against budding teams such as Afghanistan that have the talent to take down any big team, it is important to dominate proceedings and not give them an inch. That is precisely what Rabada executed when Afghanistan batter Ibrahim Zadran smashed him for six.
Rabada followed up that delivery with a 148 kmh thunderbolt to bowl Zadran out and set the game up for South Africa. The 29-year-old quick would go on to return 3/36 in 8.3 overs, a performance that certainly stood out on SA's road to the semi-finals.