The South African team has made a statement by securing the Champions Trophy with a convincing win against England in the semi-finals in 2025. At the National Stadium in Karachi, England was restricted to a mere 179 runs, which South Africa effortlessly chased down, losing just three wickets in 29.1 overs. The real highlight of the match, however, was the return of Heinrich Klaasen to the Africa team’s playing 11, where he delivered an impressive 64 runs in 56 balls, earning him a spot on a special list.
Klassen Joins Elite Group
Heinrich Klassen has been on a roll in the Limited Over Format, consistently performing well with the bat over the last year and proving to be a game-changer in the middle order for his team. During his 64-run innings against England, Klassen hit an impressive 11 fours. More notably, he became the third player from the South Africa team to achieve the feat of scoring 50 or more runs in five consecutive ODI innings. Before Klassen, this milestone was reached by Jonty Rhodes and Quinton de Kock, with de Kock achieving it twice.
Players Who Achieved Fifty Plus Runs in 5 Consecutive Innings for Africa in ODIs
– Jonty Rhodes (2000-01)
– Quinton de Kock (2017)
– Quinton de Kock (2019)
– Heinrich Klassen (2024-25)
Semi-Finals Lineup
With four teams decided for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025, the-stage is set for some thrilling matches. However, the opponents for the semi-finals will be determined by the outcome of the Group-A match between India and New Zealand. If India wins, South Africa will face New Zealand in the semi-finals; otherwise, they will play against India. In anticipation of this, the ICC has planned to send both Group B teams to Dubai, with either Australia or Africa returning to Lahore for another semi-final match. This setup promises an exciting conclusion to the tournament, with each team eager to claim the top spot.
