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Key occasions
1st over: England 9-1 (Duckett 0, Smith 0) Marco Jansen’s left-arm angle was a overseas language to poor Salt, who hadn’t even been capable of face it within the nets as England left all their lefties at dwelling. He managed a spank over cowl for 4 however performed and missed twice, nearly gave a catch within the ring with a shovel to leg, after which bought that high edge. One of many worst run-a-ball innings you’ll ever see.
WICKET! Salt c van der Dussen b Jansen 8 (England 9-1)
Oh expensive. As a high edge soars into the air and plops into the arms of midwicket, Phil Salt’s depressing match is full. And so, maybe, is his ODI profession.
The gamers are on the market and the pitch is a biscuit, albeit with a couple of cracks. Correction to the group sheet: South Africa’s keeper is Klaasen, not Rickelton.
And right here’s our man on the bottom. “Greetings from Karachi, Tim, the place the general public deal with system hype particular person has simply introduced the 2 groups to err just about no person,” says Ali Martin. “Did stroll previous Shahid Afridi within the media centre simply now. He seems very dapper in a pink go well with and aviators. It’s his birthday at the moment, apparently, 48 years younger. In different information, it seems Australia and (in all probability) South Africa will each fly from Pakistan to Dubai at the moment, with one among them then doing an Abe Simpson and heading straight again to Lahore, relying on the results of India versus New Zealand tomorrow. What a farce.”
It’s grim, the best way the ICC bosses pander to India. Volodymyr Zelenskyy they aren’t.
Groups: South Africa
Bavuma’s place goes to Tristan Stubbs, and Heinrich Klaasen is again to provide the center order an air of pleasant menace.
1 Ryan Rickelton (wkt), 2 Tristan Stubbs, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram (capt), 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi Ngidi.
Groups: England
Mark Wooden picked up yet one more damage on Wednesday, so England herald Saqib Mahmood, whose swing ought to add some much-needed selection. That’s the one change: Brendon McCullum isn’t a coach who believes in giving everyone a go.
England 1 Salt, 2 Duckett, 3 Smith (wkt), 4 Root, 5 Brook, 6 Buttler (capt), 7 Livingstone, 8 J Overton, 9 Archer, 10 Rashid, 11 Mahmood.
The opposite captain is … Aiden Markram
There’s sickness within the South African camp and Temba Bavuma is a kind of who’re stricken. Aiden Markram takes over, probably not on the energy of his oratory. On the toss, he’s a little bit terse, however well mannered. “Completely happy to chase,” he mutters, “in opposition to a powerful England group.”
Toss: a win for Jos!
Jos Buttler calls heads, and heads it’s. He decides to bat first. “Honoured to do it for one final time,” he says. “A little bit of unhappiness – it’s such an honour and it’s not panned out as I’d have appreciated it to. However, some good moments alongside the best way…” He can say that once more: he received a T20 World Cup. And even within the unhealthy occasions, he has led with dignity and decency.
Preamble
Properly, that is thrilling. South Africa have all however certified already, and England, after yesterday’s damp squib involving Australia and Afghanistan, can’t even climb off the underside of the group. If the coaches had a full set of reserves, they may be tempted to make 11 modifications.
Nonetheless, there’s at all times pleasure. And private achievement. And the arc of a profession. There are wickets to be taken, a whole bunch to be scored, nudges to be given. One aspect have semi-final locations to play for; the opposite have markers to put down for a rebuild. And Jos Buttler has one final outing as England’s white-ball captain. He could have had a torrid time currently, however he was ok to carry a World Cup.
The rubber could also be a useless one, however it is a contest between the second-fastest scorers within the 2025 Champions Trophy up to now and the third-fastest. And it’s not the South Africans who’re second.
Play begins at 9am GMT. See you about 8.35 with information of the toss and the groups.
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