KARACHI — Jos Buttler lost his final game as England white-ball captain by seven wickets as South Africa chased down a target of 180 in just 29.1 overs to seal their place in the Champions Trophy semi-finals.
Buttler, who announced his decision to stand down on the eve of this match following his side’s early exit from the tournament, was hoping to end his two-and-a-half-year tenure with a flourish after defeats in the opening two games to Australia and Afghanistan.
Instead, it was more of the same, England crashing to a seventh successive ODI loss and 10th in 11 white-ball games this winter under new coach Brendon McCullum.
England were hustled out for 179 in 38.2 overs, with Joe Root top-scoring with 37, and looked every bit a team already in the departure lounge as they collapsed from 62 for three after 10 overs to 129 for seven in the 26th over.
Despite two early wickets from Jofra Archer, they never had enough runs and South Africa, powered by half-centuries from Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen, cantered to victory with 125 balls to spare.
Ben Duckett 8
227 runs @75.66
Superb 165 in a losing cause in first game. Didn’t hit those heights again but at least looked like he knew what he was doing.
Phil Salt 1
30 runs @10
Capped a miserable tournament with another failure in final game against South Africa. Faced just 25 balls. Place in danger.
Jamie Smith -1
24 runs @8
See above and repeat, but Smith faced 29 balls. The experiment at No 3 went about as poorly as it could. Did not take a catch as keeper.
Joe Root 8
225 runs @75
Batted in unfamiliar No 4 spot but showed his enduring class again, with his century against Afghanistan the highlight.
Harry Brook 2
47 runs @15.66
Captain in waiting has had a shocking white-ball winter, where in all he’s passed 31 once in 11 innings and averaged just 17.09.
Jos Buttler 2
82 runs @27.33
Captaincy poor here but stands down with pride intact. Another whose form this winter has just not been good enough.
Liam Livingstone 2
33 runs @11; 3 wickets @33
Huge disappointment in ODI cricket. Faced 40 balls this tournament. Flattering bowling figures. Time to move on.
Jamie Overton 2
1 wicket @106
Another right-arm quick in a one-dimensional bowling attack who failed to deliver.
Jofra Archer 6
6 wickets @33.5
Showed glimpses of his best but failed to consistently produce with the ball. Outscored Salt, Smith, Brook and Livingstone with the bat.
Adil Rashid 5
3 wickets @48
The leg-spinner is a national treasure but he’s had a disappointing tournament by his usual lofty standards despite not bowling that badly.
Saqib Mahmood 3
0 wickets
Given a chance in the final match against South Africa. Didn’t really take it. But he was only tried when it was too late.
Mark Wood 4
1 wicket @125
Bowling at the speed of light with little reward and then pulled up with knee issue in second game v Afghanistan. Save him for Tests.
Brydon Carse 4
1 wicket @69
Ruled out of tournament with toe issue after playing opening game against Australia. Struggled in that, probably because of the injury.
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