March 2, 2025
What's the story:
South Africa's dominant bowling performance helped them defeat England by seven wickets in their final Champions Trophy group match in Karachi. England was bowled out for just 179, with Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder both taking three wickets. Notably, Jansen claimed all three wickets in the first 10 overs, making him only the fourth Proteas bowler to achieve this feat in the Champions Trophy.
Here are the South African bowlers who have taken 3-plus wickets in the first 10 overs in the Champions Trophy:
#1: Makhaya Ntini (5/8 in 5 overs vs Pakistan, Mohali, 2006)
In the 2006 Champions Trophy match against Pakistan in Mohali, Makhaya Ntini delivered his best ODI figures of 5/8. Defending 214, Ntini ripped through the top order, dismissing Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, and Mohammad Younis in his first 7.2 overs. He then removed Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal for ducks, helping South Africa bowl Pakistan out for just 89.
#2: Steve Elworthy (3/21 in 4 overs vs Sri Lanka, Dhaka, 1998)
In the 1998 Champions Trophy semifinal in Dhaka, Steve Elworthy helped South Africa bowl out Sri Lanka for 132while chasing a target of 224. Elworthy took 3/21 and dismissed openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana within the first six overs. He added Aravinda de Silva in the eighth over, with South Africa winning by 92 runs (D/L method).
#3: Charl Langeveldt (3/10 in 5 overs vs Bangladesh, Edgbaston, 2004)
In the 2004 Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh in Edgbaston, Charl Langeveldt delivered a sensational performance, taking 3/10 in 5 overs. He dismissed Javed Omer, Mohammad Ashraful, and Rajin Saleh (for a duck) in the first four overs. This helped South Africa bowl Bangladesh out for 93, and South Africa won by 9 wickets with 193 balls remaining.
#4: Marco Jansen (3/29 in 5 overs vs England, Karachi, 2025)
In the 2025 Champions Trophy match against England in Karachi, Marco Jansen took 3/29 in 5 overs, including key wickets of Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, and Jaime Smith for a duck, all within his first five overs. Jansen's spell reduced England to 3/37, and combined with Mulder's three-wicket haul, helped South Africa bowl England out for 179, securing a seven-wicket win for the Proteas.
These performances highlight South Africa’s strength with the ball in the early overs and their ability to take crucial wickets early in the Champions Trophy.