England’s quest to win a maiden one-day trophy remained on course on Wednesday as they reached the Champions Trophy final with a seven-wicket win over South Africa at the Oval, with Jonathan Trott starring with 82 not out in the chase.
After crumbling to 80 for eight, only a valiant stand between David Miller (56no) and Rory Kleinveldt (43) ensured the South Africans had something vaguely decent to defend, making 175 all out. England then reached that score with 75 balls to spare.
England won the toss and chose to bowl first, looking to use the muggy, cloudy conditions to their advantage as the ball showed some swing. This move paid off immediately, as openers Colin Ingram and Hashim Amla were out for nil and one respectively.
James Anderson and Steve Finn removed the openers, leaving Faf du Plessis and pinch hitter Robin Peterson to rescue the knock. They did well to put on 41 together, before Peterson fell for 30 in the 11th over.
Proteas skipper AB de Villiers lasted only nine balls before departing for a duck, caught behind by Jos Buttler off Stuart Broad. This was one of the wicketkeeper’s six catches in the match, and he was only the seventh player to do so in ODIs.
JP Duminy could only make three runs before being removed by James Tredwell, who was superb in his role as Graeme Swann’s replacement. He also accounted for Chris Morris and Du Plessis, and thus earned the Man of the Match award.
Miller and Kleinveldt put on South Africa’s best ninth wicket partnership in ODIs, making 95 together to save their side the ignominy of being dismissed in double figures. Miller was especially fluid, hitting his runs in 51 balls, including two sixes.
Broad wrapped up the tail in the 39th over, removing Kleinveldt and then Lonwabo Tsotsobe with the next ball.
England’s chase started off with a slight wobble as skipper Alastair Cook was out for just six, caught behind off Morris. Ian Bell was soon back in the hut too, having made 20 before falling to Kleinveldt.
This left Trott and the superb Joe Root to continue the march, and they did so in a typically steady and unflashy manner. Trott, deceptive in terms of strike rate, made his 82 not out off just 84 balls, while Root made 48.
The younger batsman was annoyed with himself for failing to finish the game, kicking the pitch as he departed with just 30 runs required. He had struck seven boundaries before being bowled around his legs by Duminy.
Trott and Eoin Morgan, who made 15, wrapped up the match without fanfare, and will meet either India or Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday.
