England v South Africa: Cook growing in confidence after emphatic victory

Some fantastic bowling from James Anderson and James Tredwell meant South Africa could only manage 175 all out in yesterday’s Champions Trophy semi-final in south London.

The Proteas faced the possibility of not even making 100 at one point as they slumped to 80-8, but a record ninth-wicket stand of 99 between David Miller and Rory Kleinveldt restored some pride to a visiting side who have a history of folding in semi-finals of limited overs tournaments.

With Jonathan Trott (82no) at the crease, 175 never looked like being enough to stop England from advancing to the final, despite the trouble they have encountered in the 50-over format of the game in the past.

Only on one occasion – in 2004 – have England made the final of the Champions Trophy, when they were thwarted by the West Indies, but Cook is sure that his men are in a good position to win Sunday’s final against either India or Sri Lanka.

“We can win it, without a doubt,” Cook said. “You need people to stand up and deliver to win ODIs and it has happened for us in the last two games we have played.

“As kids you always grow up wanting to play in finals and they can bring out the best in people. This England side in particular has delivered when the chips have been down and the pressure has been at its highest so I have no doubt that the guys in our dressing room will turn up on Sunday and I am fully confident that they can do it. Hopefully it’s now our turn.”

Of the nine times that South Africa have made the knockout stages of global limited overs competitions, they have only progressed to the final once, leading them to earn the unwanted tag of chokers.

Their coach Gary Kirsten said: “We need to be honest with ourselves. I think we did choke again (yesterday). It’s a horrible word but we have to front up. We let ourselves down.”

Given the vast amount of cricket on the international calendar these days, and the fact that the Ashes begins in just three weeks, some have questioned the importance of winning the Champions Trophy.

But having come through a group containing Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand before hammering the Proteas yesterday, Cook is certainly under no doubt about the effect winning the Champions Trophy would have on English cricket.

“It would be a great achievement to win it,” the opener added.

“It’s hard to compare it with the Ashes, but at the start of the summer we set out some clear goals and one of them was to win the Champions Trophy.

“We got to the final in 2004 and we couldn’t quite get over the line. Hopefully this time we can go one better.”

Cook reserved his highest praise for Trott – who along with Yorkshire’s Joe Root (48) helped guide England to their target despite an early wobble – and his two most destructive bowlers, Anderson and Tredwell.

Stuart Broad claimed three wickets and Steven Finn also chipped in with the vital dismissal of Hashim Amla, who scored 331 here last year, for just one.

Such is the depth of the England squad at the moment that neither Finn nor Tredwell are guaranteed to keep their place for Sunday’s final at Edgbaston.

Graeme Swann could be back after sitting out yesterday’s game with a calf strain while Yorkshire’s Tim Bresnan is available for the final after his wife Hannah gave birth to their son Max at 3pm yesterday.

Cook and coach Ashley Giles have some important decisions to make over the coming three days.

The England captain said: “I’m sure there will be some meetings and very tough decisions made over the next few days (about team selection).

“We won’t risk it if (Swann) is touch and go and Finn gives us another selection headache, which is nice to have.”

South Africa captain AB de Villiers’s frustration was all too evident.

“Credit to the England bowlers but we’ve only got ourselves to blame,” said De Villiers. “We didn’t play well and we were under press from the word ‘go’.

“David Miller played very well and he and Rory gave us a chance at the end, but it’s not good enough.

“I’m proud of them; we probably would have been bowled out for 100 without them.”

The Proteas were without injured pace duo Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, but De Villiers added: “There are no excuses, we believe we had the talent to win this tournament, but it didn’t work out that way.

“It’s bitterly disappointing – we didn’t play well enough, it’s as simple as that.”

Captain Angelo Mathews insists revenge will not be on his mind when Sri Lanka face World Cup final opponents India in today’s second Champions Trophy semi-final in Cardiff.

Sri Lanka were denied the global 50-over title in 2011 when India claimed a six-wicket victory in Mumbai, and have lost seven of the 10 one-day internationals the teams have played since.

But, while Mathews is well aware of how important a win would be, he claims it would not have any extra significance because of the opponent.

“There’s no room for revenge in sport, but if we can beat the Indians, I think it’ll be a great achievement for the whole team,” he said.

“We still have thoughts about the World Cup final, and the recent history against them is not very good for Sri Lanka.

“But I think the past is the past and we need to move on with the present situation.”