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South Africa thrash England by record 229 runs

rugby21 October 2023 15:23| © MWP
By:Neil Manthorp
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A magnificent century from Heinrich Klaasen and incisive fast bowling from the four-man pace attack saw South Africa score 399-7 and beat England by a record margin of 229 runs in their World Cup group match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

Klaasen’s 109 was brilliantly supported by half centuries from Reeza Hendricks (85), Rassie van der Dussen (60) and a brutal, career-best 75* from Marco Jansen (2-35) who then claimed two early wickets as England slumped to 170 all out in reply in just 22 overs.

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It was the highest total ever conceded by England in an ODI while the margin of defeat was also the heaviest surpassing the 221-run drubbing by Australia at the MCG last year.

Gerald Coetzee claimed 3-35 while Lungi Ngidi (2-26) and Kagiso Rabada (1-38) were also in the wickets.

Hendricks took full advantage of his chance in the starting XI having been given just 15 minutes notice before the toss that captain Temba Bavuma was too ill to play and stroked a fluent 85 from just 75 balls (9x4, 3x6) to lay a crucial foundation during a second-wicket stand of 121 with Van der Dussen.

Klaasen reached 50 from 40 balls with eight fours but required just another 21 deliveries to post his fifth ODI century from 61 balls with 10 fours and four mighty sixes before departing for 109 from 67 balls having added another brace of fours.

As well as Van der Dussen and Markram batted against an England attack struggling with injury, illness and the debilitating heat and humidity, their efforts were overshadowed by Jansen and Klaasen in the final 10 overs which were as brutal as the World Cup has ever seen.

Jansen smashed three fours and six sixes during his maiden half century before finishing with a destructive 75 not out from only 42 balls as he and Klaasen helped themselves to 143 runs off the last 10 overs with an eye-watering 84 coming off the last five overs.

ENGLAND SHELL-SHOCKED

England struggled desperately in the heat with Topley also leaving the field for extended treatment to a finger injury while Rashid was struggling with stomach cramps.

All of England’s bowlers suffered but none more than pace spearhead Mark Wood (7-0-76-0) and Topley (8.5-0-88-3) who bravely returned with his bowling hand strapped but was clearly struggling to grip the ball.

England were shell-shocked at the start of the run-chase and looked like they were intent on chasing the target of 400 in 40 overs with Jonny Bairstow (10) swing wildly across the line at every ball.

Joe Root (2) was the man to bat through the innings but was undone by Jansen who had him smartly caught by David Miller at leg-slip in a smart piece of planning and bowling.

Ben Stokes’s highly anticipated return to the ODI side ended quickly when Rabada held an excellent return catch to dismiss him for four, Harry Brook (17) was trapped lbw by Coetzee and captain Jos Buttler edged the same bowled to dD Kock behind the stumps.

The result leaves England needing win all of their remaining five games, and comprehensively, to have a chance of reaching the semifinals while South Africa move to third place with their third victory in four games and very much back on track for a semifinal place after their shock defeat to the Netherlands in the last game.

South Africa have beaten Sri Lanka by 102 runs, Australia by 134 runs and now England by 229 runs.

SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wkt), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (captain), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

ENGLAND:Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (captain & wkt), David Willey, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Reece Topley

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