Mumbai: South Africa bounced back from their shock defeat to the Netherlands with a stunning victory over England in the World Cup. They crushed the defending champions by 229 runs on Saturday (October 21) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, handing them their biggest defeat by runs in ODIs. England, who had lost two of their previous matches, slipped to ninth place in the points table, while South Africa climbed to third with six points.
This was the second-largest margin of victory by a full-member ICC team in World Cup history. In 2015, South Africa had thrashed West Indies by 257 runs in Sydney. England’s previous worst defeat by runs was by 221 runs against Australia in Melbourne in 2022. They also suffered their heaviest defeat by wickets when they lost to New Zealand by 10 wickets in Wellington in 2015.
The star of the show for South Africa was Heinrich Klaasen, who smashed his third ODI century and his fourth international hundred of the year. He scored an unbeaten 132 off 82 balls, hitting nine fours and seven sixes. He was well supported by Marco Jansen, who blasted 75 not out off 42 balls, with three fours and six sixes. The duo added 151 runs for the sixth wicket in just 77 balls, taking South Africa to a mammoth total of 383 for 6.
South Africa had a solid start after being asked to bat first by England captain Jos Buttler. Reeza Hendricks (85) and Rassie van der Dussen (60) put on 121 runs for the second wicket, after Quinton de Kock fell for four in the first over. Hendricks hit eight fours and two sixes in his 76-ball knock, while van der Dussen struck four fours and two sixes in his 64-ball innings.
However, England fought back with some quick wickets in the middle overs. Reece Topley dismissed Hendricks and van der Dussen in successive overs, while Gus Attinson removed David Miller (5) and Aiden Markram (9). Markram was leading South Africa in the absence of regular captain Temba Bavuma, who missed the match due to illness.
At 232 for 6 in the 40th over, South Africa looked in trouble, but Klaasen and Jansen changed the course of the match with their explosive partnership. Klaasen suffered a muscle strain during his innings but decided to bat on. He reached his century in style by hitting Mark Wood for a six and a four in the 47th over.
Jansen also joined the party, hitting some massive sixes in the death overs. He hit Wood for three consecutive sixes in the penultimate over, before smashing Adil Rashid for two more in the final over. South Africa scored 143 runs in the last 10 overs, with 84 coming off the last five.
England’s bowlers had a torrid time on a flat pitch and a fast outfield. Topley was the most successful bowler with three wickets, but he also conceded 85 runs in his 10 overs. Attinson and Rashid took two wickets each, but they also went for plenty of runs. Wood was the most expensive bowler, leaking 97 runs in his nine overs.
England’s chase never got going as they lost wickets at regular intervals. None of their batsmen could score a half-century, as they were bowled out for 154 in 32.4 overs. Mark Wood was the top-scorer with an unbeaten 43 off 29 balls, batting at number 10. Gus Attinson also chipped in with 35 off 28 balls at number nine.
England’s top-order failed miserably against South Africa’s pace attack. Harry Brook (17), Jos Buttler (15), and David Willey (12) were the only batsmen to reach double figures among the top seven. David Malan (6), Ben Stokes (5), Joe Root (2), and Jonny Bairstow (10) fell cheaply, leaving England reeling at 62 for 7 in the 16th over.
Gerald Coetzee was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with three wickets for 28 runs in his seven overs. Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen took two wickets each, while Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj claimed one each. Reece Topley did not bat for England due to an injury and was declared absent hurt.
South Africa will face Bangladesh in their next match on October 25 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, while England will take on Afghanistan on October 26 at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.
