CWC 2023, England vs South Africa: Heinrich Klaasen's 109, Marco Jansen's 75 & 2-35 and Reeza Hendricks' 85 are top performances. South Africa beat England and move to 3rd place while England slump to 9th place in points table.
Brief scores: South Africa 399/7 (Reeza Hendricks 85, Heinrich Klaasen 109, Marco Jansen 75 not out, Reece Topley’s 3/88) beat England 170 (Mark Wood 43 not out, Gerald Coetzee 3/35) by 229 runs.
Player of the match: Heinrich Klaasen’s 109 in 67 balls
South Africa thrashed England by 229 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday in the 2023 ODI World Cup. South Africa posted a huge total of 399/7 before bowling out England for 170 to romp home by 229 runs and with 28 overs to spare. With this win, South Africa are placed third with 3 wins in 4 games, while England are placed ninth, with just 1 win in 4 games.
Talking points: England’s defense of their World Cup is in shatters. They have lost three games out of four. Their batting is in total disarray. Captain Jos Buttler and opener Jonny Bairstow have failed to fire with the bat. The return of Ben Stokes was a damp squib as he fell cheaply for 5. England bowling, too, has done poorly, leaking runs and being bereft of ideas. Overall, England has been the biggest disappointment in all aspects of the game in this World Cup so far.
South Africa registered the third 300-plus score
South Africa produced their third 300-plus score in 4 matches when they scored 399/7 against England in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Asked to bat first, South Africa lost their opener Quinton de Kock early for 4 after he edged to keeper Jos Buttler off Reece Topley’s bowling. Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen combined to put a 121-run stand for the second wicket before the latter fell for 60 off Adil Rashid’s bowling. Till then, South Africa was going over 6 runs per over, but they upped the tempo in the last 15 overs when Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen combined to put a stand of 151 runs for the sixth wicket in just 12.4 overs. Klaasen scored 67-ball 109, while Jansen made 42-ball 75 not out as South Africa posted 399/7. Topley took 3/88 to emerge as the most successful bowler for England.
England succumbed to South Africa's Pacers
England succumbed to the scoreboard pressure and South Africa’s pacers as they were bowled out for 170 in 22 overs to put a big dent in their hopes of making it to the semis of World Cup 2023. England needed a good opening stand, but opener Jonny Bairstow holed out in the deep for 10 off Lungi Ngidi’s bowling. Soon, they were reduced to 38/4, with comeback man Ben Stokes falling for 5 as he gave a return catch to bowler K Rabada. The best stand for England came for the 9th wicket for 70 runs between Mark Wood (43 not out) and Gus Atkinson (35). For South Africa, Gerald Coetzee was the most successful bowler with 3/35.
Let’s look at the top three performances between England and South Africa in CWC 2023.
Klaasen’s 67-ball 109 at Wankhede
Heinrich Klaasen was in his element today in the match against England. He carried forward the momentum that the top-order batters set up. He came out to bat at 164/3 in the 26th over and ensured South Africa maintained the tempo before going for the kill in the death overs. He brought out textbook shots, including cover drive and his innovative stroke play with reserve sweep. He combined with Marco Jansen to post a stand of 151-run in 12.4 overs to bat England out of the match. Klaasen smashed 12 fours and 4 sixes all over the ground to score 67-ball 109.
Marco Jansen, 75 not out, 2/35
Marco Jansen was the surprise of the match. He is known for his exploits with the ball, but today, he brought his batting skills to the fore. Nevertheless, nothing can take away from the good wicket and a pedestrian bowling attack of England from Jansen’s brilliant timing and big ball hitting. He repeatedly looked to score over the infield and got maximum returns. Jansen smashed 6 sixes and 3 fours during his knock of 75 not out.
He complimented Klaasen well, matching his partner with some brilliant strokeplay. After his batting exploits, Jansen returned to open the bowling and took two prize wickets of Dawid Malan and Joe Root. He set up Root with a length delivery on the leg side, and Root flicked it straight to David Miller at wide leg slip.
Reeza Hendricks, 85
Hendricks was playing his first World Cup match, and he showed no signs of nervousness as he stitched a big partnership of 121 runs for the second wicket with van der Dussen. This partnership paved the way for power hitters to bat England out of the match. Hendricks cracked 9 fours and 3 sixes for 75-ball 85 before Rashid bowled him. He was a treat to watch as he smacked the England bowling attack with disdain. His inside-out shot for 2 sixes against Joe Root was the best stroke of the match.
Statistical highlights from South Africa vs England, Wankhede CWC 2023
The loss of 229 runs was England’s biggest loss in ODIs, beating the previous loss of 221 runs against Australia in 2022.
The sixth-wicket stand of 151 runs between Klaasen and Jansen is the best partnership for this wicket by South Africa, beating the previous record of 137 runs between Hansie Cronje and Shaun Pollock against Zimbabwe in 1997.
South Africa’s total of 399/7 is the highest total by any team in ODI World Cup history. Pakistan's previous best was 348/8 against England in the 2019 ODI World Cup.
The second-wicket stand of 121 runs between Hendricks & van der Dussen is South Africa's second-highest partnership for any wicket against England in the ODI World Cup.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Points Table
Points Table & What’s next
South Africa are placed third now with 6 points, having won 3 games out of 4, but with a healthy net run rate of 2.212. England are staring at an early exit after this loss, placed 9th with just 1 win to show in 4 games and a net run-rate of -1.248. England must win all their remaining games now with a big margin and hope other results go their way to stay in the hunt for the semi-final race.
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