Heinrich Klaasens scintillating century, combined with a relentless Protesse pace attack, South Africa cruised past a 229-run victory over defending champions England in their ICC Cricket World Cup clash at Mumbais Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday. This is Englands largest margin of defeat in ODIs and the second-largest in Cricket World Cup history. South Africa maintained its third spot in the points table standings with six points, comprising three wins and a single loss, while England is pushed to the ninth position with three defeats and just one victory.🇿🇦 RAISE YOUR FLAGA statement win for the Proteas as they a notch 229 victory over England 🏏One down on to you @Springboks🇿🇦 we are fully behind YOU 🫂 #CWC23 #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/P2WYANYfwo— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 21, 2023Proteas hands Englands largest defeat in ODIsChasing the mammoth 400-run target, Englands opening pair of Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan began with aggressive intent. However, the pressure of the scoreboard quickly took its toll as Bairstow handed a catch straight into the hands of Rassie Van Der Dussen, providing Lungi Ngidi with a crucial wicket. Bairstow departed for a mere 10 runs, and England found itself at 18/1 after 2.3 overs.Marco Jansen shows his skill with the ball as well after a firey innings with the bat, providing a breakthrough by dismissing Dawid (6) and Joe Root (2) for single-digit scores, leaving England with limited prospects of building a big partnership. Even the returning star allrounder Ben Stokes was caught and bowled by Kagiso Rabada, who scored just five runs reducing Englands was reduced to 38/4 in 8.1 overs.Englands batting collapse England crossed the 50-run mark in 8.5 overs, with Brook and skipper Jos Buttler providing some quick boundaries and sixes. However, speedster Gerald Coetzee curtailed the boundary-fest by dismissing Buttler, who was caught behind by Quinton de Kock for 15, and trapping Harry Brook leg before wicket for just 17 runs. Coetzee continued to dismantle the English line-up, eliminating Adil Rashid for 10 as he was caught by Reeza Hendricks. Ngidi claimed his second wicket by dismissing David Willey for 12, caught by Rabada at mid-off. England was reduced to 100/8 after 16.3 overs.Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson provided some entertainment for the spectators by smacking a few boundaries. However, Keshav Maharaj dismissed Gus Atkinson for 35 off 21 balls, who scored seven fours. Mark Wood was left stranded at 43 runs from 17 balls, with two fours and five sixes. Englands innings was wrapped at 170 runs in 22 overs, resulting in a crushing 229-run defeat.Gerald Coetzee was the standout bowler for South Africa, securing three wickets for 35 runs. Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen claimed two wickets each, while Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada each contributed with a wicket.South Africas fiery inningsEarlier in the first innings, Englands skipper Jos Buttler won the toss against South Africa and decided to field first in the game. Reeza Hendricks and Heinrich Klaasens fiery innings powered South Africa to a total of 399/7 against England at Mumbais Wankhede Stadium.🇿🇦A spirited effort from the Proteas to get a total of 399/7. Heinrich Klaasen with a brilliant display 109 runs 🏏🏴England will need 400 to win #CWC23 #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/2OsM7qz0gP— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 21, 2023Quinton De Kock falls early Quinton De Kock failed to repeat the stellar performance and was dismissed in the second ball of the match by Reece Topley for just four runs. Protease men scored 59 runs in the first powerplay without losing any wickets further.After taking an early wicket in the game, England failed to build pressure with the ball. However, the second wicket came in 19.4 overs after Adil Rashid dismissed Rassie van der Dussen Dussens wicket for 60 runs from 61 balls. Adil Rashid also scalped the wicket of dangerous Hendricks in the 25.2 overs for 85 runs from 75 balls However, Topley struck twice to trigger a middle-order collapse after dismissing the Proteas skipper Aiden Markram and David Miller.Brutal hittings by Klaasen and JansenKlaasen displayed one of the most brutal batting in the last few overs of the game against England by slamming a ton just from 61 balls. Klaasen smashed 12 boundaries and four maximums during his stay.The highest run-rate in a 150-run stand in the history of the mens @cricketworldcup 💥#CWC23 #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/CzFNDII1cF— ICC (@ICC) October 21, 2023Meanwhile, Marco Jansen also did not leave any chance to miss the hitting show and completed his half-century. Jansen scored 75 runs from 42 balls including 3 boundaries and 6 maximums.English pacer Gus Atkinson picked up two wickets in the final overs and dismissed Klaasen for 109 runs and Gerald Coetzee in the first innings.
