England vs South Africa, World Cup 2023: Top five moments from Proteas' 229-run win in Mumbai

Oct 22, 2023 - 09:30

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England vs South Africa, World Cup 2023: Top five moments from Proteas' 229-run win in Mumbai

England’s hopes of defending the ODI World Cup title dwindled even further after a heavy defeat to South Africa in Mumbai on Saturday.

World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table

The Jos Buttler-led side were completely outplayed by a spirited South Africa unit who clinched their third win in four matches.

South Africa thumped England by 229 runs, which is England’s heaviest ODI defeat in terms of runs.

England now find themselves virtually out of the semi-final race. A third defeat in four games, their only win coming against Bangladesh, means that they are languishing in ninth place with just two points in the 10-team table.

Let’s now take a look at top moments that defined the contest:

Reeza Hendricks proves his mettle

An illness to South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma meant that Aiden Markram led the Proteas against England. That also meant a game for Reeza Hendricks.

#Proteas 3⃣9⃣9⃣/7⃣ – highest-ever total vs England at a World Cup
Heinrich Klaasen 1⃣0⃣9⃣
Reeza Hendricks 8⃣5⃣
Marco Jansen 7⃣5⃣*
Rassie van der Dussen 6⃣0⃣ #CWC23 #ENGvSA
ICC pic.twitter.com/UpAVv5BHIV
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) October 21, 2023

This was the first game of the tournament that Reeza Hendricks played and he welcomed the opportunity with both hands.

Hendricks opened the innings with Quinton de Kock, and despite losing his partner early, Hendricks was involved in a 121-run stand with Rassie van der Dussen, who also scored a fifty.

Hendricks began on a defensive note, scoring no runs for the first 13 deliveries, before getting off the mark with a brilliant square drive off David Willey’s ball in the fourth over.

Hendricks then collected boundaries at regular intervals, including a brilliant slap through the covers in the 10^th over, an over when he punished Willey for consecutive boundaries.

Hendricks would then go on to get to his fifty off 48 balls, hitting seven fours and a six.

Hendricks finally fell to Adil Rashid’s googly in the 26^th over.

Heinrich Klaasen shows his class

Contrary to England, South Africa never looked like a team that were out of touch. They were clinical in almost every department. But one man stood among the rest: Heinrich Klaasen.

Klaasen has been known for stepping up when it matters the most, and Saturday was his day.

A devastating century
It was an outstanding team performance but Heinrich Klaasen is your @aramco #POTM for his outstanding knock of 109 off 67 balls #CWC23 #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/o3xVBIdTcH
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 21, 2023

Coming into bat at number five, Klaasen scored a quick century, off just 61 deliveries to set the platform for a huge total for South Africa.

He began by attacking Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood, before mercilessly taking on Reece Topley.

In the 44^th over, Klaasen slammed Topley for two consecutive fours, before hitting him over long-off for a maximum.

Klaasen would do something similar against Wood in the 47^th over, before being cleaned up by Gus Atkinson at the start of the 50^th over.

With 12 fours and four sixes, Klaasen proved his class with an electrifying knock.

Marco Jansen shines

Marco Jansen too shone with the bat as well as with the ball on Saturday. He was South Africa’s X-factor on Saturday, and the World Cup was witness to something that had not been witnessed before: A Marco Jansen treat with the bat.

Jansen came into bat at number seven in the 37^th over and provided an entertaining knock of 75 off 42 deliveries.

Well played Heinrich klaasen and Marco jansen
What a partnership so far
One side the beautiful Himalayan view and then this lovely partnership
South Africa have got a massive total here #CricketTwitter #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/HJ84bKs8RS
— DK (@DineshKarthik) October 21, 2023

He took on Gus Atkinson, punishing him for two sixes and a four in the 48^th over, including a pull over midwicket.

Jansen would then get to his fifty off just 35 balls, hitting three fours and as many sixes.

In the end, Jansen remained unbeaten at 75 with Keshav Maharaj at the other end, as South Africa posted 399/7.

Reece Topley expensive despite wickets, walks off the field later

Reece Topley has formed a core part of England’s bowling lineup. Against South Africa, he proved expensive with figures of 3/88, but to make matters worse, Topley and England have suffered a huge blow after the pacer suffered a suspected finger injury.

Topley had earlier taken the wicket of Quinton de Kock, before striking to remove Markram and David Miller.

Topley was looking to stop a straight drive from van der Dussen with his left finger, but received treatment on the field, and continued to bowl.

His finger was strapped and he continued bowling, however, Topley was unable to complete his quota of overs. Topley bowled a total of 8.5 overs, and to complete his ninth, Joe Root stepped up for him.

Lungi Ngidi stands out

While all of the Proteas bowlers took wickets, it was Lungi Ngidi who stood out. Gerald Coetzee did take three wickets but proved a tad bit expensive with figures of 3/35 from four overs.

Ngidi, meanwhile, delivered figures of 2/26 from five overs, at an economy of 5.20.