Klaasen showcased his batting prowess, scoring an impressive 109 runs, even while battling cramps. South Africa posted a monumental total of 399-7, the highest ever conceded by England in ODIs.
ENGLAND VS SA: AS IT HAPPENED | SCORECARD
England’s innings took a nightmarish turn as they slumped to 68-6 and ultimately ended at 170-9, with 28 overs to spare. Reece Topley was unable to bat due to a hand injury sustained during South Africa’s innings.
This crushing defeat was England’s most significant ODI loss since their 221-run defeat to Australia in Melbourne in 2002. In World Cup history, South Africa’s win over England is now the joint-sixth highest by margin of runs.
Klaasen’s century was backed by Marco Jansen‘s vital contribution in a sixth-wicket partnership of 151 runs in just 77 balls. Jansen remained unbeaten on 75, marking his maiden ODI fifty, with three fours and six sixes to his name.
Jansen’s influence extended to the bowling department, where he secured two crucial wickets in his left-arm pace bowler role.
Even the return of Ben Stokes, who played his first game of the tournament, couldn’t salvage England’s fortunes as he was caught and bowled by Kagiso Rabada after contributing only five runs.
This loss marked England’s third defeat in four games, including a shocking upset to Afghanistan in their previous match, making their path to the semi-finals increasingly challenging.
In contrast, South Africa’s commanding victory served as a much-needed recovery after their stunning defeat to the Netherlands, a non-Test-playing nation.
Heinrich Klaasen’s explosive batting display included a six and a four off consecutive deliveries from fast bowler Mark Wood, sealing his century in just 61 balls. He was finally dismissed by Gus Atkinson in the last over after amassing 12 fours and four sixes.
South Africa’s onslaught saw them score 143 runs in the final 10 overs, despite losing the toss.
Topley managed to take three wickets but conceded 88 runs in 8.5 overs, while the express-paced Wood went wicketless, conceding 76 runs in seven overs.
England, who won the toss, got an early breakthrough when Quinton de Kock was caught behind off just the second ball of the innings. However, opener Reeza Hendricks, a late call-up due to Proteas captain Temba Bavuma‘s illness, shone with 85 runs and a partnership of 121 runs for the second wicket with Rassie van der Dussen (60).
Adil Rashid accounted for both Van der Dussen and Hendricks, but Jansen continued to torment England with two consecutive sixes off Topley’s full-tosses.
England’s opener Jonny Bairstow fell for a mere 10 runs, and Jansen’s impressive form continued as he dismissed Joe Root and Dawid Malan, leaving England at 24-3.
ICC World Cup, SA vs ENG: South Africa crush England by 229 Runs
After Stokes’s departure, Gerald Coetzee snared two wickets in three balls, with England captain Jos Buttler edging to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and Harry Brook falling leg-before-wicket for 17 despite a desperate review.
South Africa’s dominance was evident when David Willey was spectacularly caught by Kagiso Rabada, who sprinted from mid-off to take a diving catch, leaving England reeling at 100-8.
England’s lower-order fighters, Atkinson (35) and Wood (43 not out), delayed the inevitable, but the match concluded with Atkinson’s dismissal as he was bowled by spinner Keshav Maharaj.
(With AFP inputs)