World Cup 2023: South Africa crush defending champions England by 229 runs to get back to winning ways

South Africa crushed defending champions England by 229 runs to hand them their biggest defeat in the history of ODI World Cups.

After posting a 400-run target, the Proteas bowled out England for 170 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This was the 14th biggest margin of defeat in the history of ODI World Cups and the biggest for England. Their previous biggest loss in the marquee tournament came against India in the 1975 World Cup, when they lost by 202 runs at Lord’s.

Jos Buttler won the toss for England and chose to field first. They started off in brilliant fashion with Reece Topley sending the dangerous Quinton de Kock back on the second delivery of the match. However, Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks, who came in as a replacement for skipper Temba Bavuma, formed a massive 121-run stand for the second wicket.

The partnership saw both batters score half-centuries, with Van der Dussen scoring a 61-ball 60 and Hendricks chipping in with 85 runs off 75 deliveries. Spinner Adil Rashid was the one who broke their partnership in the 20th over, getting rid of Van der Dussen before sending Hendricks back to the pavilion in the 26th over.

Aiden Markram got off to a solid start but couldn’t convert it into a big innings, falling at the hands of Topley after scoring 42 runs off 44 balls. Topley came back to claim his third wicket of the day, dismissing the hard-hitting David Miller in the 37th over.

KLAASEN, JANSEN CARNAGE IN MUMBAI

With South Africa cruising towards a comfortable total, Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen decided to shift gears and take the attack to England in the final 10 overs. Klaasen went on to hit his maiden ODI World Cup century, while Jansen smashed 75 runs off 41 balls in Mumbai.

The two batters helped South Africa add 143 runs in the final 10 overs against England. Klaasen was cleaned up by Gus Atkinson after scoring a 67-ball 109 but his effort was enough to guide South Africa to a massive total of 399 for 7 in the first innings.

ENGLAND CRUMBLE IN HUGE CHASE

South Africa carried the rhythm they gained in the death overs to the second innings and never let England settle in their 400-run chase. Jonny Bairstow was the first batter to fall as Lungi Ngidi continued his brilliant form with the new ball.

After shining with the bat, Jansen joined the party with the ball, dismissing Joe Root and Dawid Malan in quick succession to leave England reeling at 24 for 3. Then, Kagiso Rabada was brought into the attack and produced by picking the important wicket of Ben Stokes.

Gerald Coetzee got to work and picked the wickets of Jos Buttler and Harry Brook in the same over to effectively break England’s back in the massive run-chase. The pacer then went on to dismiss Adil Rashid as England stared at the scoreboard which read 84 for 7.

Ngidi was brought back into the attack and managed to claim the wicket of David Willey as South Africa edged closer to a historic win.

WOOD, ATKINSON RAIN SIXES

Just when we thought the match was done and dusted, Mark Wood and Gus Atinkson went hell for leather against the South Africans. The two pacers batted like cornered lions and took apart the South Africa bowling unit.

Wood remained unbeaten on 43 runs off 17 deliveries, while Atkinson chipped in with a 21-ball 35. However, Keshav Maharaj provided South Africa with the final wicket of Atkinson to bowl England out for 170 runs in 22 overs. Topley, who has picked up an injury, did not come out to bat for the defending champions.

South Africa went on to win the match by 229 runs to hold on to the third spot in the World Cup 2023 points table, with an impressive net run-rate of +2.21. As for England, they slipped to ninth in the points table, level with bottom-dwellers Afghanistan in terms of points and a net run-rate of -1.25.