Saturday, October 21, 2023
South Africa beat defending champions England to seal an impressive 229-run victory in the 20th match of the 2023 World Cup on Saturday.
Batting first at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the Proteas took England's bowlers to the cleaners, amassing a total of 399 runs thanks to Heinrich Klaasen's 109. However, England were bowled out in the 22nd over for 170 runs.
With six points, South Africa are third in the points table as they have won three matches out of four matches in the tournament so far.
Chasing the 400-run target, England were on course for a 300-run defeat, but a valiant effort by their tailenders, Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood, saved them as the two batsmen built a 70-run partnership and the latter recorded an unbeaten run. 43 rides on 17 vans.
England were on course to suffer a 300-run defeat, but a valiant effort by their tailenders, Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood, saved them as the two batsmen built a 70-run partnership, with the latter scoring an unbeaten 43 off 17 deliveries.
Neither England batsman held their nerve and fell badly in front of a devastating Proteas bowling attack as three of their four top-order batsmen - Dawid Malan, Joe Root and Ben Stokes - failed to score in double figures.
Wood became England's top scorer with 43 runs as the entire England side were sent back to the pavilion for just 170 runs after losing wickets in quick succession.
All the South African bowlers - Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jensen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Gerald Coetzee - wreaked havoc on England's batsmen, sending them all back to the pavilion.
Earlier in the day, South Africa - batting first - posted a mammoth total of 399 runs thanks to some impressive batting from the top and middle order.
Despite losing the early wicket of Quinton de Kock for just four runs in the first over, the Proteas did not waver and continued to play with an attacking mindset as Reeza Hendricks and Russie van der Dussen built an important 121-run partnership.
A 151-run stand between Klaasen and Marc Jensen did the rest of the damage to England's bowlers.
Klaasen scored a brisk century, scoring 109 runs off just 67 deliveries with 16 boundaries, while Jensen contributed 75 runs off just 42 deliveries, which included a blistering knock of nine boundaries.
For England, Reece Topley picked three wickets while Gus Atkinson and Adil Rashid chipped in with two each, but it was not enough in front of a devastating Proteas batting line-up.
South Africa will now play Bangladesh on October 24 at the same venue, while England will face Sri Lanka in Bengaluru on October 26.
