Team Lineups
South Africa was forced to make a change to the upset to the side that was shocked by a spirited Dutch performance. Skipper Temba Bavuma is out with illness, and Reeza Hendricks takes his place in the playing XI. Aiden Markram takes the role of captain.
England’s talisman from the last tournament Ben Stokes returned after sitting out the first three games. He replaces Liam Livingstone in the team. Young pacer Gus Atkinson came in for out-of-form Chris Woakes. Sam Curran was replaced by David Willey to add some batting depth.
South Africa
- Quinton de Kock (WK) 2. Reeza Hendricks 3. Rassie van der Dussen 4. Aiden Markram (Cap.) 5. Heinrich Klaasen 6. David Miller 7. Marco Jansen 8. Gerald Coetzee 9. Keshav Maharaj 10. Kagiso Rabada 11. Lungi Ngidi
England
- Jonny Bairstow 2. David Miller 3. Joe Root 4. Ben Stokes 5. Harry Brooks 6. Jos Buttler (Cap.) (WK) 7. David Willey 8. Adil Rashid 9. Gus Atkinson 10. Mark Wood 11. Reece Topley
English skipper Jos Buttler won the toss and decided to bowl first on a Wankhede surface that looked to be in prime condition for pace bowling. The pitch report said the track would generate more pace and bounce more than most of the Indian pitches.
Fixture
| Venue | The 20th game of the 2023 World Cup was played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Maharashtra. |
| Date | The game started from 02:00 pm IST on Saturday, October 21 |
Captaincy & Tactics
England’s decision to bat first seemed like a good decision early on, with sending back the in-form Quinto de Kock early. Willey and Topley were swinging the ball back into the right-handers, causing a lot of discomfort for the batsmen. But the South Africans got used to the pitch, quickly pushing the English bowlers on the back foot. Jos Buttler tried to bring the express pace of Mark Wood into the game, but his wayward line made the task of containing the batsmen an arduous one.
England had a world-class bowling attack four years back, but this time it looked out of depth. Amid all the carnage that Klaasen and Jensen brought upon the English bowlers, they were at fault with some ludicrous form of death bowling.
Atkinson and Topley tried and missed the block hole on numerous occasions, the low full tosses disappeared into the crowd. Their failure to deploy slower deliveries or bouncers showed a glaring lack of quality for white-ball bowlers in the team.
Aiden Markram was impressive in his role as a captain. Markram used his pace bowlers early on. The tactical acumen shown by the captain to dismiss Root deserved plaudits. Coetzee was brought into the attack to deliver fatal blows and the fireball pacer obliged with 3 wickets to his name. It was a total team performance to put the reigning champions to shame.
Batting Analysis
Reeza Hendricks remains a promise never fulfilled in South African cricket. He averages only 30.21 in the ODI format – a number that does not do any justice to his talent. But his first World Cup innings were a joy to watch: exquisite cover drives, powerful pull shots, and delightful flicks. He played 64% of his shots on the front foot, stamping his authority on the game. The right-hander would feel aggrieved after missing out on a World Cup ton, but his effort may put captain Bavuma’s place in jeopardy.
Heinrich Klaasen was spent, battered, and bruised, but like a champion gladiator inside the Colosseum, he stood strong. Klassen likes his batting in Asia, 41.54 average, and 457 runs in the continent is a good read for South African batsmen. After feeling the Mumbai heat taking over his mobility, the right-hand batsman decided to go over the top of the bowler. Klaasen played with 74% control over his innings. But his immense power was enough to send the ball repeatedly into the stands.
Marco Jansen played 13 dot balls in his first 20 balls at the crease. But after that, it was an act of massive destruction against the England seamers. Gus Atkinson and Reece Topley conceded 4 sixes among themselves, Jansen was hitting the ball into the wind on the leg side. The partnership of 151 runs of 77 balls steered South Africa to post the highest-ever score by any nation against England in the ODIs.
Jason Roy was an instrumental figure in the last campaign with 443 runs at an average of 63.28, also striking at 115.36 per 100 balls. This type of game would have been ideal for the right-hander. But the English selectors have opted for Harry Brook instead. A decision might be a costly one from an English point of view.
The chase never got enough pace to challenge the South Africans. The top order faltered, and the middle order collapsed soon after. But the lower order surprisingly showed how it was supposed to be done. Mark Wood hit 5 sixes in his innings, striking at 252.94. Gus Atkinson also provided entertainment with seven boundaries in his innings of 35. None of the other English batters reached the 20 mark.
It was a pathetic display of batting in the face of adversity. England’s heaviest defeat by a 229 run now puts them in a precarious situation with the chances for qualification quickly fading away.
Bowling Analysis
The misfiring Woakes and out-of-form Curran were left out, but that was not enough to alter the plight of the English bowling attack. Reece Topley’s domination over the southpaw batsmen continues, he has picked up 6 wickets from just 26 balls against the left-handers. But Topley’s finger injury after his 23rd delivery made England pay heavily.
Mark Wood bowled at an express pace as usual, but to label him as “ineffective” would be a massive understatement. Wood has picked up just 5 wickets this year, at an average of 51.60. He was regularly clocking around the 150 km/h mark but did little else.
Adil Rashid was struggling with an upset stomach, but the wrist spinner gave his all for his country. He deceived and snared Rassie van der Dussen with a loopy delivery. Reeza Hendricks’ hope for a World Cup ended with a brilliant delivery skidding across the surface. 61 for 2 after a ten-over spell is a good read on a day when it rained boundaries.
Gerald Coetzee was a late inclusion to the South African squad in the place of Anrich Nortje. Coetzee is a tad slower than Nortje, but he knows how to ball on a tight line. The youngster peppered the batsmen with bouncers and showed adaptability by delivering crafty slowers.
Coetzee induced an edge from the bat of Buttler and trapped Harry in front of the wicket. He rounded up a fine performance by dismissing Adil Rashid, the leg spinner who only managed to glove the ball to the keeper.
Marco Jansen was destructive with the willow in the first innings, he came back with the ball in his left hand to haunt the English. The careful planning to dismiss Root was the highlight of the South African bowling.
Jansen delivered one at the pads and the former captain could only glance at David Miller standing at leg slip. The 6-foot 9-inch tall all-rounder is proving to be a massive asset for South African cricket with all-around ability: 25 wickets taken and 387 runs scored already from a short career of 18 matches.
Maharaj chipped in with a wicket after conceding 27 runs from 2 overs. Lungi Ngidi was able to swing the ball early on and got his reward with 2 wickets to his name. Kagiso Rabada was expensive with 38 runs from 6 overs, he claimed the important wicket of Ben Stokes.
Fielding Analysis
Aiden Markram was caught deep by Jonny Bairstow, a wonderful grab from a man who lost his footing just at the wrong moment. Bairstow previously pouched Rassie van der Dussen safely off Rashid’s bowling. Gerald Coetzee also lost his wicket thanks to a brilliant piece of fielding. Substitute fielder Liam Livingstone covered a lot of ground and dived forward to complete a fine grab.
Ben Stokes’s return to the World Cup stage after his heroics in the last version was cut short by a brilliant reaction catch by Rabada off his own bowling. The fast bowler was not finished though, he produced a moment of magic by catching David Willey at mid-on – a lot of running and diving involved. South Africans were immaculate with their ground field on their way to a historic victory.
Key Performances
Heinrich Klaasen fought with the grueling heat of Mumbai and a debilitating cramp to produce a memorable World Cup ton. He found the perfect partner in Marco Jansen who completed a 35-ball fifty and more. Reeza Hendricks came to the side to replace Bavuma, he played like a man possessed in his innings of 85 runs from 75 balls. Reece Topley came back to bowl again after injuring his index finger, he was the pick of bowlers with 3 wickets at a high price of 88 runs. Gus Atkinson picked up 2 wickets.
Mark Wood entertained the crowd with some power-hitting and ended up topping the scoring chart for the Englishmen. Gus Atkinson also batted with purpose in his innings of 35. Gerald Coetzee claimed three scalps to dismantle the English lineup. Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen got two wickets apiece.
Turning Point
Heinrich Klaasen came into the middle with the South African score at 3 for 164 after 25.2 overs. The 32-year-old batsman from Pretoria showed intent early on with a couple of exquisite cover drives.
Klaasen found the humid afternoon in Mumbai merciless, he was writhing in pain after every heavy heave. Soon the right-hander resorted to hitting only boundaries because of the body’s limited movement. The innings of 109 runs from 67 balls showed how to bat on a good pitch like Mumbai where the ball comes onto the bat nicely. Before getting out in the 49th over, Klaasen made sure South Africa would get close to the 409 mark, making the target almost impossible for the English to chase down.
Match Result
South Africa recorded an impressive win against England, winning the game resoundingly by 229 runs.
Player of the Match
Heinrich Klaasen was unanimously chosen as the man of the match for his remarkable stroke-filled innings of 109 runs from 69 balls.
Brief Scorecard
| South Africa Total: 399/7 (50 overs) | England Total: 170/10 (22 overs) |
| Heinrich Klaasen 109 (67) | Mark Wood 43* (17) |
| Reeza Hendricks 85 (75) | Gus Atkinson 35 (21) |
| Reece Topley 3/88 | Gerald Coetzee 3/35 |
| Gus Atkinson 2/60 | Lungi Ngidi 2/26 |
Match Highlights
Match Wrap-Up
It was a statement victory for the Proteas who are back to winning ways after the upset at the hands of the Dutch. A dazzling display with the bat followed by a wonderful performance with the ball and a monumental effort in the field – a good at the office for the South African cricketers. They are in the 2nd spot of the table after 4 games played. Will it be their year finally? On the flip side, the English will face the Lankans in their next game with both team’s World Cup hopes hanging in the balance.
