World Cup 2023 | Heinrich Klaasen, Jansen Humiliate ENG In South Africa’s Historical Win

Heinrich Klaasen celebrates his World Cup 2023 century against England (AP)

Brief Scores: South Africa: 399-7 (50 overs) [Heinrich Klaasen: 109 (67), Reeza Hendricks: 85 (75); Reece Topley 3/88 (8.5), Gus Atkinson 2/60 (9)] defeated England: 170 all out (22 overs) [Mark Wood: 43* (17), Gus Atkinson: 35 (21); Gerald Coetzee 3/35 (4), Lungi Ngidi 2/26 (5)] by 229 runs.

South Africa pummeled defending champions England in Mumbai to recover from their shock World Cup 2023 defeat to Netherlands a few nights ago at Dharamsala.

Klaasen all-class in maiden World Cup ton

South Africans, in the absence of regular skipper Temba Bavuma, were put into bat first by England at the Wankhede Stadium. Makeshift opener Reeza Hendricks made full use of his rare opportunity at the top by sharing 121 runs with number three Rassie van der Dussen for the second wicket. Earlier in the game, his opening partner Quinton de Kock was entrapped by Reece Topley to register his second successive failure of the tournament.

Hendricks went on to produce an aggressive 85, and his good work with Rassie was further complemented by interim captain Aiden Markram with his near run-a-ball 42. With South Africa poised for a monumental total at 243-5 in 36 overs, middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen and death-overs barbarian Marco Jansen unleashed an all-out assault on English bowlers at the death.

The two cricketers shared 151 runs together for the sixth wicket from just 76 deliveries, where Klaasen smoked 12 boundaries and four sixes to bludgeon his maiden World Cup ton, a 67-ball 109. Jansen, on the other end, went berserk in his six-hitting mode to finish at an unbeaten 75 from just 42.

With each English bowler, including wicket-takers Topley, Gus Atkinson and Adil Rashid, going for expensive runs in their spells, South Africa eventually amassed a staggering 399-7 from their 50 overs.

England’s response dusted up in 22 overs

England’s run-chase spirit was extinguished early by South Africa’s new-ball pace attack, with Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada all striking within the powerplay. Following Proteas’ new-ball bursts, Gerald Coetzee tore through England’s middle-order with three quick wickets, all in the space of just 13 deliveries to reduce defending champions at 100-8 at one stage.

England’s last-wicket pair of Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson clubbed a few towards the closing stages but their 33-ball 70-run stand merely reduced South Africa’s win margin to 229 runs.

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