Heinrich Klaasen raced to his fourth ODI century against England. Picture: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP
Heinrich Klaasen led the charge as South Africa hammered England’s bowlers on Saturday, racking up a massive total of 399/7 in their Cricket World Cup match in Mumbai.
After being sent in to bat, Quinton de Kock was removed with the second ball of the innings when seamer Reece Topley had him caught behind (following a successful review by the England team) but the Proteas top order managed to recover from the early knock.
Reeza Hendricks, who replaced captain Temba Bavuma in the team for the game after the skipper fell ill, shared 121 for the second wicket with Rassie van der Dussen.
Following Van der Dussen’s dismissal for 60 runs in the 20th over, Hendricks went on to make 85 off 75 balls, while stand-in captain Aiden Markram added a useful 42.
Klaasen then picked up the pace with a relentless demolition effort, reaching his fourth career ODI century by bashing 109 runs off 67 balls (including 12 fours and four sixes).
He combined in a 151-run stand with in-form all-rounder Marco Jansen for the sixth wicket, and after Klaasen was bowled by Gus Atkinson in the final over, Jansen carried the SA team home as they compiled their highest ever score against England. Jansen contributed his maiden ODI half-century, making 75 not out from 42 deliveries.
England will be chasing a target of 400 runs for victory in the round-robin clash.
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