Proteas sweep England aside with crushing World Cup victory

The Proteas shone with bat and ball in Mumbai on Saturday, delivering a superb all-round effort as they bounced back in style to secure a comprehensive 229-run victory over England at the Cricket World Cup.

Just four days after being defeated by the Netherlands, South Africa returned to winning ways with their third victory of the tournament, setting their opponents a formidable target before dismantling them with a ruthless attack.

Chasing 400 runs to win, none of England’s batters were able to get going.

Tail-enders Gus Atkinson (35) and Mark Wood (43 not out) put up a lone fight with a gutsy 70-run stand for the ninth wicket, but they ultimately fell well short as the reigning champions were bundled out for 170 runs in the 22nd over.

It was the England team’s biggest ever margin of defeat in ODI cricket, surpassing their 221-run loss to Australia in Melbourne last year.

Proteas innings

Earlier, Heinrich Klaasen led the charge as the Proteas racked up a massive total of 399/7 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.