Wankhede (Agencies): Heinrich Klaasen crumpled to his haunches in a dripping mess after every shot. In between whiles, he flayed England’s bowlers for a 61-ball century to set up an emphatic South Africa victory at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
The brutality of Klaasen’s 109 from just 67 balls all told matched the harshness of the heat and humidity which had also left England bowler David Willey cramping throughout South Africa’s innings, ending on 399 for 7 and requiring the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history. England capitulated instead, crashing to 170 all out in 22 overs and suffering their heaviest ODI defeat.
Klaasen’s innings included 12 fours and four sixes as he shared a 151-run sixth-wicket partnership with Marco Jansen from just 77 balls, one of two century stands for South Africa with Reeza Hendricks – in the side for an unwell Temba Bavuma – and Rassie van der Dussen putting on 121 together for the second wicket after Quinton de Kock fell on the second ball of the match.
Hendricks ended up as his side’s second-highest scorer with an excellent 85 from 75 balls while Jansen was incredibly damaging in his own right with a 42-ball 75 not out.
England lost their top three for just 24 runs inside six overs of their reply, Jansen dismissing Joe Root and Dawid Malan with consecutive balls at the end of his second over and start of his third.
Ben Stokes, back after missing his side’s first two matches with a hip injury, tossed his bat into the air in frustration after he spooned a Kagiso Rabada delivery straight back to the bowler to become the third England batter in succession to fall for single-figures as England slumped to 38 for 4.
Gerald Coetzee conceded 16 runs off his first over but Jos Buttler’s four, four and six were as good as it got as Coetzee responded with two wickets in the first three balls of his second when he had England’s skipper caught behind and Harry Brook lbw for 15 and 17 respectively.
Only No. 10 Mark Wood with an almost farcical 17-ball unbeaten 43 and Gus Atkinson, scoring 35 in just his fourth ODI, fared better for England with the bat, Reece Topley unable to come in after he was injured while fielding.
The result returned South Africa to winning ways after their shock defeat at the hands of Netherlands blighted victories from their opening two matches and left England’s hopes of featuring at the business end of the tournament on a knife edge.
After winning the toss, Buttler opted to bowl first, a decision that looked increasingly dubious as South Africa’s batters cashed in on an excellent batting surface. Sam Curran and Chris Woakes were left out after their struggles with the ball as Willey and Atkinson came in. Topley started well, responding immediately to being struck for four off the very first ball of the match with an excellent outswinger that invited de Kock to drive and found an edge which was snaffled by Buttler behind the stumps, although it took an England review to secure the dismissal.
