A magnificent century from Heinrich Klaasen and incisive fast bowling from the four-man pace attack saw South Africa score 399-7 and beat England by a record margin of 229 runs in their World Cup group match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
Klaasen’s 109 was brilliantly supported by half centuries from Reeza Hendricks (85), Rassie van der Dussen (60) and a brutal, career-best 75* from Marco Jansen (2-35) who then claimed two early wickets as England slumped to 170 all out in reply in just 22 overs.
It was the highest total ever conceded by England in an ODI while the margin of defeat was also the heaviest surpassing the 221-run drubbing by Australia at the MCG last year.
Gerald Coetzee claimed 3-35 while Lungi Ngidi (2-26) and Kagiso Rabada (1-38) were also in the wickets.
Hendricks took full advantage of his chance in the starting XI having been given just 15 minutes notice before the toss that captain Temba Bavuma was too ill to play and stroked a fluent 85 from just 75 balls (9×4, 3×6) to lay a crucial foundation during a second-wicket stand of 121 with Van der Dussen.
Klaasen reached 50 from 40 balls with eight fours but required just another 21 deliveries to post his fifth ODI century from 61 balls with 10 fours and four mighty sixes before departing for 109 from 67 balls having added another brace of fours.
As well as Van der Dussen and Markram batted against an England attack struggling with injury, illness and the debilitating heat and humidity, their efforts were overshadowed by Jansen and Klaasen in the final 10 overs which were as brutal as the World Cup has ever seen.
Jansen smashed three fours and six sixes during his maiden half century before finishing with a destructive 75 not out from only 42 balls as he and Klaasen helped themselves to 143 runs off the last 10 overs with an eye-watering 84 coming off the last five overs.
South Africa have beaten Sri Lanka by 102 runs, Australia by 134 runs and now England by 229 runs. – SuperSport.