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After each shot, Heinrich Klaasen collapsed to his
haunches in a wet heap. In the meanwhile, he destroyed England’s bowlers for a
61-ball century at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium to set up a convincing South Africa
triumph.
With South Africa’s innings ending on 399 for 7 and
requiring the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history, Klaasen’s 109
from just 67 deliveries overall mirrored the abrasiveness of the heat and
humidity that had also left England spinner David Willey cramping throughout.
Instead, England gave up, going for 170 all out in 22 overs and suffering their
biggest ODI loss.
In just 77 balls, Klaasen and Marco Jansen added 151
runs for the sixth wicket, one of South Africa’s two century partnerships.
Reeza Hendricks, who replaced the ill Temba Bavuma in the lineup, and Rassie
van der Dussen added 121 runs for the second wicket after Quinton de Kock was
out on the first ball of the game. With an outstanding 85 from 75 balls,
Hendricks finished as his side’s second-highest scorer, and Jansen was
extremely damaging in his own right with a 42-ball 75 not out.
Within six overs of their response, England’s top
three were out for just 24 runs when Jansen struck out Joe Root and Dawid Malan
with consecutive balls at the end of his second and the beginning of his third
over. After missing his team’s first two games due to a hip injury, Ben Stokes
threw his bat in the air in annoyance after spooning a Kagiso Rabada delivery
straight back to the bowler, becoming the third England batsman to do so in a
row as England fell to 38 for 4.
Gerald Coetzee gave up 16 runs in his opening over,
although Jos Buttler’s four, four, and six were the best he could muster.
Coetzee then replied by taking two wickets in the first three balls of his
second over, catching the captain of England behind and lbwing Harry Brook for
15 and 17 respectively. Just No. 10 Reece Topley was injured while playing
defence, so Mark Wood, who scored an almost comical 17-ball unbeaten 43, and
Gus Atkinson, who scored 35 in just his fourth ODI, did better for England with
the bat.
The outcome put South Africa back on top after their
shocking loss to the Netherlands overshadowed triumphs from their first two
games and ended England’s aspirations of competing at the World Cup.