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England vs South Africa LIVE: Cricket World Cup 2023 reaction as Jos Buttler’s men lose by 229 runs

Follow all the live coverage from Mumbai as defending champions England take on South Africa

Sonia Twigg,Jack Rathborn
Saturday 21 October 2023 16:42 BST
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South Africa's Temba Bavuma on their must-win Cricket World Cup clash with England

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England suffered another humiliating 229-run defeat against South Africa at Mumbai, which will be hard to come back from and keep any chances of Cricket World Cup semi-final qualification alive.

In Delhi, Jos Buttler’s side were left stunned and contemplating the nature of their 69-run defeat to Afghanistan, who only recently acquired full-ICC member status, and they fell apart again against the Proteas.

The cracks that had been evident in their first two matches became gaping holes, Henrich Klaasen smashed 109 from 67 to take South Africa to just short of 399, as England struggled to take wickets but it was the batting where the match became a disaster.

South Africa ripped through the top order, and other than a prolific record-breaking partnership for the ninth wicket between Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood, the next-highest score was Harry Brook’s 17.

It was England’s heaviest defeat in ODI cricket. It is worth remembering that England lost three matches and still qualified for the semi-finals when they went on to win the competition back in 2019, but with India and Australia still to play, it is looking like a difficult task.

Here’s everything you need to know about the cricket World Cup fixture and get the latest odds here.

England 74/6 (13.0) - Willey 6, Rashid 0, Rabada 1-17 (4) - England require 6326 more runs to win

(REUTERS)
South Africa’s Gerald Coetzee celebrates
South Africa’s Gerald Coetzee celebrates (AP)
(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jack Rathborn21 October 2023 15:19

England 68/5 (11.2) - Willey 0, Brook 17, Coetzee 1-17 (1.2) - England require 332 more runs to win

WICKET! Jos Buttler must walk, Coetzee with a tidy delivery.

It has some movement, nipping away and Buttler can only nudge it to de Kock!

The hope of that flurry of boundaries, just going four, four, six in the over before, is shortlived.

Coetzee shows Buttler where to go, an arrogant pose and stare towards the England skipper.

Surely this is just about salvaging some pride? South Africa dominant.

Jack Rathborn21 October 2023 15:10

England 38/4 (8.1) - Buttler 0, Brook 6, Jansen 1-1 (1.1) - England require 362 more runs to win

It's all going South Africa's way, Stokes gone for five, off eight deliveries, and he cracks one back towards Rabada.

The Proteas bowler gets down low, grabbing the ball firmly, it's stunning.

Stokes tosses his bat into the air, twirling in the night sky, a look of a man who knows the game is up for England.

In comes Jos Buttler, South African running riot here.

Jack Rathborn21 October 2023 14:53

England 29/3 (6.0) - Stokes 0, Brook 5, Jansen 2-13 (3.0) - England require 371 more runs to win

Another wicket, a nick on that from Malan and it’s reviewed, but Jansen has another.

England in all sorts, Ben Stokes the only hope? It’s unfair how much pressure England’s talisman is under.

In comes Brook, you feel this needs to be a huge partnership to even get close to 400.

South Africa can break the back of this chase, Jansen on a hat-trick.

Brook fends it off, but it’s not far away! Jansen is getting some nice shape on these deliveries with a little swing. Brooks grabs four much-needed runs for England, flashed away behind point, he’ll play the shots, as he needs to in this situation.

Jack Rathborn21 October 2023 14:41

England 20/1 (3.0) - Root 1, Malan 6, Ngidi 1-11 (2.0) - England require 380 more runs to win

A big appeal from Jansen, it’s clipping the stumps, but umpire’s call after Malan swings across the line.

Now then, Bairstow in the groove, immense timing on the turn, pulled to backward square leg for four more runs.

But Ngidi has his revenge, it’s thumped up high by Bairstow... into the night’s sky, but van der Dussen clasps it in the deep.

England down a wicket already, in comes Root.

Jack Rathborn21 October 2023 14:23

England 7-0 (1.0) - Bairstow 6, Malan 0, Ngidi 0-7 (1.0)

Now then, England underway and Ngidi steaming in, a lovely yorker to Bairstow with the third ball of the over.

The Proteas off to a fine start as they look to limit England early on.

A big swipe across the line from Bairstow and he’s fortunate not to connect, it was wild and out of control, but he needs to gamble here.

Much-needed! Bairstow with the easy flick over midwicket, a maximum and didn’t Jos Buttler’s side need that.

Jack Rathborn21 October 2023 14:10

England 7-0 (1.0) - Bairstow 6, Malan 0, Ngidi 0-7 (1.0)

Now then, England underway and Ngidi steaming in, a lovely yorker to Bairstow with the third ball of the over.

The Proteas off to a fine start as they look to limit England early on.

A big swipe across the line from Bairstow and he’s fortunate not to connect, it was wild and out of control, but he needs to gamble here.

Much-needed! Bairstow with the easy flick over midwicket, a maximum and didn’t Jos Buttler’s side need that.

Jack Rathborn21 October 2023 14:10

England prepare run chase with South Africa setting 400 to win at Cricket World Cup

(AFP via Getty Images)
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
England's captain Jos Butler, right, talks to David Willey
England's captain Jos Butler, right, talks to David Willey (AP)
Jack Rathborn21 October 2023 13:51

Proteas set England imposing target of 400 to win after brilliant Klaasen century

It’s a mammoth task for England, they look spent, Stokes’ face painted a picture.

Just pure exhaustion, sweat dripping down his face and some awareness of the task at hand.

It’ll need a very special innings - maybe two or three - to knock this off and keep their hopes alive.

Jack Rathborn21 October 2023 13:49

WICKET! South Africa 394-6 (49.1) - Jansen 74, Klaasen 109, Atkinson 1-55 (8.1)

A wicket! But the damage is done, a standing ovation for Klaasen, has he just won the game for the Proteas?

His damage, 109 runs, only taking up 67 balls.

Don’t forget Jansen there too, he’s played a part, a strik rate of almost 179!!

Klaasen goes across and his leg bail is clipped, a tidy yorker from Atkinson, dialled in on leg stump.

Jack Rathborn21 October 2023 13:33

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