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
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
South Africa 201-3 (31) Markram 31, Klaasen 19, Wood 0-39 (4)
Drop! Malan has technically dropped that although that has been absolutely smashed by Markram.
I’m not even sure he’s tried to catch it or just duck his head out the way and put his hands up to protect his face!
Absolutely smashed! Wood has then been driven for a boundary.
A single brings the 200 up and South Africa will be pretty happy with their position here.
South Africa 192-3 (30) Markram 28, Klaasen 13, Rashid 3-37 (7)
Topley is back on the field and if he can keep bowling as well as he did at the start of the innings that could change the course of momentum here.
England would like another couple of wickets just to dent South Africa’s ability to pile on the runs with just over 20 overs remaining.
South Africa 189-3 (29) Markram 26, Klaasen 12, Atkinson 0-29 (5)
Atkinson goes for successive boundaries which is just what England did not need.
Topley has been seen wandering around, he has not been on the field since the 7th over but could have recovered enough from a blow to the end of his finger to come back on here.
South Africa 178-3 (28) Markram 15, Klaasen 12, Rashid 2-34 (6)
That was a good over from Rashid who looks like he is struggling out there, but England need his experience and skill.
Rashid’s pace has slowed, but that has just given Klaasen time to play a reverse-sweep for the final ball of the over.
South Africa 165-3 (26) Markram 13, Klaasen 1, Rashid 2-26 (5)
Back to back good overs and a key breakthrough. Both in players are out and England have two new batters to go for.
Wicket! Hendricks out for 85! b Rashid South Africa 164-3
Rashid and the googly strike! Hendricks has been completely done by that ball!
He offers hardly any shot and plays on to his stumps.
South Africa 163-2 (25) Hendricks 85, Markram 12, Atkinson 0-13 (3)
After Root’s last over went for 16, Buttler has decided to make a change and Atkinson returns.
That was an excellent over and just what England needed, just two runs from it.
South Africa 161-2 (24) Hendricks 84, Markram 11, Rashid 1-24 (4)
There is a hint of drift from Rashid and a bit of turn.
A miss-field from Bairstow allows a single, the run itself is not costly but given the platform the Proteas are on England cannot afford to let missfields creep into their performance.
South Africa 156-2 (23) Hendricks 81, Markram 9, Root 0-48 (6.1)
Hendricks has smashed Root over wide mid off for six, that is a huge hit and has gone a long way back into the stands.
Root being England’s sixth choice and second spinner was a big call from Buttler and so far has not been paying off.
And two balls later he does exactly the same again to move on to 80. Two big sixes in the over.
16 from the over.
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