World Cup 2023:  South Africa crushed defending champions England by 229 runs to hand them their biggest defeat in the history of ODI World Cups.

After posting a 400-run target, the Proteas bowled out England for 170 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It was England’s third defeat on the trot after they had suffered a shock loss to Afghanistan. Earlier, Heinrich Klaasen batted through the pain barrier to make a brilliant century as South Africa posted a colossal 399.

Klaasen, repeatedly troubled by cramps on a hot and humid day at the Wankhede Stadium, hit a six and a four off successive deliveries from fast bowler Mark Wood to complete a 61-ball hundred — only his fourth in 45 ODIs.

He was eventually out for 109 when bowled by Gus Atkinson in the last over, having struck 12 fours and four sixes in total. Klaasen received brilliant support from Marco Jansen in a sixth-wicket stand of 151 in just 77 balls.

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Jansen, better known as a left-arm quick bowler, finished on 75 not out — his maiden ODI fifty — having struck three fours and six sixes with shots worthy of a top-order batsman. The Proteas, looking to bounce back from a shock loss to non-Test side the Netherlands, ran riot as they scored 143 off the last 10 overs after losing the toss.

Reece Topley took three wickets but conceded 88 runs in 8.5 overs, with express quick Wood going for 76 in a wicketless seven-over spell during a barrage of boundaries. South Africa’s Quinton de Kock was caught behind off just the second ball of the innings.

But opener Reeza Hendricks, who only received a late call-up after Proteas captain Temba Bavuma was ruled out through illness, marked his return with 85 and shared a second-wicket stand of 121 with Rassie van der Dussen (60)

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid removed both Van der Dussen and Hendricks, with England bidding to get their title defense back on track after a shock loss to Afghanistan last time out. But he could only watch as Jansen smashed two successive sixes off Topley full-tosses.

England brought in talismanic Ben Stokes for his first game of the tournament after being sidelined with a hip injury.