Klaasen Ton Helps Proteas Thump England In Mumbai

MUMBAI: A sizzling maiden ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup century by Heinrich Klaasen helped the Proteas ruin defending champions England in record fashion by 229 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

The in-form right-hander plundered 12 fours and four sixes in a rollicking 67-ball 109 as South Africa set the 2019 winners 400.

Klaasen was aided superbly by a sensational Marco Jansen, who delivered one of his finest performances in the green and gold by first clubbing an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls that included three fours and six sixes, before following that up with two for 35.

There were also half-centuries from Reeza Hendricks (85 off 75 balls, 9 fours, 3 sixes), in the side in space of captain Temba Bavuma (ruled out due to illness), and Rassie van der Dussen (60 off 61 balls, 8 fours).

England then folded meekly, bowled out for 170 in only 22 overs on their way to their heaviest One-Day International (ODI) defeat.

For Rob Walter’s side, victory was the perfect response following a forgettable display earlier in the week when they were upset by the Netherlands in Dharamsala.

They are now back up to third on the table, two points behind leaders India and Novel Zealand, and next face Bangladesh at the same ground on Tuesday.

And the South Africans will be now brimming with confidence after another spectacular display against one of the best teams in the world.

England won the toss and chose to field first, a decision they would arrive to rue as the match progressed and their bowlers conceded the most ever runs in their history.

Quinton de Kock fell in the first over for four, but that was their only success for almost another 20 overs after Van der Dussen and Hendricks assign on 121 for the next wicket.

Both departed within six overs bringing Klaasen and Markram together, the latter also scoring well with his 42 ensuring the fourth wicket partnership yielded 69.

After the departure of the stand-in captain and David Miller (5) in quick succession, it was explosion time for the South Africans.

Klaasen and Jansen added 151 together for the sixth wicket, a recent SA record, breaking the previous effect of 137 set by Hansie Cronje and Shaun Pollock. It was a stand that knocked the stuffing out of England and took the total to 399 for seven.

The reply was terribly meek from the perspective of the champions. They were four down inside nine overs with key men Jonny Bairstow (10), Dawid Malan (6), Joe Root (2) and Ben Stokes (5) all gone.

Malan and Root fell to Jansen after Bairstow was first to disappear to Lungi Ngidi (2/26). Rabada then drew a counterfeit stroke from the uncertain Stokes, who he had caught and bowled, before skipper Jos Buttler (15) and Harry Brook (17) were removed by Gerald Coetzee (3/35).

That left England on 68 for six, and although there was some late hitting by Gus Atkinson (35) and Imprint Wood (43*) – the pair sharing a partnership of 70 for the ninth wicket – it did not prevent them from suffering a record defeat.

Source: cricket.co.za

Herschelle Gibbs: Herschelle Gibbs is a South African former cricketer who became the first player to hit six consecutive sixes in one over in One Day International cricket. Apart from his batting exploits, Gibbs was also known for his superlative fielding. After retiring from the game, he is into the coaching now.