Aided by the lovely batting conditions at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, South Africa's batting machinery added another chapter to their fast-growing book of destruction against England on Saturday (October 21). Fifties from Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen set the platform before Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen went berserk at the death to set England a gargantuan target of 400.
Put into bat, South Africa got off to a shaky start as Quinton de Kock fell off the second ball of the innings. Reece Topley and David Willey began accurately, making use of the minimal movement that was on offer early on. But once the former got a finger injury and after the movement disappeared, England's bowlers were sent on a leather hunt. Hendricks and van der Dussen started to go through the gears, utilizing the true surface and short boundaries to good effect.
It was the introduction of Adil Rashid that gave England some respite as the leg spinner removed both set batters within a short interval to peg South Africa back. Aiden Markram, filling in as captain for the ill Temba Bavuma, took over the mantle along with Klaasen as the innings steadily gained in momentum once more. It was the sort of template that we've been used to seeing from South Africa in recent times. No team has owned the middle overs like they have and it's been due to the ominous boundary-hitting skills of their middle order.
A soft dismissal ended Markram's stay much against the run of play and once again South Africa lost wickets in bunches with David Miller also falling cheaply. At 243/5 in the 37th over, there was a big threat of the Proteas underachieving with the bat. However, Klaasen found an able partner in Jansen as the duo set about putting the innings back on track. They took a bit of time early on, especially Jansen who was slow off the blocks in getting his eye in but once the carnage started, there was no stopping it.
A whopping 143 runs came off the last ten overs and this includes the 50th over which just went for five runs. On a day when all the players suffered from the heat and humidity, Klaasen was no different but he battled the physical struggles to put on a monstrous assault on England's bowlers. The death bowling was astoundingly wayward and both batters cashed in. Fours and sixes were struck at will during the end overs as it all fell apart rather quickly for England. When Miller fell, Jos Buttler's men had a realistic chance of keeping the score to under 350 or perhaps even 330. Now, it will take something sensational for them to keep their campaign alive, although Wankhede is arguably the best place to create a record World Cup chase.
Brief scores: South Africa 399/8 in 50 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 109, Reeza Hendricks 85, Marco Jansen 75*; Reece Topley 3-88) vs England
Source: Cricbuzz