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

South Africa's Temba Bavuma on their must-win Cricket World Cup clash with England

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 vs South Africa

• England take on South Africa in bid to get World Cup title defence on track
• Wicket! de Kock out for 4! ct Buttler b Topley South Africa 4-1
• Van der Dussen 50! South Africa 105-1
• Hendricks 50! South Africa 106-1
• Wicket! van der Dussen out for 60! ct Bairstow b Rashid, South Africa 125-2
• Wicket! Hendricks out for 85! b Rashid, South Africa 164-3
• Wicket! Markram out for 42! ct Bairstow b Topley, South Africa 233-4
• SIX! Klaasen smashes Topley in an expensive over for England, South Africa 306-5
• 100! What an innings, Klaasen flicks Wood for four, South Africa 344-5
• Proteas set England imposing target of 400 to win after brilliant Klaasen century
• Wicket! Malan edges Jansen and the Proteas are well on top at the start of this chase, England 29-3
• Catch! Stokes must walk, Rabada getting down low to claim the vital wicket, England 38-4
• Wicket! Skipper Buttler must walk, Coetzee with an aggressive send-off, England 68-5
• Wicket! Brook given a heavy send off by Coetzee and the review does not help, England 68-6
• Wicket! Rashid out for 10! Coetzee strikes again, England 84-7
• Wicket! Willey out for 12 and a stunning catch from Rabada, England 100-8
• Wicket! Atkinson out for 35, and England suffer 229-run defeat
• South Africa beat England by 229 runs

[21 October 2023 11:10 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 134-2 (21) Hendricks 61, Markram 7, Root 0-32 (5.1)

Root has continued, there’s a boundary from the third ball of the over, and otherwise the Proteas are able to score from all but one ball from the over.

[21 October 2023 11:09 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 126-2 (20) Hendricks 59, Markram 1, Rashid 1-13 (2)

The wicket brings stand in captain Aiden Markram to the crease. Root goes in to slip, England are on the hunt for another...

But he drives down the ground for a single to get off the mark.

[21 October 2023 11:05 · Sonia Twigg]

Wicket! van der Dussen out for 60! ct. Bairstow b. Rashid, South Africa 125-2

That was just what England needed! A big top-edge off Rashid and Bairstow holds on, a hint of spin and Buttler’s side have the breakthrough they desperately needed.

[21 October 2023 11:03 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 123-1 (19), van der Dussen 59, Hendricks 58, Root 0-24 (4)

There are easy singles coming from Root’s over, every delivery of that one has gone for a run, but remarkably it’s still less expensive than everything happening at the other end.

[21 October 2023 10:59 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 116-1 (18) van der Dussen 56, Hendricks 55, Rashid 0-10 (1)

Rashid has been brought into the attack for the first time today, and he goes for a four first ball.

It will be interesting how he bowls considering the commentators have been discussing how he has not felt well and spent some time off the field already this morning.

Another missed length and another boundary, that over has gone for 10.

[21 October 2023 10:54 · Sonia Twigg]

Hendricks 50! South Africa 106-1

Hendricks might have taken 14 balls to get off the mark, but since then he has motored, his half century came from 48 deliveries.

[21 October 2023 10:53 · Sonia Twigg]

Van der Dussen 50! South Africa 105-1

Van der Dussen has played expertly here for his half century, survived when England were on top early on then along with Hendricks has put them back under pressure.

A chanceless half century.

[21 October 2023 10:52 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 104-1 (16) van der Dussen 49, Hendricks 49, Wood 0-30 (3)

Wood will bowl his third over now, with both van der Dussen and Hendricks closing in on half centuries.

But he has been driven down the ground back past him as he fell over, and van de Dussen moves on to 48. Slightly too full and at that pace there is no need to do anything more than time the ball.

Hendricks smashes a six final ball of the over to move on to 49.

[21 October 2023 10:44 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 91-1 (15) van der Dussen 43, Hendricks 42, Root 0-15 (2)

Bairstow has fumbled the ball in the field, allowing South Africa a single. There’s a four next ball and the runs are starting to flow here.

Just the one boundary from Root’s over, and that will be drinks.

A quick recap of the innings so far: England got off to an ideal start with the wicket of de Kock, but since the opening seven overs South Africa have found the runs easier to come by and started to put Buttler’s side on the back foot.

[21 October 2023 10:40 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 83-1 (14) van der Dussen 37, Hendricks 40, Wood 0-17 (2)

Wood continues and he goes for a four first ball of the over.

He has bowled quickly, and has thrown in a bouncer, but Harry Brook has done an exceptional piece of fielding for one that just bounced in front of him, there was a brief moment where it looked like he could take the catch, but it turned into a good stop.