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 09:45 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 7-1 (3) van der Dussen 1, Hendricks 0, Topley 1-7 (2)

Topley starts his second over with a wide, it’s his second of the day so far, but he has the crucial wicket.

England are finding the right lines and lengths here and the Proteas are struggling to get the ball away.

[21 October 2023 09:41 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 5-1 (2) van der Dussen 0, Hendricks 0, Willey 0-0 (1)

Willey has the new ball in his hand from the other end, and is dangerous with the swinging white ball.

Having missed out on selection in 2019, he will want to impress this time around.

He has kept a tight line and length and has not gone for a single run, this match could not have got off to a better start from an England perspective.

[21 October 2023 09:37 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 5-1 (1) van der Dussen 0, Hendricks 0, Topley 1-5 (1)

What a start for England! They will have wanted to make an early mark after the defeat to Afghanistan and they have the wicket of the dangerous Quinton de Kock in the first over, a great start from Buttler’s side.

Worth remembering South Africa might also be reeling slightly following their shock defeat to the Netherlands.

[21 October 2023 09:34 · Sonia Twigg]

Wicket! De Kock out for 4! South Africa 4-1 ct Buttler b Topley

Quinton de Kock will take strike as Reece Topley will bowl the first over for England, he was in impressive form against Bangladesh in Dharamshala.

And he is off the mark first ball with a four, but there is a big appeal next ball! England have reviewed a caught behind, but de Kock is unmoved.

But he’s gone! the DRS review showed the ball hit the ground but also the top of the bat and England have their first wicket.

[21 October 2023 09:29 · Sonia Twigg]

England vs South Africa

(AFP via Getty Images)

(REUTERS)

[21 October 2023 09:24 · Sonia Twigg]

England vs South Africa

The start time is getting closer, and it will be interesting to see how the changes affect the balance of the side.

Kate Cross on Sky said she thought the balance would have been better maintained with Moeen Ali coming in for Liam Livingstone, and I have to admit it does look like a long tail with potentially Rashid at number eight.

England will be hoping they won’t have to use their lower order, but there has not yet been a game in this World Cup where they have not been called upon.

[21 October 2023 09:06 · Sonia Twigg]

England vs South Africa

Aiden Markram explains that Bavuma is out with an illness, he tried to warm up but was not well enough to feature so Reeza Hendricks will be taking his place in the side.

[21 October 2023 09:05 · Sonia Twigg]

England vs South Africa toss

Aiden Markram will lead South Africa today with Temba Bavuma absent.

Joss Buttler has won the toss and elected to bowl says the reason behind it is because Mumbai is “generally a good ground for chasing”.

Three changes for England, Ben Stokes back in along with David Willey and Gus Atkinson for Sam Curran and Chris Woakes.

[21 October 2023 08:52 · Sonia Twigg]

England vs South Africa

One of the main talking points has been Ben Stokes, who is likely to be brought into the side for the first time in the tournament today.

Stokes is set to make an overdue return to the World Cup stage this weekend but he feared his tournament was over before it had even started when he “heard a pop” while training in the gym.

Stokes has missed all three of England’s games so far, with details sketchy about the nature of the hip problem that occurred during the warm-up week in Guwahati.

But the 32-year-old is now primed and ready for a comeback in Saturday’s must-win clash against South Africa in Mumbai and finally free to open up about worries he had sustained a major injury.

[21 October 2023 08:41 · Sonia Twigg]

England vs South Africa

The main talking point of the morning is going to be selection, with this turning into a must-win match for England to avoid a third defeat after only four matches.

England were grappling with a selection quandary on the eve of their crucial World Cup clash against South Africa, with captain Jos Buttler weighing up Chris Woakes’ role as leader of the attack.

Woakes’ new-ball skills have been a reliable centrepiece of the side ever since their white-ball reinvention eight years ago, but he has suffered an uncharacteristic wobble since arriving in India.

Three loose starts from the usually dependable seamer have undermined England’s efforts so far and an economy rate of 7.5 an over, coupled with two wickets at 67.50 each, tells a concerning story.