After scoring 399 runs against the defending champions England, South Africa claimed a giant victory at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. It was the record-margin Cricket World Cup defeat for a defending champion team.
It was the 20th game at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, where Wankhede Stadium hosted the South Africa vs England day/night match. After England chose to field first, South Africa scored 399/7 in 50 overs. Later, England were bundled out for only 170 runs (22 overs) as the Proteas won the match by 229 runs.
South Africa set up the highest ODI total against England
In the South African innings, while the opener Reeza Hendricks scored 85 off 75 balls (nine fours and three sixes) on his ODI World Cup debut, Rassie van der Dussen scored crucial 60 runs in 61 balls (eight fours).
While the stand-in skipper Aiden Markram scored 42 off 44 balls (four fours), Heinrich Klaasen scored fiery 109 runs in just 67 balls with the help of 12 fours and four sixes. Also, Marco Jansen fired up with 75 not out in 42 balls with the help of three fours and six sixes.
South Africa’s 399/7 was the highest ODI total against England (Check List 1). The previous record was 398/5 by New Zealand (at The Oval on June 12, 2015).
In reply, England were once struggling at 100/8. While Gus Atkinson (35) and Mark Wood (43*) had a 70-run partnership for the ninth wicket, the only two English batters with 20+ scores, injured Reece Topley didn’t come to bat.
South Africa’s record-margin win in the Cricket World Cup history
While South Africa won the match by 229 runs, it was the second-largest Cricket World Cup win (by runs) for a team against a Test-playing member (Check List 2). The record is South Africa’s 257-run victory against West Indies in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. It was also the joint seventh-largest winning margin in the Cricket World Cup history.
However, England’s 229-run defeat was the record-margin Cricket World Cup defeat for any defending champions (Check List 3). The previous record was Sri Lanka’s 159-run defeat against India in the ICC World Cup 1999.
Highest ODI totals vs England (List 1)
Team | Total (Overs) | Venue | Date |
South Africa | 399/7 (50) | Wankhede | October 21, 2023 |
New Zealand | 398/5 (50) | The Oval | June 12, 2015 |
West Indies | 389 (48) | St George’s | February 27, 2019 |
India | 387/5 (50) | Rajkot | November 14, 2008 |
India | 381/6 (50) | Cuttack | January 19, 2017 |
(Updated until October 21, 2023)
Largest victory margins against Test members in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (List 2)
Team | Winning margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
South Africa | 257 runs | West Indies | Sydney | February 27, 2015 |
South Africa | 229 runs | England | Wankhede | October 21, 2023 |
Australia | 215 runs | New Zealand | St George’s | April 20, 2007 |
South Africa | 206 runs | Bangladesh | Mirpur | March 19, 2011 |
England | 202 runs | India | Lord’s | June 7, 1975 |
(Updated until October 21, 2023)
Largest victory margins against defending champions in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (List 3)
Team | Winning margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
South Africa | 229 runs | England | Wankhede | October 21, 2023 |
India | 159 runs | Sri Lanka | Taunton | May 26, 1999 |
Australia | 95 runs | India | Sydney | March 26, 2015 |
South Africa | 89 runs | Sri Lanka | Northampton | May 19, 1999 |
Afghanistan | 69 runs | England | Delhi | October 15, 2023 |
(Updated until October 21, 2023)
Also Read
