PLAYER RATINGS: Heinrich Klassen stars as England fall apart

Find out how the players rated for their Cricket World Cup performance against England

Jonny Bairstow: Looked furious in the field and frenetic with the bat. England needed calm from a senior player. Took a decent catch, though. 2.5

Dawid Malan: Not for a moment did he threaten to lead a realistic chase. 2

Joe Root: Fell for a bit of a sucker punch when he was caught at leg slip. Exposed as a sixth bowler. 2

Ben Stokes: Well, he did warn us he wasn’t the Messiah… Even the actual one might have struggled here. 2

Jos Buttler: Nothing went right for England’s captain. Not the decision to field, the selection of the team or being on the wrong end of a fine ball. Questions about his future as leader seem inevitable. 2

Harry Brook: Coming in at 24-3, he was in an impossible position. 3

David Willey: Started well with the new ball but struggled later in the innings when he lacked thew weapons to contain the batters and an attack of cramp appeared to compromise his performance. 3.5

Adil Rashid: Might be overlooked in the grand scheme of things but Rashid performed with impressive courage and skill to keep England in the game despite ending to leave the pitch several times due to illness. 5

Mark Wood: While still sharp, Wood was not quite able to generate the speeds for which he is known and was taken for the most expensive analysis of his ODI career (76 runs) as a result, despite bowling only seven overs. Thrashed his highest List a score to lessen margin of defeat. 2

Gus Atkinson: To throw such an inexperienced player - he had played just five List A games before this match - into such a cauldron was a big ask. He responded with decent pace but lacked the subtlety to trouble batters. Provided some resistance with his top List A score. 3.5

Reece Topley: Looked very good until sustaining that finger injury in his fourth over. Deserves some credit for coming back on despite his obvious discomfort, but conceded 56 from his final three overs. 3

SOUTH AFRICA

Quinton de Kock: That South Africa managed this score without a significant contribution from their top batter might be deemed encouraging. Edged the second ball of the innings to the keeper. 2

Reeza Hendricks: Started slowly (he scored six from his first 18 balls) but then unveiled some stunning strokes. Decent effort for a man who didn’t know he was playing until 15-minutes before the toss. 8.5

Rassie van der Dussen: Kept South Africa on track with a run-a-ball 60. 7

Aiden Markram: Another solid innings which kept South Africa on track to a decent score. 6 

Heinrich Klassen: A magnificent century, the second 50 of which came in just 21 balls. Pulverised the England bowling and took the total way beyond their capabilities. 10

David Miller: Missed out on the fun. 2

Marco Jansen: Showed the value of a true all-rounder. Batted with gorgeous timing and power before claiming two top-order wickets with the ball. 2

Gerald Coetzee: Bowled with good pace and control and claimed key wickets of Brook and Buttler. 6.5

Keshav Maharaj: Took some tap in England’s ninth-wicket stand. 4

Kagiso Rabada: Claimed the key wicket of Stokes with a sharp return catch. 6

Lungi Ngidi: Gave England’s run-chase little chance of success with the important early wicket of Bairstow. 6

Related Topics

• Reece Topley facing early exit from World Cup
• England pay heavy price for neglecting 50-over format
• Heinrich Klaasen delivers knockout blow to leave England on the brink