Heinrich Klaasen stated he had “worked my whole life” for an outstanding hundred that powered South Africa to a crushing 229-run World Cup win over champions England. Klaasen’s 109 was the centrepiece of South Africa’s big complete of 399-7 in Mumbai on Saturday. His innings was all of the extra spectacular for being made in oppressively scorching and humid circumstances he likened to “batting in a sauna”, with Klaasen repeatedly affected by cramp as temperatures soared to 36 levels on the Wankhede Stadium.

Klaasen additionally acquired excellent help from Marco Jansen throughout a commanding sixth-wicket partnership of 151 in a mere 77 balls.

Jansen made 75 not out, his maiden one-day worldwide fifty, earlier than reverting to a extra acquainted function of left-arm fast with a few early wickets as England slumped to 170.

Klaasen, after what was simply his fourth hundred in 45 ODIs, paid tribute to Jansen for seeing him by to the landmark.

“I had to dig really, really deep there. I didn’t have any energy left,” stated Klaasen.

“My partner Marco played a big part in that,” added the 32-year-old. “He told me that he’s got me and that I’m not allowed to walk off the field if I don’t score a hundred.

‘Breathing in hot air’

“It was like simply inhaling scorching air. Every time you attempt to run it is simply sapping increasingly more power after which on the finish of the day your physique simply does not wish to work with you anymore. It was identical to nearly working in a sauna for the entire innings.

“But you’ve got to dig deep for your country as well, I’ve worked my whole life for it, so it’s a great moment.”

This was a well timed win for South Africa after a surprising loss to the Netherlands, a non-Test nation, threatened to derail a World Cup marketing campaign that had began with wins over Sri Lanka and Australia.

“The defeat to the Netherlands was a tough loss but one defeat does not make a bad team,” stated Klaasen. “This was a fantastic performance.”

Klaasen, in the meantime hailed the efficiency of opener Reeza Hendricks, who made 85 following the late withdrawal of Proteas captain Temba Bavuma by sickness, for example of South Africa’s workforce spirit.

“Reeza got a late call, I think it was about 10 minutes before, five minutes before the coin toss that Temba is down.

“To carry out like that, and the pictures he performed underneath strain, reveals the place we’re as a South African cricket group.”

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