Following his aspect’s 229-run loss to South Africa of their ICC Cricket World Cup match, England skipper Jos Buttler stated that batting first may have been a greater determination and added that there isn’t a “room for error” from now onwards. A fiery century by Heinrich Klaasen after which an all-out assault by pacers helped South Africa safe a 229-run win over defending champions England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium right here on Saturday. In the post-match press convention, Buttler stated, “I think you always reflect after games and sort of question your decisions. Certainly, with hindsight, the sort of physicality of that innings, potentially batting first would have been a better decision, but I am not going to sort of sit here and question that and in that sense and sort of say, you should have done this or you should have done that. It is a decision I took at the time. I thought it was the right one and I still believe if we were chasing 340, 350, we would have done really well in those conditions.

“Just a few issues did not go proper. Obviously, Reece, selecting up a knock and not sure if he was going to return again. So, I assumed Joe Root did a unbelievable job there filling in. And yeah, bodily it was powerful. You know, everybody’s efforts have been, you possibly can’t fold anybody’s efforts, however yeah, Klassen and Jansen put collectively a unbelievable partnership there,” he added.

Buttler described the loss as “powerful defeat to take”. He said that the loss leaves them in a tough position.

“Yeah, it definitely leaves us in a troublesome place. There isn’t any room for error from right here on in. That goes to be extremely powerful, however we are going to sit down and go once more. That is all you are able to do on this scenario,” he added.

The skipper said that had England broken the sixth wicket stand between Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen, they could have restricted SA to 340-350 runs, which would have been a better chase.

“Yeah, I feel that was the primary little bit of the sport. We had them 5 down there, and if we may have discovered a option to break that partnership and take one other wicket, you realize, we may have seemed like proscribing them to 340 or 350, which in all probability would have been a very good chase on that pitch,” said Buttler.

“I feel getting as much as 400 was a wonderful rating, it form of took the wind away from us and it was all the time going to be powerful from there, we wanted every thing to go good to tug off a chase like that,” he added.

Buttler revealed that spinner Adil Rashid was suffering from some sickness before the game.

“Rash (Rashid) was struggling a little bit bit with the illness earlier than the sport, however I felt like he may get on the market and carry out and carried out rather well. So, credit score to him for that. Yeah, Reece clearly took a nasty blow on his finger, which we are going to see how that’s tomorrow. But, you realize, a personality to return again and check out. Physically it was a very demanding innings and like I stated earlier than, it makes you query possibly in these sort of circumstances batting first might have been the appropriate name on the toss,” said Buttler.

On being asked if this is the toughest spot that he has found himself as a cricketer, Buttler said that he has experienced plenty in his career.

“Been in just a few. I’ve definitely skilled loads I’d say, in my profession, which makes you are feeling like you’re in the absolute best place you may ever be to take care of one thing like this. I’ve gone by a number of ups and downs in my very own profession and in groups I’ve performed in and there’s definitely challenges however from challenges come alternative and that’s definitely the lens I will likely be trying by,” Buttler said.

Coming to the match, England elected to field first.

Half-centuries from Reeza Hendricks (85 in 75 balls, with nine fours and three sixes) and Rassie van der Dussen (60 in 61 balls, with eight fours) set a foundation for something big.

But it was the partnership between Heinrich Klaasen (109 in 67 balls, with 12 fours and four sixes) and Marco Jansen (75 in 42 balls, with three fours and six sixes) that really upped the run-rate, taking Proteas to 399/7 in their 50 overs.

Reece Topley (3/88) was the pick of the bowlers for England while Gus Atkinson and Adil Rashid took two wickets.

In the chase of 400, England was never a threat and was reduced to 100/8. But a partnership between Mark Wood (43 in 17 balls, with two fours and five sixes) and Gus Atkinson (35 in 21 balls, seven fours) offered some entertainment to fans, but England was bundled for 170 in 35 overs.

Gerald Coetzee (3/35) was the top bowler for SA. Lungi Ngidi (2/26) and Marco Jansen (2/35) took two wickets while Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada took one.

Klaasen was the ‘Player of the Match’ for his match-winning knock.

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