For the second time within a month, South Africa conceded 400-plus in an ODI and then crashed to a heavy defeat, all this after having pocketed that series in the previous two games of the series. This happened in Australia last month, when Temba Bavuma's men registered an impressive series win before collapsing in the final match of the series. That trend repeated at Southampton on Sunday (September 7) as South Africa suffered an embarrassing 342-run defeat in the final match of the series against England. This is the biggest margin of victory by runs in ODI cricket.
In reply to the hosts's mammoth total of 414, South Africa were bowled out for a paltry total of 72 with only three batters getting past double digits. The margin of defeat, which is embarrassing enough, could have been worse as South Africa lost six wickets inside the their first ten overs as Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse ran riots with the new ball. The Proteas were reduced to 24/6 by the tenth over and they were able to get past 50 and 75 only due to the contributions of Corbin Bosch and Keshav Maharaj. For England, Archer returned with a four-fer while Carse picked two wickets with Adil Rashid doing the mop up job to get three wickets.
Earlier in the day, England batted with freedom and posted a mammoth total of 414, built around centuries from Jacob Bethell and Joe Root, alongside blistering fifties from Jamie Smith and Jos Buttler. On a flat batting surface, the hosts made merry and batted with the kind of intent that you usually associate with them. With the series gone, it seemed as a weight had lifted off their shoulders and the Proteas bowlers were taken apart ruthlessly.
These are the two major records registered by this abject South African batting performance.
1)This 342-run defeat is South Africa's heaviest loss by any team in ODI history
2)The total of 72 all out is South Africa's second lowest score in ODIs
3)South Africa were bowled out in just 20.5 overs, their second shortest innings in ODIs