Righto, time for me to bid farewell. England’s capitulation has left me with an unexpected bonus of an hour or so’s daylight and the opportunity to take a hyperactive toddler for a squelch and a splosh in the local park and maybe even a restorative shandy by a fireside.
Well played South Africa, a well earned Castle lager or two awaits for Aidan Markram’s side after a swaggering performance in a crucial game. Commiserations to England, it’ll be ice baths and a lorra lorra Loperamide for a few of them before they head back to the drawing board ahead of taking on Sri Lanka in Bangalore on Thursday.
We’ll be back to cover the top of the table clash between India and New Zealand tomorrow, that should be a good’un. Thanks to Tanya for taking the early shift and to you for your company and comments. Right, ‘to the Regiment!’ Ta-ra.
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Simon has sent in his match report – hot off the Wankhede wires:
They say the higher you rise, the harder you fall and England’s double world champions have fallen brutally hard. Despite being brought low by two defeats in their first three World Cup games they promised they could yet scale new heights; against South Africa they plumbed fresh depths: the most runs they have conceded and their biggest losing margin.
With a brilliant batting display, South Africa exposed all the frailties of their opponents, physical, mental and technical. England have not yet been definitively eliminated, but after this 229-run defeat it is only a matter of time. The grizzly picture is already clear: their old-timers thought this could be one last hurrah, instead it has been a bridge too far.
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