England vs South Africa – Cricket World Cup LIVE: Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks respond well after Reece Topley is forced off injured after Quinton de Kock wicket

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Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest scores and updates as England take on South Africa in a crucial clash in their Cricket World Cup tournament.

South Africa 49-1 (Overs 9)

Gus Atkinson replaces the stricken Topley in England’s attack. We can expect plenty of pace from him.

Hendricks lashes the ball straight back down the track and it’s too high for Atkinson to take the one-handed catch, sailing away for FOUR more. A shot of real conviction.

Nice drive next ball, parried by the diving Liam Livingstone and that ends up preventing the boundary as Harry Brook loses his hat and shades in the act of returning it.

Hendricks happy to go after Atkinson – smashes that one, wide of Jonny Bairstow’s dive and FOUR more. 10 off Atkinson’s first over.

South Africa 39-1 (Overs 8)

It’s a big shame for Topley, who is a bit injury prone. He’d been bowling really well and made the breakthrough with the wicket of De Kock.

If he can’t return, it does leave England light in their bowling with Ben Stokes not taking the ball today. Topley lashes out as he walks off the field back to the changing room.

Willey just trying to stop South Africa accelerating following a slow start to their innings but Van der Dussen swivels and hits FOUR more.

And he follows that with an eye-catching shot for another boundary and the strain of bowling in this heat and humidity just getting to Willey now.

South Africa 29-1 (Overs 7)

Topley returns but is hit for another FOUR, clipped low off the pads by Van der Dussen.

And Topley signals to Jos Buttler that he can’t bowl the final ball of the over and he’ll have to go off for further treatment. Joe Root will complete the over and he may yet have to deliver a few more.

Just a single off Root’s ball.

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v South Africa - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - October 21, 2023 England's Reece Topley reacts after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

Topley takes a blow on the finger

Stokes just testing out that hip with a chase in the field after Van der Dussen punches Topley and beats Dawid Malan’s dive. He cuts it off for a couple.

Topley diving forward in his follow-through to cut the ball off – he succeeds in doing so but catches his finger on the ball and that could be a sore one.

No sympathy by Van der Dussen who seizes on a slightly shorter ball to hit FOUR through extra cover. And Topley calls for the physio to take a look at that finger.

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v South Africa - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - October 21, 2023 England's Reece Topley receives medical attention after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

South Africa 18-1 (Overs 6)

Rashid back on the field in positive news for England. They’ll certainly be needing him to hold up an end in the middle overs.

In the meantime, this is really tight bowling by David Willey, who is offering up few scoring opportunities. The run rate hovering around the 3 an over mark.

A single off the last ball but a slight hesitation from Van der Dussen as Gus Atkinson shies and hits the stumps. They’re home easily though.

South Africa 16-1 (Overs 5)

Willey doesn’t get a break after bowling, diving low to his left to cut off what would have been a certain Van der Dussen boundary.

Liam Livingstone is on the field for England for Adil Rashid, who is apparently feeling unwell. A situation to keep an eye on given the bowling options.

Van der Dussen with little more than a push there and with the quick outfield, Mark Wood has to sprint down to the rope and slide to cut it off for three.

Full, swinging ball from Topley and an appeal but took the inside edge into the back pad.

South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen plays a shot during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match between England and South Africa in Mumbai, India, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)

South Africa 12-1 (Overs 4)

Hendricks trying to get off the mark and plays a nice shot for nothing as it’s cut off at mid-off.

Quite a bit of patience required from him so far.

Finally, on the 14th delivery faced, Hendricks cuts nicely through the gap for FOUR and he’ll feel a whole lot better after that.

South Africa 7-1 (Overs 3)

The cameras zooming in on the shoes Reece Topley is wearing today. They’re blue and yellow and quite funky.

Rassie van der Dussen in at three for South Africa and off the mark with a single. Certainly no fireworks with the bat so far.

South Africa 5-1 (Overs 2)

David Willey in for England and very tidy indeed to Hendricks. Beats him on the outside edge fourth ball and it’s a maiden as South Africa just bed in after that early wicket.

South Africa 5-1 (Overs 1)

Credit to Topley there – he was actually encouraged by the flight of his first ball despite De Kock getting it away to the boundary. Had another pop and got the wicket.

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v South Africa - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - October 21, 2023 England's Reece Topley celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of South Africa's Quinton de Kock REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

WICKET! De Kock c Buttler b Topley 4 (South Africa 4-1)

An immediate signal of intent by De Kock, who opens the face to dispatch Topley to the boundary first ball. It was airborne briefly before beating the inner ring of fielders.

But then second ball – Topley is absolutely convinced De Kock has nicked that one! No interest from the umpire and Jos Buttler sends it upstairs…

What seems like an eternity but Ultraedge finally confirms there was indeed a nick and England have a brilliant early breakthrough.

De Kock’s bat was close to the surface and he was desperately hoping the noise was that, rather than a nick on the ball. Great start for Topley and England.

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v South Africa - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - October 21, 2023 England's Reece Topley celebrates after taking the wicket of South Africa's Quinton de Kock REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

The action is underway

England out into their fielding positions as we see Ben Stokes, back from his hip injury, wearing both a sweatband and a sunhat on what is a warm afternoon in Mumbai.

The South African opening pair of Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks certainly pack plenty of power and it will be England’s job to prevent an explosive start.

It will be Reece Topley to open the bowling for England.

Here come the teams in Mumbai

Time for the action to get underway as England and South Africa make their way out for the national anthems.

A pretty sparse crowd inside the stadium as has become a pretty common sight at this World Cup. Perhaps it’ll fill up a little later on.

South Africa’s tournament so far

South Africa’s situation looks healthier than England’s but they too have suffered a colossal upset in the opening days of this World Cup.

They started with a real statement when they smashed 428 against Sri Lanka in their opener, ultimately winning by 102 runs in the ideal start.

That was backed up by another emphatic win – this time by 134 runs against Australia – and observers were beginning to think they’d be a real force.

But there then followed a huge reality check – a shock 38-run defeat to the Netherlands after they were bowled out for a mere 207 chasing 246.

So they have some wounds to lick here today as well as England.

Confirmation of the teams

England XI: Bairstow, Malan, Root, Stokes, Buttler (c, wkt), Willey, Rashid, Atkinson, Wood, Topley

South Africa XI: De Kock (wkt), Hendricks, Van der Dussen, Markram (c), Klaasen, Miller, Jansen, Coetzee, Maharaj, Rabada, Ngidi

So for England, Ben Stokes returns with Liam Livingstone missing out and a slight reshuffle of the batting order. In the bowling unit, Willey and Atkinson come in for Woakes and Curran.

THE TOSS: England win the toss and will bowl first

A change for South Africa because it’s Aiden Markram is out for the toss as captain because Temba Bavuma has been ruled out with illness.

Jos Buttler wins the toss and says England will bowl first. Three changes – Ben Stokes, plus David Willey and Gus Atkinson, come into the side.

Buttler says it’s usually a good ground for chasing but Markram doesn’t seem too disappointed at having to bat first either.

MUMBAI, INDIA - OCTOBER 21: Jos Buttler of England flips the coin as Aiden Markram of South Africa looks on prior to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 match between England and South Africa at Wankhede Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

LAWRENCE BOOTH IN MUMBAI: Aiden Markram, the South African batsman who began this tournament with the fastest hundred in World Cup history, says his team were inspired to take the aggressive option by England – their opponents in Saturday’s mouth-watering clash in Mumbai.

Markram reached three figures in just 49 balls as the big-hitting South Afrticans racked up 428 for five – another World Cup record – during their opening game against Sri Lanka in Delhi.

And he was in the runs again during an impressive win over Australia in Lucknow, making 56 off 44. The South Africans then stumbled against the Netherlands, but that has only lent extra spice to the game against an England team he regards as the global cricket’s white-ball trendsetters.

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What a legendary day of sport!

England’s tournament so far

England’s title defence certainly hasn’t gone according to play so far out in India.

Too many of their big-hitters got starts and then got out in their tournament opener against New Zealand as they posted a sub-par 282 for nine despite Joe Root’s 77.

The Kiwis simply cantered to victory, with Devon Conway’s 152 and Rachin Ravindra’s 123, both unbeaten, sealing a truly emphatic nine-wicket win.

England recovered with a comfortable enough 137-run win over Bangladesh in their second match but then calamity struck against Afghanistan earlier this week.

They struggled with the ball, Afghanistan’s openers putting on 114 for the first wicket, before being bowled out for 284.

And England’s chase was risible, collapsing to 215 all out with only Harry Brook, who made 66, emerging with any credit.

MUMBAI, INDIA - OCTOBER 21: Ben Stokes of England arrives at the stadium prior to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 between England and South Africa at Wankhede Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

LAWRENCE BOOTH IN MUMBAI: Ben Stokes feared his World Cup was over before it had begun when he heard his hip ‘pop’ in the gym – but plans to remind everyone why England are double world champions when he returns for Saturday’s showdown with South Africa.

Stokes was dubbed his side’s ‘spiritual leader’ by head coach Matthew Mott after he led the dressing-room inquest into the shock defeat by Afghanistan in Delhi.

And while he laughingly agreed with Mark Wood’s insistence that he is ‘not the Messiah’, he intends to put into action the message he gave team-mates as England go in search of the win they need.

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It’s a must-win for England

It feels awfully early to be saying such things but England know they simply cannot afford to lose against South Africa today if they’re to retain their 50-over World Cup title.

In what is a pretty appetising hors d’oeuvre to tonight’s crunch Rugby World Cup semi-final between the two nations, England can expect a stiff test in Mumbai.

After defeats to New Zealand and, very surprisingly, to Afghanistan, there is simply no margin for error if they’re to take one of the top four spots and make the semi-finals.

With India, Australia and Pakistan still to come, Jos Buttler and his side need to deliver today.

But with Ben Stokes back in contention and only too happy to play the role of saviour, the fightback could well begin here.

Welcome along to our live coverage here on Mail Sport.

MUMBAI, INDIA - OCTOBER 21: General view inside the stadium prior to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 between England and South Africa at Wankhede Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)


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