Ben Stokes top-scored for England with 89 in 311 for eight, held a stunning catch, and took two for 12, including the final wicket, as England triumphed with 61 balls remaining.
It was a memorable day for Stokes, who set a lot of records with his all-round performance.
It took 23 years for a player to hit more than 80 runs, take two wickets, and catch two balls in a World Cup match. It was Sri Lanka’s Aravinda de Silva in the 1996 World Cup final against Australia, and it will be England’s Ben Stokes against South Africa on Thursday.
Stokes’ 89 was the second-highest score by an England batsman in a World Cup match at No. 5. Stokes barely missed Paul Collingwood’s World Cup 2007 record of 90 against Ireland.
It was his sixteenth ODI fifty.
His seventh in ENG
His third against SA
His third of the year
His first World Cup appearance (this was his 1st WC innings).
He was named player of the match for his all-around effort.
He is the 40th English player to be named World Cup MVP.
He is the 13th English player to be named World Cup MVP.
He is the first English player to be named World Cup Player of the Match in the match between England and South Africa.
He is the fourth English player to be named Man of the Match in the World Cup against South Africa.
Ravi Bopara, Graeme Hick, and Alec Stewart are among the others.