🔗 Share this article

Through a powerful opener to their tournament, England secured a comprehensive 10-wicket win on the opening day, following dismissing South Africa for a meager 69 runs in merely 20.4 overs – marking the third smallest total in their history.

Shocking Display from South Africa

Although the Proteas showing as a strong team in international the women's game of late, after reaching the final of the short-format World Cup last year and appearing in the penultimate round of the most recent 50-over competition, this performance was baffling and embarrassing. Solely one batter, wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta, attained double figures, and six of their batters were clean bowled on a decent pitch that seldom acted unpredictably.

The English Commanding Reply

Responding, the English new-look opening pair of Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones wasted no time of the pursuit, completing the contest with over 35 overs to spare – their initial World Cup success achieved in less than three hours. Maybe even more critical in what may prove a close preliminary event, the English net run rate is now a impressive 3.77.

Bowling Effort Establishes the Standard

Following the English team took the toss and put in the opposition, Linsey Smith’s opening spell set the tone, the left-arm spinner posting a outstanding return of 4-2-7-3 in her maiden 50-over World Cup game. She grabbed a clever caught and bowled to see off South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt, before turning the ball in to bowl Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp.

Skipper’s Dream Comeback

Leader Nat Sciver-Brunt introduced herself as initial replacement and had a dream reappearance to top-level bowling, trapping Anneke Bosch leg-before with her opening ball since the Ashes series. In her following over, Chloe Tryon offered a weak leading edge to Alice Capsey at mid-on, as South Africa slumped to 38 for six within the initial 11 overs.

Considering Sciver-Brunt’s slow return to bowling fitness over the last nine months, there had been questions as to how many overs she could bowl in this game, with the team deciding to play both Capsey and Emma Lamb partly to make sure there were back-up bowling options.

Clinical Finish

Yet a short stint were sufficient of Sciver-Brunt: a partnership of Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean efficiently dispatched the South African lower order. Heather Knight, making a comeback after a lengthy struggle with a leg problem, looked eager: she was not needed with the batting duties on this occasion, but did hold onto a sharp shoulder-height grab at first slip which ended the innings to Nadine de Klerk.

Fielding Effort Hardly Tested

The English fielding – regularly scrutinized these days – was scarcely examined here. Rather it was the opposition who fumbled the chance to remove Jones at the start, while Masabata Klaas put down a simple return catch proffered up by Jones on 31 – the Proteas' prime opportunity of claiming a dismissal. Instead, Jones kept on to hit the ball through the off-side, ending not out on 40. International the game has rarely been this simple.