SA vs ENG [W] 2024/25, SA-W vs ENG-W 1st ODI Match Report, December 04, 2024

South Africa 189 for 4 (Wolvaardt 59*, de Klerk 48*) beat England 186 (Dean 47*, Knight 40, Dercksen 3-16, Kapp 3-24) by six wickets

Allrounders Marizanne Kapp and Annerie Dercksen had been on the fore as South Africa kickstarted the ladies’s ODI sequence in opposition to England with a six-wicket win in Kimberley. The duo shared six wickets between them as England had been bowled out for 186. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 59, once more aided by priceless cameos from Kapp, Dercksen and Nadine de Klerk as South Africa went 1-0 up with 70 balls to spare within the three-match sequence.

Refreshed after being rested from the previous T20I sequence, Kapp picked up three wickets inside her first 4 overs decreasing England to 29 for 3. That quickly turned 77 for five and finally 106 for 7 within the twenty sixth over. However a counterattacking eighth-wicket partnership of 67 off 64 between Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone helped England to a good complete.

It appeared as if South Africa would make straightforward work of the chase when Tazmin Brits hit three fours in a Lauren Filer over. However she was given out lbw when a size ball from Lauren Bell hit her on the thigh pad after her missed try at a sweep-pull. She wished to assessment the decision however Hawk-Eye was down and he or she could not use the DRS. Nonetheless, South Africa discovered the going simpler in opposition to Bell and Filer, particularly after they pitched the ball on the fuller lengths. That they had raced to 38 for 1 after six overs when spin was introduced on.

Dean utilized the brakes on scoring and trapped Sune Luus lbw, who was additionally unable to assessment the choice with DRS down, and walked again visibly upset. At that stage, with the up-and-down bounce exaggerated by means of the heavy curler, the goal felt distant.

However Dercksen eased the nerves by hitting three fours in her first eight balls. She helped South Africa take again the management England exerted by Dean and Nat Sciver-Brunt and allowed Wolvaardt to play the ready sport. Dercksen and Wolvaardt added 54 for the third wicket earlier than the previous fell pulling a brief ball from Filer straight to deep sq. leg, the place Tammy Beaumont took a well-judged catch.

That’s when Kapp stamped her mark with the bat, scoring a run-a-ball 22 with three fours and a six. She first sliced Ecclestone previous backward level earlier than hitting Filer for a 4 and 6 to assist South Africa march in direction of the goal. On the different finish, Wolvaardt accomplished her half-century off 92 balls. Kapp fell with South Africa 51 away however Wolvaardt and de Klerk [48 not out off 28 balls] accomplished the formality with the latter hitting 11 fours, essentially the most by any batter within the contest. On the way in which, South Africa managed to maintain Ecclestone wicketless for a ten-over spell in an ODI for the primary time since March 2022

England had been dealt an early blow with Maia Bouchier being dominated out after spraining her neck whereas batting within the nets. Consequently, Sophia Dunkley partnered with Beaumont on the high after they opted to bat. Beaumont edged Kapp first ball she confronted however wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta could not grasp on. Kapp, and Jafta, didn’t have to attend lengthy for fulfillment although as Dunkley tickled one to Jafta on the ultimate ball of the primary over.

Kapp continued to probe with the brand new ball and, together with Ayabonga Khaka, managed to string collectively a row of 11 dots earlier than Beaumont determined to alter gears. She charged Khaka to flick her over midwicket and went previous Claire Taylor to turn out to be England’s second-highest run-scorer in girls’s ODIs, and enter the listing of high ten run-getters within the format. However her pleasure was short-lived, when, within the following over, she charged right down to Kapp however was overwhelmed on the within to be bowled. Danni Wyatt-Hodge continued from the place she left off within the T20Is and smacked a few balls earlier than she was trapped in entrance by de Klerk.

Amy Jones then helped England recuperate briefly as spin got here into play. However Dercksen, in simply her second ODI most popular right here forward of the extra skilled Anneke Bosch, struck quickly sufficient, getting Jones to miscue a pull in direction of deep backward sq. leg the place Chloe Tryon pulled off a shocking diving catch. Nonkululeko Mlaba, who had an damage scare after twisting her ankle early within the match, then trapped Alice Capsey lbw.

Heather Knight took her time and appeared to get the measure of the floor. She hit 5 fours in her innings, typically utilizing her toes even in opposition to the seamers. However her tried paddle in opposition to Mlaba proved to be her downfall.

At that stage, England folding cheaply, however Dean and Ecclestone mixed for England’s third-best partnership for the eighth wicket in ODIs. It was solely when de Klerk pulled off a effective leaping catch at backward level after Ecclestone mistimed a lower off a sluggish brief ball from Dercksen that the partnership ended.

That effort was not sufficient to forestall a primary loss on the tour for England, who had been enjoying a world sport for the primary time on the Kimberley Oval.