Here’s Adam Collins’s match report:
That T20 competition is going be a cracker. A rejuvenated England, a brave South Africa, a New Zealand side breaking records with a cane in one hand, a cigar in the other. And Amelia Kerr – a 17-year old on a mission. That’s it from me, thank you for your time. Bye!
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The softly spoken Dane van Niekerk looks terribly disappointed. But she’s looking forward to the T-20 tri-series with New Zealand: “We enjoy Twenty20 cricket, we’re a bit more free.”
And the player of the match is...Tammy Beaumont! She collects a medal and her bottle of champagne and, trudges back. And the player of the series is.... Tammy Beaumont, who collects another medal, and another bottle of champagne. I think that one’s bigger. She speaks to Ali Mitchell: “It was really important to get that series win, and here at the home of cricket where I was playing on the outfield as a ten year old. I think we were under a little bit of pressure when Heather came in, but she’s great under pressure and it was great to bat with her today. It stayed quite low, and it was quite important to be patient and catch up later on.”
That was really super from England. Tammy Beaumont dug in at the start and worked through periods of awkwardness to end with that second century in as many games. Knight, increasingly fluent, flamboyantly flourished with four fours in the penultimate over. South Africa will rue their slow running between the wickets and the weird period of bowling mid-innings which let England off the hook.
England win! By seven wickets!
A super batting display on a pitch that had its issues, and against a bowling attack that started tightly. Bravo! Their first series win since that World Cup win.
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44th over: England 227 for 3 (Knight 80, Sciver 3)
Yikes! Four fours from Knight! She cuts Khaka behind for four, and then another, feet unmoving, driven along to the boundary. And then another drive, squarer this time, not beautiful, but aggressively affective. . And another! Two needed to win.
43rd over: England 211 for 3 (Knight 64, Sciver 3)
Five singles from Kapp’s last over as England reign back the throttle and just nudge the ball around. No big shots needed, no pyrotechnics: Knight and Beaumont have done the work.
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42nd over: England 206 for 3 (Knight 61, Sciver 1)
A maiden!
41st over: England 206 for 3 (Knight 61, Sciver 1)
What an eventful over. Another century from Tammy Beaumont - 13 fours as she motored from jalopy to limosine . Her fifth ODI hundred, her second this series and her second in consecutive matches. AND at her home ground, with a rapt audience who saw what they wanted to see: the World Cup’s player of the tournament. And when she falls to Kapp, trapped in front of the stumps, there are handshakes from three of the South African side.
WICKET! Beaumont lbw Kapp 105
Just after she’d got her hundred, trapped on the stumps by Kapp - her 99th wicket ODI cricket. But what a super innings by TB.
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40th over: England 197 for 2 (Beaumont 97, Knight 61)
Ismail restores some order, just three off the over as the target comes down to 32.
England players on the balcony, what lovely wooden benches, now fleeced up as the chill comes down.
39th over: England 194 for 2 (Beaumont 95, Knight 60)
Runs, more, more runs. The best, when Knight cuts Khaka square on the off-side for another boundary, as the target comes within spitting distance.
38th over: England 186 for 2 (Beaumont 89, Knight 53)
A huge four from Beaumont, then Knight heaves Kapp one-handedly. The ball swirls high in the air and two fielders run blindly towards it. Khaka gets her hand to it, but it spills.
37th over: England 178 for 2 (Beaumont 89, Knight 50)
And that’s Knight’s fifty! From 63 balls. Her 15th in 83 ODIs. She was dropped by Khaka early on, but since then has looked looser and smoother and happier.
And there’s more: Beaumont drives on the off-side, sweet. A broad smile stretches across her face. And four more, Beaumont pulls, almost on one knee, and moves towards 100.
36th over: England 167 for 2 (Beaumont 80, Knight 49)
Beaumont swings her bat at Kapp and the ball soars, over the fielder at midwicket and to the boundary for four. Knight stretches and gets a bat on Kapp for a single. 49! More good running by England.
35th over: England 160 for 2 (Beaumont 74, Knight 48)
Ooof, a ball from Ismail zips through very low and Knight nearly chops on. The keeper can’t read the ball either and fumbles. And a super stop at extra cover by the South African captain to a firm Knight drive stops a sure boundary. She’s been excellent there today.
34th over: England 158 for 2 (Beaumont 74, Knight 47)
Much irritation that Sky aren’t counting down the overs any more, but instead the balls. Much possibility for confusion. Feel free to send emails pointing out where I’ve gone wrong.
Knight guides the ball down towards the boundary off Kapp’s final ball - five from the over. England easing towards victory here. South Africa’s most potent weapons have been brought back, but really the match is already won.
33rd over: England 153 for 2 (Beaumont 73, Knight 43)
Ismail is brought back, as van Niekerk plunders her reserves. A nurdle from Knight, and that’s the hundred partnership between these two. They share a mid-wicket hug. Beaumont guides the ball behind square for a single and they keep on running.
32nd over: England 150 for 2 (Beaumont 72, Knight 41)
Oh, that’s lovely. Beaumont picks up one of Khaka’s long-limbed deliveries, and whips it over the leg-side boundary for four. What timing! And then again, a huge strike, down the ground this time, one bounce for four. That was almost clinical. Knight nods in appreciation.
31st over: England 141 for 2 (Beaumont 64, Knight 41)
Klaas starts her over with a wide, then more nurdling from England, behind square on the leg-side, drives to long-on, one-legged whips. From here at least, England don’t seem to be feeling any pressure.
30th over: England 133 for 2 (Beaumont 61, Knight 39)
Seven runs from the over as van Niekerk continues to come round the wicket. Another sweep for four by Heather Knight, more balls landing just where she wants them. yum yum. 96 NEEDED from 120 balls.
29th over: England 126 for 2 (Beaumont 59, Knight 34)
van Niekerk looks inside her toolbox, rummages around and turns to Ismail. A good call, her first spell was super and kept the England batters on their toes. But there are a few singles then Knight drives her and the ball goes through Steyn’s fingers and to the boundary. Knight’s first four of the innings.
28th over: England 118 for 2 (Beaumont 58, Knight 27)
Knight tries to sweep a full-toss from van Niekerk but doesn’t get the hammer on it and has to make do with a single. The score ticks on, and England look like they have this in bag now. Have I called this too early?
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27th over: England 115 for 2 (Beaumont 57, Knight 25)
This partnership is looking ominous for South Africa now as Beaumont and Knight become more adventurous with their shots. Yikes, that’s a full-toss from Luus which gets despatched to the boundary with something like scorn by Beaumont.
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26th over: England 107 for 2 (Beaumont 51, Knight 23)
And that’s fifty for Tammy Beaumont off 77 balls, with five fours and increasing fluency. Then she tries a reverse-sweep to a most peculiar ball which hits her on the back leg. A strangled appeal.
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25th over: England 103 for 2 (Beaumont 49, Knight 21)
Sune Luus starts her bowling spell and serves up a starter of full-tosses. A thick edge and Beaumont is dropped behind the stumps, a very difficult chance. The 100 comes up for England, as does the fifty partnership between Beaumont and Knight. We’re half way.
24th over: England 97 for 2 (Beaumont 45, Knight 19)
Knight onto the front foot against van Niekerk, taps out an easy single. Beaumont reverse-sweeps , looks lovely, but no runs. Tippy-tappy: it’s suddenly seeming easy for England.
23rd over: England 91 for 2 (Beaumont 44, Knight 14)
This England pair are speedy between the wickets.
Looking forward to the upcoming tri-series coming up with New Zealand, who have been breaking records all over the place against Ireland.
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22nd over: England 84 for 2 (Beaumont 36, Knight 10)
South African captain van Niekerk brings herself on, and Tammy Beaumont brings out the little paddle-ramp and eases the ball round the corner for a couple. Then the ramp again, for another couple of runs. She worked hard through a stodgy start and the runs are starting, just starting to flow.
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21st over: England 79 for 2 (Beaumont 36, Knight 10)
South Africa make a bowling change. The pony-tailed left-armer Chloe Tryon comes on and the runs, if they don’t flow, trickle with intent.
20th over: England 74 for 2 (Beaumont 35, Knight 6)
A boundary! Nay two boundaries! Tammy Beaumont sees Khaka coming and hits her straight down the ground, a huge lofted drive to a ball that was slighty over-pitched. And then another, a whallop on the leg-side.
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19th over: England 65 for 2 (Beaumont 27, Knight 5)
No boundaries for England again as Klaas keeps it tight. They’re nurdling and clipping well though.
18th over: England 61 for 2 (Beaumont 25, Knight 3)
A drop! The England captain hits the ball right back to Khaka, who leaps and gets her left hand to it but can’t hold on. That’s a lucky break for Knight, who know it.
As the teams take drinks, the crowd are still sitting out in t-shirts and summer dresses. Sunny days in June, unbeatable. If you’re at Canterbury and have spotted any swifts whizzing by, let me know. Swiftawareness week next week, and they want to know where they are.
17th over: England 58 for 2 (Beaumont 25, Knight 1)
Super bowling here by South Africa, England just can’t get the fluency going with any great consistency. The ball isn’t coming onto the bat very fast and hoick they go, chopping into the turf. But they run what they can, a single to mid-wicket.
16th over: England 57 for 2 (Beaumont 24, Knight 1)
On TMS Mel Jones says that South Africa think Heather Knight is susceptible to lbw early on. The tall Khaka has her prodding inelegantly. A single through third-man for Beaumont, who still hasn’t hit her stride.
15th over: England 55 for 2 (Beaumont 23, Knight 0)
A boundary for Beaumont and pressure for Knight.
14th over: England 51 for 2 (Beaumont 17, Knight 0)
Fifty up but that’s a huge wicket for Khaka and for South Africa.
WICKET! Sarah Taylor b Khaka 5
Yikes! The big wicket. Taylor gets in a terrible muddle and is comprehensively bowled by Khaka.
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13th over: England 48 for 1 (Beaumont 17, Taylor 4)
Five from Klass’s second over. At a similar time, South Africa were 37 for 1. But, Lizelle Lee was out. And, Beaumont and Taylor are in.
12th over: England 43 for 1 (Beaumont 10, Taylor 4)
A bowling change that works instantly! Ayabonga Khaka replaces Ismail and instantly Jones clips the ball to square leg. A start, but no more, again . It brings together the dream team of Taylor and Beaumong. Taylor off the mark straight away with a boundary. On drive. Gorgeous.
WICKET! Jones c Luus b Khaka 24
Frustration for Jones who had been looking fluent.
11th over: England 32-0 (Jones 19, Beaumont 10)
A bowling change, Masabata Klaas replaces Kapp for her first bowl of the series. She’s a muscular looking bowler, with a smooth run up and closely cropped dyed red hair. She took a career break after having her baby, has come back and is now juggling cricket, babies and studying project management at University.
A wide one is thrashed to the boundary by Jones, the more fluent of the England batters so far today.
10th over: England 32-0 (Jones 19, Beaumont 10)
A maiden and Kapp beats Beaumont’s edge again, this isn’t the start England were dreaming of. At the same stage, South Africa were 22 for 1.
9th over: England 32-0 (Jones 19, Beaumont 10)
A super bit of fielding by the South African’s captain prevents a drive from Jones going to the boundary, but then Ismail spoils her figures. She bowls a loose one and it is received gratefully by Jones, who pulls her with a crack to the boundary for four .
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8th over: England 27-0 (Jones 15, Beaumont 10)
The pitch, which apparently is naked of grass, it is not proving easy for England to bat on either. A bounday off Kapp, but not a convincing one, an outside edge by Beaumont flies in the gap between keeper and first slip. They then move closer together.
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7th over: England 22-0 (Jones 15, Beaumont 4)
Ismail continues to make things difficult for the batters - just a single from that one. She’s not giving England any width to play with and seeming to have no difficulty with Canterbury’s notorious double slope. Beaumont still not timing the ball very well here, balls being regularly chopped into the pitch.
6th over: England 21-0 (Jones 15, Beaumont 3)
Umphph! Kapp skilfully moving the ball this way and that, one squeezes between Beaumont’s bat and pad, then she plays and misses, then nearly chops the ball into the stumps. That hand was Kapp’s.
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5th over: England 20-0 (Jones 15, Beaumont 2)
Ah, that was gorgeous. Jones clips Ismail off her toes to deep midwicket for a boundary.
4th over: England 14-0 (Jones 11, Beaumont 2)
Kapp is lovely to watch, smooth run-up, liquid action. England struggling to get her away on what is a slow start at Canterbury. But oh, it looks lovely, lots of happy spectators in breton t-shirts sipping glistening glasses of white wine.
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3rd over: England 12-0 (Jones 9, Beaumont 2)
A tight line by Shabnim Ismail - Beaumont not able to let loose, no big shots, just a squeeze down to third man and a frustrated hike into the grass.
2nd over: England 10-0 (Jones 8 , Beaumont 1)
Beaumont off the mark with a whacky uncontrolled edge off Marizanne Kapp, but Jones looking smooth with a purring drive through extra cover for four.
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1st over: England 2-0 (Jones 2 , Beaumont 0)
A tightish over from Shabnim Ismail. A leave, a prod, a back-foot drive to mid-off then Jones gets the innings going with a flick to midwicket for a couple.
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And the players walk out with the shadows long: if England win it will be their first series win since the World Cup. If South Africa win, it will be their first series win over England ever.
A picture of happiness after a bit more Sarah Taylor magic behind the stumps.
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A little shout out to 19-year old Laura Wolvaardt, who in the course of her sloth-like 64 broke one of Stephanie Taylor’s batting records. It was her 12th international fifty, and no teenager has ever made more.
Really so lovely to see all the kids at the ground in Canterbury - boys and girls. Thirty years ago, big groups of young boys just wouldn’t have been thrilled, or at least admitted to being thrilled, about watching women play cricket. Huge changes in the way women’s sport is perceived, and it is wonderful to see.
The pundits on Sky are united in thinking the momentum is with England.
“It’s not been clinical but they’ve done enough” says Ebony Rainford-Brent.
“When they looked to take it to England, they made it look easy but too many lost opportunities for South Africa,” says Charlotte Edwards.
The early wicket of Lizelle Lee, the bowling of Sophie Ecclestone the huge shots of Dane van Niekerk and England’s sloppy catching the talking points.
Hello everyone. Well, that was fun! What started off as an old-fashioned slow stodge, turned into something a lot more fancy as South African captain Dave Van Niekerk moved through the gears, stumped just five short of her maiden ODI hundred with another bit of magic from Sarah Taylor, and then subsided into lumpy custard as South Africa lost 3 wickets on 212 and then 3 wickets on 228.
Eighty-four for 2 at half way became 156 for 2 from 40 overs which finished off at 228 for 9. Will it be enough, on a warm day at lovely Canterbury, with Heather Knight talking of how 300 is now what England aim for? And a score in the 270s being the average here in county games?
We watch and wait: England will have to bat as the dew falls and settles, against the tasty South African seamers, and South Africa may find that their catches stick – which England’s definitely didn’t.
England need 229 to win the series. Simple. Right? They had the visitors in a bind for a long while, not passing 100 until the 32nd over. But then the captain, van Niekerk, got busy in the batting power play. She really deserved three figures but Taylor cut her off five runs short with a brilliant stumping off Brunt. Wolvaardt’s half-century was the base that DVN launched but failed to really get going. For England, Ecclestone was outstanding across two spells, finishing with 1/25. That they dropped four catches (by my count), though, will be the talking point. Right, I have to change gears and write a report of that innings so I will hand you over to Tanya Aldred. Enjoy the chase. Bye!
WICKET! SOUTH AFRICA 228 ALL-OUT! (Ismail st Taylor b Marsh 6)
Taylor fumbles but gets the bails off just in time to give Marsh a second wicket. South Africa bowled out one delivery short of batting out their overs. It was that kind of innings.
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WICKET! Khaka run out (Knight) 0 (South Afria 228-9)
Tip and run, no chance. Not pretty cricket. “It was so bad that Heather Knight had time to drop the ball before throwing it in,” notes Henry Moeran on TMS. Two balls to go.
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WICKET! du Preez run out (Brunt) 17 (South Africa 228-8)
Tries to take two on Brunt’s arm at midwicket but doesn’t make it back, Taylor grabbing the bails. Fair enough, gotta run in that situation in the final over.
49th over: South Africa 226-7 (du Preez 16, Ismail 5) Brunt gives du Preez a boundary ball first up and she takes full advantage through the legside. More runs available in that direction later in the over off the pads, but another good diving stop keeps it to one. Ismail chips over long-off for a couple then a single behind point to keep the strike for the final over. Ten from it, Brunt finishing with 3/52.
That is outrageous! @Sarah_Taylor30 does it again 🙌
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 15, 2018
Scorecard/Videos ➡️ https://t.co/mlTZJzacyi#ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/ANL0rCEwdu
48th over: South Africa 216-7 (du Preez 10, Ismail 1) Ismail probably didn’t have her pads on five minutes ago but she’s batting now. A single to cover gets her away. du Preez has to draw on her experience to finish the good work of her captain. She sweeps hard across the line down towards midwicket but Jones makes a very nice diving stop to prevent a boundary. Four runs and the wicket from it. Perfect for England.
WICKET! Kapp c & b Marsh 0 (South Africa 212-7)
Three wickets fall on 212! Kapp goes first ball, returning a catch to Laura Marsh who takes it in her follow through. Never easy, nicely done.
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WICKET! Luus c Sciver b Brunt 0 (South Africa 212-6)
Two wickets in the Brunt over and three in the spell, the attack-leader has done the job. Luus misjudges a crossbat swipe from the slower ball, an easy catch taken in the deep.
47th over: South Africa 212-6 (du Preez 7)
WICKET! van Niekerk st Taylor b Brunt 95 (South Africa 212-5)
Sarah Taylor legside stumpings dot tumblr dot com. Goodness me, she is something else. It is a wide down the legside and the superstar wicketkeeper does the rest. DVN robbed of a maiden ODI ton but the captain has got her team into this contest.
46th over: South Africa 204-4 (van Niekerk 95, du Preez 2) Shot! van Niekerk into the 90s with a wonderful cut through point after making room for herself. It is off-spinner Marsh sending them down, having replaced Shrubsole who took some tap in her second spell. The 200 is up with the stroke too. Singles for both gives DVN another chance and takes two on Jones’ arm at long-on. Within one strike of a maiden century.
WICKET! Tryon c Jones b Brunt 19 (South Africa 197-4)
Brunt is back for the death overs and it has worked. Tryon steered a full delivery to the third man rope early on but Brunt had her caught on the long-on rope by Jones, who has had an eventful day in the field, to finish off. Six runs and the wicket of a player who can smash it huge, England will take that.
45th over: South Africa 197-4 (van Niekerk 88)
44th over: South Africa 191-3 (van Niekerk 87, Tryon 14) van Niekerk’s turn! Three boundaries in the over off Shrubsole, who is under real pressure now. Should have seen the back of her first ball, though, Amy Jones completely misjudging the catch at the long-on boundary. That’s the second chance she has put down today. DNV thumps it to the same spot next but wide of the fielder this time - four more! Then, the best of the three, inside-out after using her feet, picking the gap at extra cover. Delightful hitting from the captain who now has her highest score in ODIs. Deserves a ton.
43rd over: South Africa 179-3 (van Niekerk 75, Tryon 14) Boom! BOOM! Two sixes in a row from Tryon, over backward square leg, to belatedly get this party started. Has a wonderful record of late against England and is doing her job again. Elwiss recovers well to give up just a couple of singles from the second half of the over, but 15 from it makes it (by far) South Africa’s best this afternoon.
42nd over: South Africa 164-3 (van Niekerk 73, Tryon 1) Tryon tries to get Ecclestone away but cannot, finishing her day with a beautiful set of hard-spun, well-flighted deliveries from round the wicket. Just one run from it. She finishes with 10-1-26-1 after being taken for 30 off her first three overs at Hove. Half a dozen of the England players run up to congratulate her. Fantastic young talent.
41st over: South Africa 163-3 (van Niekerk 72, Tryon 1) Earlier in the over, van Niekerk smacked Elwiss back over her head for four but they weren’t able to find the rope a second time, Tryon off the mark then nearly run out last ball in a mix up.
WICKET! Wolvaardt c Shrubsole b Elwiss 64 (South Africa 161-3)
Nice work from Knight to get Elwiss back on, into the book with Wolvaardt miscuing a slower ball to mid-off where Shrubsole does the rest. After three dropped catches, they’ve finally held onto one. The opener’s 64 came from 100 deliveries so her dismissal might be well timed for the visitors as it brings the huge-hitting Tryon to the middle, elevated up the list for happy hour.
40th over: South Africa 156-2 (Wolvaardt 64, van Niekerk 66) Ecclestone into her eighth, continuing to throw the ball up then spit it through. Bowls with such wonderful control. Three singles, all to the sweepers on the posh side. Can’t do much more than that.
39th over: South Africa 153-2 (Wolvaardt 63, van Niekerk 64) This partnership grows towards three figures, van Niekerk striking a pair of boundaries off Brunt as the captain overtakes the opener. It has been a very good power play so far, 30 taken from the four overs of it so far. The skipper keeps the strike as they take a drinks break.
38th over: South Africa 144-2 (Wolvaardt 63, van Niekerk 55) Ecclestone is back with three overs remaining in her day. She’s been the best of the bowlers, for mine. Oooh and nearly slips one through the gate of van Niekerk that doesn’t turn. Should have been four from the over but the spinner threw back at the South African skipper’s stumps in her follow though, it hits the stumps and an overthrow is taken.
37th over: South Africa 139-2 (Wolvaardt 61, van Niekerk 52) Brunt is back now. Handy to have five of her overs to draw opn as van Niekerk goes up the gears. Was a good return to the crease until the last ball where Wolvaardt clipped a misdirected delivery down to the backward square leg boundary. Actually, that’s just about off middle stump. Top shot. Her first four since the fifth over.
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36th over: South Africa 132-2 (Wolvaardt 55, van Niekerk 51) Heeeere comes Dane van Niekerk! After three dors to begin the captain launches BIG over midwicket for six. Next ball, she brings up her 50 with a bottom edge that runs away for two. 76 balls to reach the milestone with four boundaries before that six - the first of the South African innings. Nine scored from the Shrubsole over and van Niekerk again keeps the strike. Her second 25 runs came in 19 balls, TMS again tells me.
35th over: South Africa 123-2 (Wolvaardt 55, van Niekerk 42) Elwiss again at Wolvaardt, who continues to play carefully. After half an over of dots, she drives one down the ground. Will van Niekerk go again? Not this over, cutting to Wyatt at backward point then digging a well-directed yorker to midwicket for one. So she’ll keep the strike at least. Wolvaardt hasn’t hit a boundary for 75 balls, Phil Long says on TMS. Wow.
34th over: South Africa 121-2 (Wolvaardt 54, van Niekerk 41) Shot of the day so far, van Niekerk hitting Shrubsole straight back over her head. That’s what they need, here comes the captain. Then four more later in the over, a little edge that could easily have ended up finishing her innings instead making it to the rope. Two fours in the over: livin’ la vida loca.
33rd over: South Africa 113-2 (Wolvaardt 54, van Niekerk 33) van Niekerk lofts the first ball of the new Elwiss over for four! Only the fifth boundary in 33 overs. Three singles and a wide makes eight from the set, the equal biggest of the day for the South Africans who really need to get moving here.
32nd over: South Africa 105-2 (Wolvaardt 53, van Niekerk 27) Shrubsole is back with half of her overs still to be bowled. The opener had it hooping around deluxe earlier today, claiming Lee and conceding just nine runs. Not quite so frugal here, six taken around the sweepers from the incumbent pair.
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31st over: South Africa 99-2 (Wolvaardt 51, van Niekerk 23) Another dropped catch, this time Knight at cover down low. The third chance given up in the field. Wolvaardt gets the life. Elwiss doing a great job for her captain though, giving just two singles away in this over. 31 overs into the innings and South Africa yet to raise their 100, with plenty of overs from England openers still up their sleeve.
30th over: South Africa 97-2 (Wolvaardt 50, van Niekerk 22) Ecclestone has never bowled better than this for England, I’d venture. van Niekerk is trying to get busy, but just can’t. 7-1-17-1 the spinner’s analysis so far.
78 ball fifty for Laura Wolvaardt (2x4).
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) June 15, 2018
Most 50+ women's ODI scores as a teenager:
12 Laura Wolvaardt SA (34 innings)
11 Stafanie Taylor WI (36)
8 Deepti Sharma IND (27); Sarah Taylor ENG (38)
7 Johmari Logtenberg SA (26)#ENGvSAhttps://t.co/us4t0x0efC
29th over: South Africa 94-2 (Wolvaardt 50, van Niekerk 19) Elwiss replaces Knight, who had 15 taken from her three overs. The medium pacer bowled quite nicely at Hove, I thought, after not getting a bat. She’s right on the money here too, van Niekerk unable to score until the final ball of the delivery, driving one to long-on. Can’t fault them here.
28th over: South Africa 93-2 (Wolvaardt 50, van Niekerk 18) Ecclestone continues her stoush with these two, Wolvaardt stroking down to long-off later in the over to raise her half-century! She’s been far from rapid with only two boundaries but has ticked the board over consistently enough. 78 balls it took her to reach the milestone; her 12th half-century and she’s only 19 years old age. TMS tells us that she has now made more ODI 50s than any teen ever has. Go you good thing.
27th over: South Africa 89-2 (Wolvaardt 48, van Niekerk 16) Plenty of singles on offer down the ground off Knight, the batsmen obliging five times in the over. But while boundaries are being denied the captain may as well keep herself on.
26th over: South Africa 84-2 (Wolvaardt 45, van Niekerk 14) Ecclestone mixing up her speeds expertly, prompting a little premeditated lap that is dropped by Beaumont at short fine leg! It was in her hand but as she went back it fell out. She went up very early. It’s an excellent over from the youngster, a maiden. Should have been a wicket maiden. She has 1/10 from her five overs.
25th over: South Africa 84-2 (Wolvaardt 45, van Niekerk 14) They’re hammering through these overs, half the innings bowled in 85 minutes. On this occasion, Knight has singles taken from four of her six deliveries. That’d probably suit both teams.
24th over: South Africa 80-2 (Wolvaardt 43, van Niekerk 12) Ecclestone drawing van Niekerk forward from round the wicket, beating her inside edge. The left-arm spinner is giving her nothing. She finds one out to deep point, Brunt again preventing a second from being taken with her effort on the rope. Two singles, that’s their lot.
23rd over: South Africa 78-2 (Wolvaardt 42, van Niekerk 11) Heather Knight brings herself on for a trundle for the first time in this series. Three singles square of the wicket as the captain finds her length early in teh set. Wolvaardt tries to finish with a lavish drive but it comes off the edge, down to third man for a couple. It is, TMS tells me, Knight’s ninth over since the World Cup win.
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22nd over: South Africa 72-2 (Wolvaardt 38, van Niekerk 9) Tidy sweep from van Niekerk, worth a couple to her tally, then a single to point. Wolvaardt tries to score down the ground but can’t beat Ecclestone in her follow through on a couple of occasions. She does keep the strike with a cut behind point. The opener’s strike rate is below 60 again (59.37 to be precise).
21st over: South Africa 68-2 (Wolvaardt 37, van Niekerk 6) Singles for both to begin, then Wolvaardt down the ground for another; van Niekerk doing the same to retain the strike.
20th over: South Africa 64-2 (Wolvaardt 35, van Niekerk 4) Some doubt over the first leg before decision today, but none about the second. Very clever bowling here from Ecclestone to to the new player van Niekerk, racing through five dots in the space of about 60 seconds. Giving her nothing.
19th over: South Africa 63-2 (Wolvaardt 34, van Niekerk 4) Shot. Lovely way for van Niekerk to get off the mark, coming down the track and driving Marsh through cover to the rope, just the fourth boundary of the innings. The captain has a huge role to play here to get her side to a competitive total. She defends the rest of this over, still getting her eye in.
18th over: South Africa 58-2 (Wolvaardt 33, van Niekerk 0) The wicket came after three singles were taken out to cover, the spinner responding by giving it a bit more air and earning the reward of Steyn’s wicket. van Niekerk defends her first couple of balls to finish the successful Ecclestone over.
WICKET! Steyn lbw b Ecclestone 19 (South Africa 58-2)
Ecclestone is on and immediately into the book! Steyn played around her front pad to a full delivery and was trapped in front. Just after the 50-run stand had been posted, too. Lovely start from the left-arm ortho.
Updated
17th over: South Africa 55-1 (Wolvaardt 31, Steyn 18) Marsh once more with her off-spin. In keeping with the theme of the last couple of overs, plenty of singles to the sweepers. Four of them here. Good batting after the very slow start.
16th over: South Africa 50-1 (Wolvaardt 29, Steyn 16) Runs from the first four balls of the over, ticking the board over in the smaller currency. Sciver is unlucky not to be in the book a couple of times but hasn’t been that accurate on the whole. 50 is up with a single to Steyn from the last ball.
15th over: South Africa 45-1 (Wolvaardt 25, Steyn 14) Fine piece of fielding from Knight, whipping a throw in to Taylor who has the bails off pronto. The third umpire is called upon but Steyn is well home. More brilliant work from Brunt, in front of us here in the CEO’s office, making a sliding stop at deep backward square and keeping it to one.
14th over: South Africa 40-1 (Wolvaardt 22, Steyn 12) More runs through the legside off Sciver, singles exchanged. Wolvaardt gets low in her stance and shovels over her shoulder for another single. Biiiig shout for leg before for finish! Turned down. Cripes, that looked very good to me, Steyn playing across her front pad. Taylor, behind the stumps, can’t believe it. Nor can I watching the first replay.
13th over: South Africa 37-1 (Wolvaardt 20, Steyn 11) Steyn lifts through the onside for a rare boundary, just the third of the day by my count. It prompts mid-on dropping back to the rope. Three more singles come through the onside then one past point to keep Wolvaardt the strike. Eight off the over, South Africa’s best so far.
Getting Lee early was crucial. South Africa seem to be doing what I do when I drive a manual car: stalling. #ENGvSA
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) June 15, 2018
12th over: South Africa 29-1 (Wolvaardt 18, Steyn 5) Sciver’s radar not quite on yet, Steyn able to turn off her toes before she again misdirects down the legside for a wide. Dropped catch! Oh, that’s poor from Amy Jones, giving Steyn. It was just a push off the front foot and the fielder had to take it over her head but should have done better. Cue gags about how she needs to take the wicketkeeping gloves back.
11th over: South Africa 24-1 (Wolvaardt 17, Steyn 3) Laura Marsh is on from the Mackington Road End for the first set of spin today, replacing Brunt who had 14 taken from her five tidy overs. Wolvaardt flicks one to deep backward square, rotating the strike. Steyn does exactly the same. A shout for leg before from the last ball but it is going down leg, I fancy. Just those two singles from the over.
10th over: South Africa 22-1 (Wolvaardt 16, Steyn 2) Nat Sciver is on for the first time today in her 50th ODI. A fraction easier than when Shrubsole was operating from this end, Wolvaardt taking a couple behind square first up before the seamer sprayed a wide. Another single for the opener gives Steyn a chance. She gets on the back foot and attempts to pull through midwicket but picks out Shrubsole at midwicket, who makes a great diving stop to save four runs. Very poor power play for the visitors.
9th over: South Africa 18-1 (Wolvaardt 13, Steyn 2) Wolvaardt breaks the string of dots, which got to 11 balls. I’m sure they were counting them in the field and bringing it to their attention. Or is that just what we do in Australian club cricket? Anyway, it is the only run from the Brunt over. England’s new ball bowlers at their best so far today.
8th over: South Africa 17-1 (Wolvaardt 12, Steyn 2) Shrubsole starts her fourth, running away from us at pavilion end. No respite for Steyn. This looks a great toss to have lost for England, the ball hooping around a treat. Fantastic over, another maiden. Shrubsole is putting on a clinic of new-ball bowling here (even if her first wicket miiiiiight not have been hitting the stumps). England’s opening bowlers have conceded runs from just nine balls in eight overs so far.
7th over: South Africa 17-1 (Wolvaardt 12, Steyn 2) Leg bye to short fine, a run taken to give the strike back to Wolvaardt. She looks more composed against Brunt, defending with the full face of the bat with a nice high elbow. Just the extra from the over, though. This power play running out quickly for the tourists.
6th over: South Africa 16-1 (Wolvaardt 12, Steyn 2) Wolvaardt takes a couple through the gap just forward of square. There’s half an appeal for leg before next but it is going down the legside. Charlotte Edwards on TMS wants to see them trying to score down the ground rather than square as Shrubsole again sneaks through and hits a pad. No appeal this time; she’s getting a lot of movement here. Three excellent overs completed from her end, Anya’s figures so far of 3-1-3-1.
What a start! The dangerous Lizelle Lee is dismissed for 2
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 15, 2018
📽 clips: https://t.co/JNpBOpH0AJ#ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/oCO2B2Kh04
5th over: South Africa 14-1 (Wolvaardt 10, Steyn 2) Steyn gives the strike to Wolvaardt with a single off her hip to begin the new Brunt over. The opener picks up her second boundary here but it isn’t as convincing as her first, edging down to the third man rope. The right-hander takes another single in that direction to retain the strike but in control along the carpet this time around.
4th over: South Africa 8-1 (Wolvaardt 5, Steyn 1) Steyn off the mark first ball, Wolvaardt in her defensive posture for the remainder of the successful Shrubsole set.
WICKET! Lee lbw b Shrubsole 2 (South Africa 7-1)
Yep, that’s out and it is the big wicket! For the first time today, Lee tried to find the legside boundary. She missed and was hit dead in front. No hesiation from the umpire. Perfect start from Shrubsole, who has a wicket to her name before conceding a run. Lee was dominant in Worcester and Hove so that will be some relief to the hosts.
Updated
3rd over: South Africa 7-0 (Lee 2, Wolvaardt 5) Shooooot. Wolvaardt plays through point off the balls of her feet, a beautifully timed boundary. We have been waiting to see her pile up a stack of runs through the off-side this series. Maybe today. Brunt keeps her defending for the rest of the set. Solid start from all involved.
2nd over: South Africa 3-0 (Lee 2, Wolvaardt 1) Maiden from Shrubsole to Lee to get her day started. Back to regular programming from me in an over or two.
1st over: South Africa 3-0 (Lee 2, Wolvaardt 1) Three singles off Brunt to get us going. The solution to the wifi issue is that I am off the CEO’s office. La-di-da!
Charlotte Edwards on TMS reports that both of the changes to the South African XI are a result of injury. “It looks like Steyn is going to bat at three.” There you go. The visitors, a deeply religious team, have taken a knee in front of the boundary for their pre-match prayer.
Please be patient with me over the first few overs. The wifi at the ground is cooked and they are working on a fix. But we’ll muddle through!
England: Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Taylor (+), Nat Sciver, Heather Knight (c), Danni Wyatt, Katherine Brunt, Georgia Elwiss, Anya Shrubsole, Laura Marsh, Sophie Ecclestone
So they don’t go for the third seamer, Kate Cross, who was brought into the squad.
South Africa: Lizelle Lee (+), Laura Wolvaardt, Andrie Steyn, Sune Luus, Dane van Niekerk (c), Mignon du Preez, Chloe Tryon, Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas
Offspinner Ntozakhe and newcomer Lackay are out in favour of right-hand bat Steyn and experienced right-arm seamer Klaas.
South Africa won the toss and have elected to first
England unchanged from the side that won comfortably at Hove on Tuesday.
Two changes for South Africa, Klass and Steyn in for Lackay and Ntozakhe.
Full teams shortly.
Nat Sciver receives her “50” cap. Nice moment. A bit muggy overhead, I neglected to mention before. At least it felt that way when I was hoofing it from the train station. Maybe a hint of green on the track as well, or so it seems from 100-odd metres away.
A round of applause then a huddle as Nat Sciver is presented with her 50th cap for England in ODIs. #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/C7srUN2Pb9
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) June 15, 2018
Preamble
Welcome to the third and series-deciding ODI between England and South Africa at Canterbury! What a great ground for it. It’s the first time that a women’s ODI has been played here since 2008 but the hosts did lose their last international at the ground, an Ashes Test Match against the Australians in August 2015.
It’s a different England team to the one that turned out in that game three years ago. Not in terms of personnel - the bulk of the players are the same - but in mindset. No two players better reflect than than Nat Sciver and Tammy Beaumont. The former is playing her 5oth limted-overs international today, which prompted me to dig up some stats.
Until two years ago, Nat Sciver had batted 15 times in her three years in (and out of) the ODI side, never striking a six, believe it or not. In the two years since, she has whacked 15 of them with the best strike rate (105) in the history of women’s ODIs. She has struggled to repeat her heroics of the 2017 World Cup since, and is yet to get out of the blocks so far in this series, but I’ll back her in on a milestone occasion.
As for Beaumont, she averaged 17 with the bat at a strike rate of 42 before Mark Robinson took over as coach in 2016. Since, she has averaged 49 with a strike rate of 79, collecting the World Cup player of the tournament gong along the way. On Tuesday, she was integral to England turning it around with the bat after their dreadful collapse on Saturday, scoring her fourth ODI ton. Call it the Robbo Effect (or something like that).
As for the visitors, they have the chance to knock England off in an ODI series in this series for the first time. After bowling the house down on Saturday they were smashed all over the park on Tuesday. Looking out the press box window, the track has that straw-coloured look that suggests it will be a road, so they will be relying on Lizelle Lee to continue as she left off with 92 not out and 118 in her two hits in the series to date.
Righto. The OBO is always a lot better when we talk, so don’t be shy. Drop a line to my (new address!) inbox or tweet at me with aggression. Back for the toss at 1:30pm.
