The Tammy and Sarah show
People will tell you that catches win matches, or bowlers win matches, but sometimes it just takes one partnership. Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Taylor more or less won this match with their magisterial stand of 275 in 34.5 overs. In the field, England only had to be professional, and they were, aside from all those fumbles when Lizelle Lee was batting.
Perverse as it sounds, a big partnership can also lose a match. Lee and Laura Wolvaardt may have set a record for South Africa’s highest stand in a World Cup, but they set the wrong tone, allowing far too many dots and struggling to rotate the strike. Their successors, especially Mignon du Preez and Chloe Tryon, showed great audacity and ingenuity, but it was already too late. South Africa’s consolation prize is a place in the reference books, as the first women’s team ever to make 300 batting second in a one-day international.
Thank you for reading, and special thanks to Daniel Harris for swapping shifts and getting me out of a tight corner.
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ENGLAND WIN! By 68 runs
50th over: South Africa 305-9 (Khaka 4, Daniels 0) The innings ends as it began, with too many dots, and England complete a resounding victory.
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Wicket! Luus c Sciver b Hartley 22 (SA 304-9)
Another catch in the deep as Luus tries for another six over midwicket. Her 22 came off only 14 balls.
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49th over: South Africa 292-8 (Luus 20, Khaka 3) Luus is a firm believer in Never Say Die: now she blasts Knight for a straight six.
48th over: South Africa 292-8 (Luus 12, Khaka 2) The spirit is still with South Africa as Sune Luus thumps a four back over Hartley’s head. This is now the highest score ever made in the second innings of a women’s ODI.
47th over: South Africa 286-8 (Luus 7, Khaka 1) Well bowled Knight, who has 2-42.
Wicket! Ismail c sub (Gunn) b Knight 0 (SA 285-8)
Ismail tries to clear mid-off, and narrowly fails as Jenny Gunn takes a good catch.
46th over: South Africa 280-7 (Luus 2, Ismail 0) The last rites have now begun, but this has been spirited stuff.
Wicket! Kapp LBW b Hazell 3 (SA 280-7)
Lady Luck, who was on South Africa’s side for quite a while, has now decided to back a winner. Marizane Kapp misses a sweep and is given out rather harshly.
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45th over: South Africa 278-6 (Kapp 2, Luus 1) That over was all about the catch. If anyone was unsure what to vote for in the ICC Play of the Day poll, they’re not any more.
Wicket! du Preez c Wilson b Knight 43 (SA 275-6)
Ah, great catch. The tireless du Preez gets hold of a slog, and Fran Wilson has a long way to run, and dive, but she does it like a champ.
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44th over: South Africa 273-5 (du Preez 41, Kapp 0) Tryon hits Hazell for six, then six more, and that is a majestic half-century – but then she perishes. It was glorious while it lasted.
Wicket! Tryon c Knight b Hazell 54 (SA 273-5)
Ah what a pity. Straight after going to a thrilling fifty with consecutive sixes, Chloe Tryon picks out midwicket.
43rd over: South Africa 257-4 (du Preez 38, Tryon 41) Knight brings herself back and goes for a few ones and twos, which is fine by her – and then Tryon whips out the long handle again, lofting a one-bounce four over midwicket. She has 41 off 22 balls, which is some going even on a flat pitch.
42nd over: South Africa 247-4 (du Preez 34, Tryon 35) Using the crease as well as ever, du Preez sweeps Hazell for four through midwicket. Eight off the over, when they need 15: cricket can be a cruel game.
41st over: South Africa 239-4 (du Preez 27, Tryon 34) Tryon wallops another six, dancing down the track and practising her golf swing. She follows up with a four, back over Hartley’s head. Which raises the question: what could South Africa have achieved if she had come in earlier?
40th over: South Africa 224-4 (du Preez 25, Tryon 22) Hazell does well, stemming the flow and beating the bat a couple of times.
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39th over: South Africa 221-4 (du Preez 23, Tryon 21) Hang on a minute – Chloe Tryon is having a go. She hits a magnificent six, getting low and thumping the sight screen, the biggest hit of a big-hitting day. And then, after getting streaky with an edge, she mullers four more over mid-off. She has 21 off eight balls.
38th over: South Africa 201-4 (du Preez 22, Tryon 2) A wicket for Hazell, and now it’s all about the net run rate.
Wicket! van Niekerk c Beaumont b Hazell 9 (SA 198-4)
Shame: van Niekerk gets caught in two minds, going down the wicket but also going back to cut, and offers a top edge to short third man.
37th over: South Africa 198-3 (du Preez 21, van Niekerk 9) Shrubsole, fortified by that wicket, is now being economical. If England had gone on the attack, they could have wrapped this up early. As it is, it’s drinks and they should still win easily.
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36th over: South Africa 196-3 (du Preez 20, van Niekerk 8) A reverse sweep for four from Dane van Niekerk, beautifully played – but it’s the first one in this innings. The asking rate is now above two runs a ball.
35th over: South Africa 184-3 (du Preez 18, van Niekerk 3) More creativity from du Preez, who moves over to off and clonks Shrubsole back past her ankles for four more.
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34th over: South Africa 178-3 (du Preez 13, von Niekerk 2) Mignon du Preez takes the reins, belting Hartley for a couple of fours. She must be an optimist.
33rd over: South Africa 169-3 (du Preez 5, van Niekerk 1) Shrubsole, who was so out of sorts with the new ball, goes for four as Wolvaardt flays her first ball over mid-off, but then exacts sweet revenge.
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Wicket! Wolvaardt c Sciver b Shrubsole 67 (SA 167-3)
Knight goes back to Shrubsole, and the ploy pays off as Wolvaardt holes out at deep square. The game is up.
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32nd over: South Africa 163-2 (Wolvaardt 63, du Preez 4) Only two singles off Hartley. And singles, which might have made all the difference at the top of the innings, are not much use now.
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31st over: South Africa 161-2 (Wolvaardt 62, du Preez 3) Brunt stays one for her eighth over, which suggests that Heather Knight can sniff another wicket. It doesn’t come, but she gets the next best thing: a maiden. South Africa are dying the death of a thousand dots.
30th over: South Africa 160-2 (Wolvaardt 62, du Preez 3) Wolvaardt pulls Sciver for a handsome four, then whacks her for another one over mid-off to make 12 off the over. She is stepping up.
29th over: South Africa 148-2 (Wolvaardt 53, du Preez 1) Brunt is still having trouble with her usually reliable radar, but Wolvaardt is still struggling to cash in. Mignon du Preez gets off the mark with a good-looking cover-swat. She is pronounced du Preea, by the way. And I’m de Lyle.
28th over: South Africa 143-2 (Wolvaardt 50, du Preez 0) Wolvaardt steps up, pulling Sciver for four with impressive bat speed. She loses Chetty, but goes to her fifty off 84 balls. It’s been good in parts.
Wicket! Chetty run out 6 (SA 142-2)
Oh dear. A mix-up over whether to go for a third run, Wyatt whips the ball in from the deep, Knight does the rest, and Chetty has gone.
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27th over: South Africa 134-1 (Wolvaardt 44, Chetty 3) Brunt returns, apparently determined to dent her own figures by spraying it down the leg side. Her plan is thwarted by Wolvaardt, who middles a whip-pull but straight to fine leg, so it brings only a single. South Africa need a big over – in fact ten of them.
26th over: South Africa 132-1 (Wolvaardt 43, Chetty 2) Well bowled Nat Sciver, and well batted Lizelle Lee. In comes Trisha Chetty, with her wristy flicks into the on side.
That partnership of 128 equalled the record for South Africa in a World Cup. It’ll be intriguing to see if Wolvaardt can now take over as the senior partner.
Wicket! Lee b Sciver 72 (SA 128-1)
Lee’s luck finally runs out. England were never going to catch her, so Sciver spears in an inswinging yorker. From the spectator’s point of view, that’s a great shame.
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25th over: South Africa 128-0 (Wolvaardt 41, Lee 72) Lee lives dangerously again, top-edging a sweep, but it lands safely away to fine leg’s right. Hazel concedes only singles, which England can well afford, and at the halfway stage South Africa need another 246, with all ten wickets, somehow, in hand.
24th over: South Africa 123-0 (Wolvaardt 39, Lee 69) Lee goes inside-out, lofting Knight over extra cover. Shot! South Africa are chugging along at a run a ball. The trouble is, they need one and a half.
23rd over: South Africa 115-0 (Wolvaardt 37, Lee 63) Lee is dropped FOR THE FOURTH TIME, shovelling Hazell to Winfield at long-on. That was tricky but not unfeasible. Can Lee (a) hit the highest score of the day, and (b) use all nine of her lives?
22nd over: South Africa 110-0 (Wolvaardt 34, Lee 61) A few more singles off Knight. We need Wolvaardt to start finding the gaps again.
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21st over: South Africa 106-0 (Wolvaardt 32, Lee 59) Lee thwacks the first ball of Hazell’s over for four to long-off, but Hazell recovers well and gets things back into binary.
20th over: South Africa 99-0 (Wolvaardt 31, Lee 53) Lee finds that long-leg boundary yet again and goes to fifty from only 57 balls. She’s been excellent, even if she has been dropped three times. She gets a shy hug from Wolvaardt. That’s drinks, with South Africa showing great spirit.
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19th over: South Africa 93-0 (Wolvaardt 30, Lee 48) Dani Hazell comes on, so it’s off-spin from both ends. Lee tries another big hit, but has to settle for a single to long-on; then she sweeps for four. She has shown much more awareness than Wolvaardt, who is all talent and not so much nous. Which is fair enough, in a teenager.
18th over: South Africa 84-0 (Wolvaardt 29, Lee 42) Knight brings herself on and Lee is dropped for the third time, edging a cut to the usually dependable Sarah Taylor. Lee is going to have to get 150 now.
17th over: South Africa 81-0 (Wolvaardt 28, Lee 40) Lee continues to make hay. After four leg-byes, she pulls for four, then gets lucky again as a top-edged slash is dropped by the sub fielder, Jenny Gunn. Tough on Sciver, who then keeps Wolvaardt quiet.
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16th over: South Africa 70-0 (Wolvaardt 28, Lee 33) Lizelle Lee must have heard that – she blasts Hartley for six over midwicket. A few more of those, please.
15th over: South Africa 61-0 (Wolvaardt 28, Lee 24) Sciver uses her experience, bowling some slower balls and yorkers, and does some good fielding to her own bowling to stop a stinging straight drive from Wolvaardt. If this was a club game, someone would be saying “hit out or get out” in a stage whisper.
14th over: South Africa 58-0 (Wolvaardt 27, Lee 22) Hartley restores order. So far this innings has given each side their just deserts: England, who haven’t attacked enough, have no wickets; South Africa, who haven’t rotated the strike, are already well behind the run rate.
13th over: South Africa 55-0 (Wolvaardt 26, Lee 20) Wolvaardt finds the rope again, first streakily, with a Harrow drive off Sciver, and then powerfully, with a mow to midwicket.
12th over: South Africa 46-0 (Wolvaardt 18, Lee 20) Hartley finally concedes a run, in fact six of them, as Lee thumps her for a lofted on-drive. South Africa need more than fours here.
11th over: South Africa 40-0 (Wolvaardt 17, Lee 15) Nat Sciver comes on with her medium-pace and almost gets a wicket as Lee plays a cover cow-shot, only to be dropped by Dani Wyatt racing in from the rope.
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10th over: South Africa 35-0 (Wolvaardt 16, Lee 14) More parsimony from Hartley, and Wolvaardt, who started so brightly, has three off her last 23 balls.
9th over: South Africa 34-0 (Wolvaardt 16, Lee 14) Both these batsmen like to attack, and neither is very interested in tip-and-run. Wolvaardt gets a bouncer away for a single with a nice upper-cut, but otherwise Brunt continues to join the dots. She has 0-9 off five overs.
8th over: South Africa 33-0 (Wolvaardt 15, Lee 14) Heather Knight makes her first bowling change, bringing on Alex Hartley for some thrifty slow left-arm. True to form, she allows only a leg-bye.
7th over: South Africa 32-0 (Wolvaardt 15, Lee 14) Another fine over from Brunt: the old miser concedes two singles.
Citizen of Nowhere is back for more. “The advantage of Eng scoring such a total is that, should SA overhaul it, such would be the feat, I wldn’t mind England losing.” That is a nice point, and quite a collection of woulds and shoulds.
6th over: South Africa 30-0 (Wolvaardt 14, Lee 13) A better over from Shrubsole. Lee lifts her only just over mid-off, collecting an uncertain four, and then Wolvaardt plays and misses.
5th over: South Africa 25-0 (Wolvaardt 14, Lee 8) Wolvaardt has a high backlift, an auburn mane, and bright future, but Brunt has spotted that she’s a little loose on off stump. That’s a maiden.
4th over: South Africa 25-0 (Wolvaardt 14, Lee 8) Shrubsole’s struggles continue as she drops short and Lee pulls for six. That was clinical. Shrubsole does then induce an edge, but she only has one slip. At the risk of sounding like Fred Trueman, I can’t understand why.
A tweet arrives from Citizen of Nowhere. “Clinton, Trump; Corbyn, May; & now Harris, de Lisle. An unending stream of disappointment (only joking, you’re nothing like May).” Ha. It’s true – we’ve reached the point where being likened to the prime minister is now a severe insult.
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3rd over: South Africa 17-0 (Wolvaardt 13, Lee 1) Lizelle Lee gets off the mark, spotting Brunt’s slower ball and chopping it into the covers. Brunt, who bowled ten overs for 25 against Sri Lanka, keeps it tight again until Wolvaardt too picks her slower ball and drives it for four. She has 13 off 14.
2nd over: South Africa 12-0 (Wolvaardt 9, Lee 0) Anya Shrubsole opens with a hat-trick of wides, and for a moment you wonder if the over will end. She finds her radar, but Wolvaardt, sensing frailty, hits two fours, a cover-drive and a cut. Shrubsole bounces back by getting one past the outside edge. If you’re reading, do say hello.
1st over: South Africa 1-0 (Wolvaardt 1, Lee 0) Laura Wolvaardt, aged 18 and still at school, faces Katherine Brunt, 32 and an elder stateswoman. As well as time on her side, Wolvaardt has time to play the ball. She gets off the mark with a relaxed push to wide third man. England have two slips, when they could surely afford four.
Afternoon everyone. South Africa have more than a mountain to climb after Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Taylor’s epic stand. In other news, this isn’t Daniel Harris, it’s Tim de Lisle: for technical reasons, we’ve swapped places. Apologies to any Harris fans in the house.
Ah! A last-minute change! Due to the vagaries of telly coverage, I shall be moving to Australia v Pakistan; Tim de Lisle will be here shortly to guide you through South Africa’s response.
Incidentally: I’ve a spare pair of tickets for England-South Africa tomorrow, Compton upper, row D. If you fancy them, please get in touch at either of the addresses above.
Tammy Beaumont reckons England’s spinners might have an impact when South Africa bat and she knows a thing or 148 about the track. Their reply gets underway in roundabout half an hour.
Afternoon all - well, well - well get a load of that. That was astoundingly brilliant, aesthetically beautiful, and South Africa are in allsorts.
South Africa set target of 374
50th over: England 373-5 (Knight 22, Wyatt 3) Brilliant finish as Knight clobbers one over cover, nicks past the keeper and slaps over point to take 14 off the final over. What an incredible performance from all the batters but particularly Beaumont and Taylor.
I’m off for a lie down. Daniel Harris will be here soon to take you through the second innings. Thanks for your company!
England's record partnership in Women's ODIs of 275 from Beaumont and Taylor drives them to 373/5 against South Africa! #ENGvSA #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/xP3gFgCcrx
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 5, 2017
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49th over: England 359-5 (Wyatt 2, Knight 9) Classy from Heather Knight. It’s all been a bit crazy in the last couple of overs, so she just leans on top of one behind backward point for four all along the carpet. Wyatt’s a willing runner so even with the one boundary they still
48th over: England 349-5 (Wyatt 0, Knight 1) Kapp was on a hat-trick by the way. And the hat-trick ball was skewed over point for four. “Three very quick wickets and 2 new batters in the middle,” starts Anthony Pease. “Are South Africa back on top?” WASP has them ahead by three furlongs.
WICKET! Brunt c & b Kapp 4 (England 347-5)
Haha this is madness. What a daft little game. Three wickets for four and Brunt is given out to a full toss that looks very above waist height.
WICKET! Beaumont c Khaka b Kapp 148 (England 343-4)
And another! Both the big guns gone: Beaumont tries to be too cute and finds the fielder in at fine leg.
WICKET! Sciver c du Preez b Kapp 2 (England 343-3)
Never mind. Caught, top edge at point. Back to bed we go.
47th over: England 343-2 (Beaumont 148, Sciver 2) Taylor’s shuffle and slap to midwicket starts the over. Sciver finishes it with a scampered single. Fireworks in the offing...
.@Tammy_Beaumont & @Sarah_Taylor30's partnership was worth 275 runs
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 5, 2017
The HIGHEST ever ODI partnership for the England women!#GoBoldly pic.twitter.com/lhEC9fa3vX
WICKET! Taylor c van Niekirk b Ismail 147 (England 334-2)
It’s over. But good grief, how good was it while it lasted? Taylor chips to cover and receives a standing ovation. Even the South Africa fielders, who are sick to death of her, take time to shake her hand. One of the great World cup innings.
46th over: England 330-1 (Beaumont 141, Taylor 143) England’s first six of the day – pumped down the ground by Tammy Beaumont – comes in the 46th over. All this knocking the ball around into gaps might have cost them a big score (...). Beaumont finishes with a couple of fours over her shoulder. Toying with them, she is.
45th over: England 315-1 (Beaumont 127, Taylor 142) Noteworthy over, that – the first since the 34th which hasn’t featured a boundary. England in disarray...
44th over: England 310-1 (Taylor 140, Beaumont 125) Inside-out through mid off for four – because why not – and Taylor brings up the England 300. Beaumont follows with a crafty dab for four over her shoulder. Dane van Niewkerk has gone missing. Though, to be fair to her, there’s not much she can do with these two in this mood. South Africa simply don’t have enough fielders out there.
4 - 4 @englandcricket players have now posted a century in #WWC17; currently twice as many as any other side. Big. pic.twitter.com/MQx2gMM4ke
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) July 5, 2017
43rd over: England 299-1 (Beaumont 119, Taylor 135) Khaka can’t stem the run flow as Tammy, decides she wants to have a bit of fun. A lash through point – a drop, perhaps? The fielder reacted late to it – is followed by a clump just over mid off. England on course for millions.
42nd over: England 290-1 (Beaumont 111, Taylor 135) Kapp replaces Ismail. Taylor watches a few, then flips her hands around and gently flicks one beyond the dive of Chetty for four more. Previous best passed, new horizons being ticked off. What a performance.
41st over: England 280-1 (Beaumont 108, Taylor 129) Daniels getting the treatment now as Taylor starts the over with a bunted through midwicket. Chills out for the rest, mind. Still manage nine from the over.
Tammy’s still there, in case you were wondering...
The best thing about Sarah Taylor is that she is, unequivocally, a wicketkeeper-batsman and not batsman-wicketkeeper @Vitu_E
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) July 5, 2017
40th over: England 271-1 (Beaumont 107, Taylor 121)
Unreal. Sarah Taylor with her first ODI hundred since November 2013. Her sixth overall and probably her most imposing. Class. #WWC17
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) July 5, 2017
How do you celebrate your first hundred in a while: jump and fist pump? Choreographed musical number? If you’re Sarah Taylor, you pump five fours in a row off the quickest bowler in the world. You skip and flick over miwicket, you punch over cover, you slap own the ground and you pull when there’s little to pull. Double hundred, anyone?
There it is! Sarah Taylor has her sixth ODI hundred!
39th over: England 250-1 (Beaumont 107, Taylor 100) Drink that one in. Of all the things she’s been through – in her career, let alone the last year – Sarah Taylor is back. And how. My word. You need to catch highlights of this knock. She’s picked people off down the ground, and dabbed them with kindness behind the wicket. Glory me, glory us and glory Sarah Taylor. 78 balls, 15 fours and all the will in the world.
Fantastic to see England's most naturally talented cricketer back to their best @Vitu_E
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) July 5, 2017
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Tammy Beaumont reaches three figures!
38th over: England 239-1 (Beaumont 103, Taylor 94) It wasn’t the prettiest of her 15 boundaries, but with a edgy dab through fine leg gets her to a third ODI hundred! They’ve all been in the last year – she picked up two in 2016’s summer series against Pakistan – and this one has taken 118 balls. And is certainly not finished. Taylor to join her soon? Picks up Khaka over mid on to move into the nineties...
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37th over: England 227-1 (Taylor 86, Beaumont 97) Ismail’s to continue. Fielder out at cover and two behind the batter, at third man and fine leg. Beaumont therefore tries to larrup over the top, straight, but Shabnim’s quick enough to hurry her. She tries again and nearly chops on. And this is where Taylor’s ability shines through. She stays where she is, uses her hands and hits over the top of extra cover with ease. Glorious.
36th over: England 219-1 (Beaumont 95, Taylor 82) Power Play taken – as in, they have to take it now – and Taylor immediately tries to lap sweep. No dice, but a single taken. The three players on the fence – Kapp the bowler, by the by – are mid on, square leg and cover. So Taylor opens the face later on in the over to guide through first slip for four. The change-up is full, a full toss in fact, and Taylor uses her wrists to beat the leg side boundary rider. Not looking to be outdone, Beaumont finishes the over with a ramp shot high and handsome over the keeper. 15 from the over. Some start...
35th: England 204-1 (Beaumont 90, Taylor 72) Last over before the Power Play and Shabnim Ismail comes back into the attack. Sarah Taylor, with a bit of extra pace on the ball and square leg up in the circle, decides to chip as if she’s approaching the putting surface with a couple of shots to spare. Easy, high, skipping and running away for four. 200 up. Ismail throws some shade Taylor’s way. SHABNIM.
34th over: England 195-1 (Beaumont 88, Taylor 66) Big appeal, a direct hit and a scampered single – all off the first ball of the over. Luckily for Tammy, she is on the right side of both appeals. Assume Nat Sciver will be in next – surely – before some combination of Katherine Brunt or Danni Wyatt. Go big, they should [/Yoda].
33rd over: England 192-1 (Beaumont 87, Taylor 65) Smart cricket as Beaumont gets down low and offers her bat as a ramp before putting a bit more ooomph into the shot, lifting it over the keeper’s head and well inside third man for four. When Taylor gets the strike, he takes the more conventional route: aeiral but straight enough through mid on to not trouble the fielders.
32nd over: England 181-1 (Beaumont 82, Taylor 59) Beaumont tries to give Khaka the march and the latter is not impressed. We’re right behind the bowler’s arm so she has her back to us but even we can feel the heat of some of her stares sent Tammy’s way. Three overs till the batting Power Play...
31st over: England 178-1 (Beaumont 81, Taylor 58) Some part-time left-arm from Chloe Tyron and treated accordingly by these two. Beaumont guides to square leg for four before Taylor drops across and to one knee, allowing her the room to sweep over her shoulder for another.
Tom on email writes: “I had to look up Pongoing (over 20). Didn’t he use to play for Durban?” KwaZulu-Natal, actually. Joost van der Pongoing. Allrounder. Rubbish.
Back-to-back fifties for Sarah Taylor!
30th over: England 167-1 (Beaumont 75, Taylor 53) Big fan of the way this one was brought up. Khaka back on, from the Pavilion End, and isn’t quick enough to trouble Taylor with the short stuff. A front full pull races away in front of square and thuds into the sponsor’s board. Gorgeous. 49 balls, seven fours.
100 partnership up now. Dane van Niekerk seems to be running out of ideas... and there's not even a sniff of a wicket out there. #WWC17
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) July 5, 2017
29th over: England 161-1 (Beaumont 74, Taylor 48) Taylor now making a pitch for shot of the day. Daniels sends one quicker and straight which Taylor lifts expertly down the ground – all timing – for a one-bouce four.
28th over: England 152-1 (Beaumont 71, Taylor 42) A Sune Loose delivery is expertly pinged over the top of mid off for four. Could have been tempted to swipe across the line, but instead Beaumont holds the pose for long enough to get her a new Facebook profile picture.
27th over: England 144-1 (Beaumont 66, Taylor 40) No more leg spin from the Ashley Down Road End, as the left arm seam of Daniels makes an appearance. Just three from the over. A lot of tea-potting in the field. Don’t think South Africa are enjoying this much...
26th over: England 141-1 (Beaumont 64, Taylor 39) First runs behind square on the leg side for Beaumont as she sweeps hard and fine as Luus overpitches, attempting to cramp the right-hander for room.
25th over: England 133-1 (Beaumont 57, Taylor 38) Leg spin from both ends, but Tammy’s not bothered. Dane gives it some air, but Beaumont gives it some shuffle and clears mid off with ease. Devastating and calculated.
24th over: England 127-1 (Beaumont 52, Taylor 37) Solid from Luus – no full tosses and just two runs. She’s a smart bowler which explains why she is one of the best young allrounders in the game. Needs to find a bit more inscision, certainly in the short term, else England are going to run away with this.
Beaumont moves to her fourth ODI half-century
23rd over: England 125-1 (Beaumont 51, Taylor 36) A skip and a bosh over the bowler’s head for Beaumont’s eighth boundary brings up her fifty from 71 balls. The partnership between these two is currently 66 from 69 balls.
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22nd over: England 118-1 (Beaumont 46, Taylor 34) Sune Luus, another impressive leg-spinner allrounder in this Proteas side, comes into the attack. As is her wont, she starts with a full toss that Taylor slaps away over midwicket for four. The rest of the over is better – they all pitch – but sharp manouevering from Taylor and Beaumont picks up five from the final five deliveries.
21st over: England 109-1 (Beaumont 45, Taylor 26) Oh Sarah Taylor, how do you do the things that you do. Keeper up for Taylor so Khaka bowlers fuller with a bit more confidence. Taylor’s called this one, though, and switches her hand to reverse ramp for four. Gets a full bunger soon after and helps it over square leg.
20th over: England 100-1 (Beaumont 45, Taylor 17) Hundred up for England. Beaumont set, Taylor starting to go through the gears. Pongoing imminent...
19th over: England 95-1 (Beaumont 43, Taylor 14) Ayabonga Khaka returns, at the Ashley Down Road End, and looks a bit flustered. Beaumont and Taylor want to come down to her and she’s trying to combat that with width. But she’s too wide – signalled accordingly, twice. Her keeper Chetty could do her a solid and stand up to the stumps.
18th over: England 91-1 (Beaumon 42, Taylor 13) Wonderful stuff from Beaumont now, too. Dane tries to tempt her with a few above the eyes, but the punchy right-hander keeps her cool and her shape, getting to the pitch and punching through mid on for four.
17th over: England 85-1 (Beaumont 37, Taylor 12) Drinks taken, Taylor swigs and the pummels through midwicket like a hero. Even the dot balls ping into the hands of fielders, pushing them back to the edge of the ring.
@Vitu_E If I have it right, England's key innovation is having three keepers opening the batting. Who knows where this trend might lead...?
— (((Ravi Nair))) (@palfreyman1414) July 5, 2017
They call this Doing A Surrey.
16th over: England 80-1 (Beaumont 37, Taylor 7) Change of tact, pace and bowler. Captain Dane van Niewkirk comes on, flighted leggies on offer from the Pavilion End. Beaumont takes us to drinks with a delightful skip and drive through extra cover.
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15th over: England 73-1 (Beaumont 32, Taylor 5) Yes, Tamsin... Kapp, on for Ismail, panics when Beaumont starts advancing. She drags her length back and wider, allowing the right-hander the line and length to cut behind point and in front of third man. Shooting...
14th over: England 69-1 (Beaumont 28, Taylor 5) Really good from Daniels. Shape into both right-handers but not trying to serve up a magic ball that starts well outside off and nicks leg. Just keeping both batters in thei place. That being said, should she have a slip? A thin edge, deliberatley sought by Taylor, goes for four.
13th over: England 64-1 (Beaumont 27, Taylor 1) Bit odd, this. Well-plugged field for Ismail, but she’s bowling a lot of cutters and slower balls. Which is also fine, but it’s allowing Taylor and Beaumont to pick up singles on the off side because they’re all quite predictable.
12th over: England 61-1 (Beaumont 26, Taylor 0) I’ll be honest, I thought Beaumont would be the first to blink. But Winfield loses her nerve but, nevertheless, has given England a very handy start. Sarah Taylor, a woman in form, comes to the crease.
WICKET! Winfield c Luus b Asaka 24 (England 59-1)
Winfield goes in pretty ungainly fashion. She tries to hoick to square leg, misreading the length completely. The ball skies high but not far and into the hands of Sune Luus at backward point.
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11th over: England 57-0 (Winfield 22, Beaumont 24) Ismail comes back into the attack with a plan. Beaumont and Winfield love hooking – come on, who doesn’t? – and Ismail loves pinning batters. Two fielders go out on the hook. Short stuff, slower balls, full and sharp. Two runs.
10th over: England 54-0 (Winfield 21, Beaumont 23) Beaumont, meanwhile, isn’t one for patience. A handy inswinger from Daniels is clubbed down the ground, front foot in Bath, and only a handy stop from Tyron prevents a boundary. Misfield off the final ball gives them another single, mind, but they’re still two up, South Africa.
9th over: England 52-0 (Winfield 20, Beaumont 22) Real class from Winfield. Plays it honest: drives to fielders, defensive pushes to the offside. Up straight, high elbow – all the right shapes, basically. So when Khaka strays a fraction on middle, Winfield can time her effortlessly through midwicket for four. Fifty up.
8th over: England 44-0 (Winfield 12, Beaumont 22) Moseline Daniels, left armer – not enough of them in this World Cup, for mine – replaces Kapp, whose opening three openers went for 14. Daniels’ angle to the right-handers opens up third man, even from a fairly tight line, allowing Beaumont to guide the final ball down to that area for a couple.
7th over: England 42-0 (Winfield 12, Beaumont 20) Ayabonga Khaka, right arm seamer, replaces a wayward Ismail. She’s wicket-to-wicket, apart from a delivery that Chloe Tryon has to gather at wide first slip, allowing the keeper Trisha Chetty to stand up to the stumps. Chetty didn’t start up there, though, hence why Winfield used her feet to come down and slash over point for a couple.
6th over: England 38-0 (Wnfield 10, Beaumont 19) Meanwhile at the other end, Winfield has just seized up a touch. She has had very little of the strike and has temporarily lost the middle of her bat. However, she’s not trying to force the issue and, in turn, is rewarded with four through midwicket. Full disclosure: it should have only been one, but Daniels, chasing it away to the sponge, puts in her dive far too early and pounds the ground in anger as it trickles to the boundary.
5th over: England 33-0 (Winfield 6, Beaumont 19)
Scores of 14, 14 and 12 in the first three games for Beaumont, who was striking the ball well but also getting into some bad habits that have brought her down in the past (playing across the line, too wristy, bit impatient – those kind of things). But with a brace of classy fours – the first through point, the second through extra cover – she has moved to her highest score of the comp. And she’s looking good...
4th over: England 24-0 (Winfield 6, Beaumont 10) Tighter from Kapp after Ismail’s 10-run over. Smart from the two bats to counter: getting behind everything and picking up what’s on offer to third man.
3rd over: England 22-0 (Winfield 9, Beaumont 5) Good over for England. Some helpful wides down the leg side get us up and running before Beaumont finishes matters with a lovely clip through midwicket. Ismail already about to blow a fuse.
The DJ at Bristol has been on point today! 💃🏾👌🏾🕺🏾🎛
— Ebony Rainford-Brent (@ejrainfordbrent) July 5, 2017
EJRB isn’t wrong. For starters, bonus points for NOT playing Seven Nation Army. Secondly – bit of light Grime for the kids to start the innings.
2nd over: England 12-0 (Winfield 4, Beaumont 5) Enter the second horsewoman – Marizanne Kapp. ODI’s best bowler of any denomination, bowling with an offside slop that many a right-hander has fallen down. Tammy Beaumont, out of form and playing in front of her pad, might want to be wary. She’s watchful first, pinching a single to midwicket and scampering. Then, offered a bit of width, carves nicely behind point for four.
1st over: England 4-0 (Winfield 4, Beaumont 0) Shabnim Ismail opening from the Ashley Down Road End. Lauren Winfield her prey, two slips her back-up. Winfield’s early on a drive – or was it a cut? hard to say, no real footwork – and skews over second slip for four. That’s your first through third man. Straighter, quicker and Winfield’s swish makes it through to the keeper. Edge? South Africa think so. The umpire doesn’t. No DRS here today, by the way. Eventful start.
Quick statting before we get going...
Averages 145 in winning chases #ViratWho
— Ben Jones (@benjones_13) July 5, 2017
As usual, you can get in touch via Twitter, while lengthier contributions are more than welcome at the lengthiest email address going (vithushan.ehantharajah.casual@theguardian.com). Here’s one:
@Vitu_E Short straight boundaries and yet England play 4 spinners? Colour me baffled!
— Richard (@theskiver) July 5, 2017
A bit baffling, though to put on my county cricket hat on and matching gloves, I feel like a lot of the runs I have seen scored at this ground have come off the pacers behind square. Oh, the things I’ve seen through third man, especially against bowlers running in from the Pavilion End. That being said, South Africa have some good hitters in their pack, especially up top, who won’t be put off by a lack of pace. Got my fingers crossed for 300 players 300 to be honest.
So yeah – couple of things to address. Offie Laura Marsh, who took 4-45 against Sri Lanka and their pletheora of left-handers, makes way for Alex Hartley, who turns the ball the other way. Harsh? Dunno, but love the “horses for courses” nature of it all. Cannot wait till Bicknell makes the squad for the biggie against Australia on Sunday.
England have won 17 out of the last 18 ODIs against South Africa
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 5, 2017
But SA won the most recent game played at today's venue Bristol#WWC17 pic.twitter.com/duiBBSI5X6
TOSS NEWS – England win the toss
... and will bat! No surprises there. Dane van Niewkirk called incorrectly (silly Dane) and Heather Knight basically shouted “BAT!” as the coin fell her way.
England: L Winfield, T Beaumont, S Taylor, H Knight, N Sciver, F Wilson, D Wyatt, K Brunt, A Shrubsole, D Hazell, A Hartley
South Africa: L Wolvaardt, L Lee, T Chetty, M du Preez, M Kapp, C Tryon, D van Niekerk, S Luus, S Ismail, A Khaka, M Daniels
Some promising scenes from an England point of view, not just because the weather is gorgeous and the pitch is new (short, straight hits here, by the way). Take it away, Hypocaust...
Can see why Robinson's confident - Kapp's record v ENG lacklustre (6 wkts @ 49.83; ER 5.53) - but I'd be surprised if she's that poor today.
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) July 5, 2017
Preamble
Morning, morning! Glorious Sunday here in the South-West. The type of day you’d eat outside or sit around with the one you love/one you’re trying to love/one you’re trying to make love you and eat some things, drink some things and watch the world go by. If you happen to be in Bristol looking for that kind of day, why not come up from town, where the streets are less narrow and the walls less coloured, to the Bristol County Ground.
England are playing South Africa, two teams with potential to their eyeballs yet enough about them here and now to fancy themselves for picking up this World Cup. England are on a high after boshing Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while South Africa mullered West Indies and fancy themselves.
Dane van Niewkirk reckons in Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail she has the best two pace bowlers in the world. It’s hard to disagree. Ismail stands out: razor sharp – pushing 80mph – and with a personality to match. I wrote in my preview about her adoration of Andre Nel (it’s why she wears the number 89 jersey). Before we get underway, fall down an Nel wormhole with me…
