After a day off, cricket action at the Commonwealth Games resumed with South Africa and England locking horns for the 7th game. England after a good start failed to make the most of the middle overs, but managed a strong finish that helped them post a strong total which South Africa despite a very good start couldn’t get to as England stepped up with ball in hand and now with wins in back-to-back games have a spot sealed in the knockouts alongside Australia.
1st innings: England – 167/5 (20)
South Africa having won the toss opt to bowl first, but Nonkululeko Mlaba had an expensive start with a 10-run over as Danni Wyatt struck her for a couple of boundaries in the over. South Africa then had their desired start with Shabnim Ismail picking a wicket first ball as she dismissed Sophia Dunkley on 1(2). After a couple of quiet over, Wyatt and Capsey smashed Nadine de Klerk for a 21-run over. Ismail again struck big for South Africa in the last over of powerplay as she got Danni Wyatt to walk back on 27(20), but England had a good powerplay finishing on 49-2. Alice Capsey continued to take charge on the other end and England at halfway mark were 79-2. Nat Sciver then departed for 10(12) and the next over saw Alice Capsey get to her maiden international 50* it’d come off 36 balls, but depart the very ball. South Africa had 3 wickets in quick succession as Maia Bouchier was run out on 1(1) by Nadine de Klerk and England from 89-3 were down to 94-5. The pair of Katherine Brunt and Amy Jones stepped up for England in a crunch situation and shared a quick 50-run stand. The pair powered a finish for England with both Amy Jones and Katherine Brunt unbeaten on 36(23) and 38(24) sharing a brilliant 72* run stand that saw South Africa finish on 167-5. For South Africa, Shabnim Ismail topped the wickets chart with 2 to her name and had Mlaba and Anneke Bosch with one each follow.
At the age of 17y 356d, Capsey has created history!#ENGvSA #B2022 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/wX1YLjamID
— Female Cricket #B2022 (@imfemalecricket) August 2, 2022
2nd innings : South Africa – 141-4 (20)
South Africa in reply had a very good start with the opening pair of Anneke Bosch and Tazmin Brits scoring boundaries in regular intervals helped South Africa finish the powerplay with a 39-run opening stand. The flow of runs continued and importantly started running the ones and twos. Sophie Ecclestone’s reintroduction in the 10th over had her strike Anneke Bosch first ball on 32(28) and England had their first as South Africa at the 10-over mark were strongly placed on 82-1. It wasn’t long before England struck again as Freya Kemp was reintroduced and struck off her first ball dismissing the set Tazmin Brits on 38(37). Laura Wolvaardt went well about her business on the other end as Chloe Tryon started well being 15* off 6 before Katherine Brunt’s reintroduction had her depart on 16(11). Mignon du Preez departed early on 1(2) and the run rate kept going out of South Africa’s reach despite being in a strong position. Having not got the required finish, South Africa finished their 20 over on 141-4 falling 26 runs short with Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus unbeaten on 41(33) and 9(9) respectively. For England, Sophie Ecclestone topped the wickets chart with a wicket and economy of 5.2 in her 4 overs which had Katherine Brunt, Nat Sciver and Freya Kemp follow with a wicket each.
26 Run Victory for England against South Africa. #CricketTwitter #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/DJKQdrwoFN
— Female Cricket #B2022 (@imfemalecricket) August 2, 2022
This will be one of those hard-to-swallow defeats for South Africa because with ball in hand allowed England to have a strong finish and then with bat failed to have the required finish as after the breakthrough England looked like a different side and defended their total of 167 by 26 runs to advance to the knockouts and join Australia with a game to go.