After facing an onslaught predominantly from both the centurions Nat Sciver-Brunt (128 off 145 balls) and debutant Maia Bouchier (126 off 154 balls), South African openers Anneke Bosch and skipper Laura Wolvaardt in response to England’s total of 395/9 in the first innings, displayed resilience and fought through the tricky 6-over phase, going unseparated at the end of the first day’s play of the ongoing one-off Test.
The home side lost Anneke Bosch in the 2nd over of the 2nd day’s play as Lauren Bell drew the first blood for visitors England. Annerie Derksen stepped out with a positive intent, to partner alongside skipper Laura Wolvaardt at the crease and the home side cruised through to 77/1 in 21 overs at the end of the first hour’s play on day 2. The pair continued to build on the momentum to take their side past the 100-run mark with a 92-run 2nd wicket partnership.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt (65 off 147) notched up her maiden half-century in the red-ball format for her side. Lauren Filer returned and eventually picked up Annerie Dercksen (41 off 77 balls) to provide the 2nd breakthrough for England. She got a reprieve against the same bowler when Lauren Bell dropped a chance at long leg, with that wicket it was the end of the 1st session as the players went in for the lunch interval.
Soon after play resumed for the 2nd session post lunch, the South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt was left distraught after she was trapped LBW by Sophie Ecclestone in the 45th over of the innings. Lack of assistance from technology with the absence of DRS, meant she had to settle with the decision made on the field without having a relook at it, especially after her gestures suggesting an inside edge on that delivery.
The breakthrough was massive for the visitors as the South African skipper was all set to step on the accelerator. Marizanne Kapp took the attack to the opposition as soon as she joined Sune Luus at the crease. Both the batters were closing in on their respective half-centuries going into the tea break (225/3 in 69 overs) with an unbeaten 87*-run stand for the 4th wicket.
Marizanne Kapp (57 off 74 balls) completed her 2nd half-century in the red-ball format post the tea break, before the debutant Ryana MacDonald-Gay broke the 99-run stand for the 4th wicket just before the bad weather interrupted the game. A collapse followed on resumption of play, as the home side lost their last six wickets for just 44 runs. As a result, getting bundled out for 281 in 88.4 overs, trailing England by 114 runs in the 1st innings. A resilient half-century from Sune Luus (56 off 148 balls), and a brisk knock from Chloe Tryon (20 off 33 balls) didn’t prove enough to take the home side any closer to England’s total, being bowled out for 281, collapsing from a comfortably 237/4.
Lauren Bell (13-2-49-4), Lauren Filer (17-1-53-2), Ryana MacDonald-Gay (15-4-50-2), and Sophie Ecclestone (25-9-40-1) were the top performers with the ball for England. The visitors lost one of the centurions from their previous innings Maia Bouchier in the 6th over of the innings in their 2nd essay with the bat with Ayanda Hlubi providing the first breakthrough for South Africa.
Skipper Heather Knight (19* off 28 balls) joined Tammy Beaumont (8* off 37 balls) at the crease and England ended the day at 31/1 in 14 overs, with an unbeaten 28-run 2nd wicket partnership and a healthy lead of 145 runs at the end of the day’s play.
