England chip away at Proteas middle order
The Proteas women battled their way to a below par 233-8 batting first in the third ODI against England women at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Wednesday, giving the visitors a great chance of clinching the series win, with it tied up at one a piece after the first two games.
It was a disappointing effort in the end from the hosts, who were very well placed at 97-1 at a stage after a solid half century at the top of the order from Laura Wolvaardt, but once she fell regular wickets throughout the innings stunted their progress as they stumbled to their total.
Wolvaardt top scored for her side, cracking 61 off 68 balls (9x4), with Marizanne Kapp (38) and Chloe Tryon (20) the next best efforts, along with a host of batters getting starts but falling for less than 20.
England won the toss and chose to bowl, but the Proteas got themselves off to a decent start as Wolvaardt and Lara Goodall (17) shared 50 for the first wicket.
Goodall, however, felt a bit under pressure and after hitting Lauren Bell for four, slapped the next delivery straight to Tammy Beaumont at mid-on to become the first wicket of the day.
Anneke Bosch (19) was next in and she helped Wolvaardt keep the score chugging along, as the captain brought up her half century with lovely driven four through extra cover in the 20th over.
It's vintage Laura Wolvaardt in Potch 🤩⭐
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But just as they were setting up their side for a push at a big total, England fought back with a double strike in two overs, Capsey having Bosch caught by captain Heather Knight at short cover, and Wolvaardt trapped LBW by Sophie Ecclestone as they slipped to 107-3.
That kick-started a regular procession of wickets as Nadine de Klerk (14) was run out and Annerie Dercksen (13) was pinned LBW by Charlie Dean, leaving them on 156-5.
Kapp and Tryon then sparked hopes that they could get the Proteas to a big total, combining for a 42-run sixth-wicket stand.
But both batters gave it away as Kapp hit Capsey straight down long-on's throat and Tryon came down the wicket to Ecclestone, missed the ball and was stumped by keeper Amy Jones.
Masabata Klaas fell for a seven-ball duck, popping a catch to Nat Sciver-Brunt off Dean, which was the third wicket to fall for three runs, as they crashed to 201-8.
But Mieke de Ridder (19* and Nonkululeko Mlaba (16*) combined for a potentially valuable unbeaten 32-run ninth-wicket stand to see out the final seven and a half overs and give themselves a few extra runs to defend.
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Lara Goodall, Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Mieke de Ridder (wk), Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeto Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka
ENGLAND: Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight (capt), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones (wk), Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Lauren Bell
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