Three figures from Beaumont help England seal convincing series win

An outstanding century from Tammy Beaumont played a key role in England’s 109-run victory over the Momentum Proteas to confirm a 3-0 series victory at the County Ground in Leicester on Monday.

Beaumont’s knock of 119 runs off 107 deliveries (19 fours, 1 six), along with half-centuries from Heather Knight and Sophia Dunkley guided the home side to a daunting score of 371 for seven before South Africa were restricted to 262 all out despite efforts with the bat from Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp and Chloé Tryon.

?? RESULT | ENGLAND WOMEN WIN BY 109 RUNS

Half-centuries by Chloe Tryon (70), Marizanne Kapp (62) and Laura Wolvaardt (56) wasn't enough to chase down the massive 372-run target as England Women claim the series 3-0#ENGvSA #AlwaysRising #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/zm2IqYttzY— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) July 18, 2022

South Africa won the toss and put England in to bat at the home of Leicestershire Cricket, with Beaumont and Emma Lamb continuing where they left off in the second ODI.

The pair combined for a second consecutive century stand for the first wicket, with Lamb racing to her second career fifty before the experienced Beaumont notched up her 18th.

With the duo at the crease looking increasingly confident as they neared a 150-run stand, fast bowler Shabnim Ismail made the all-important breakthrough as she rearranged Lamb’s furniture for a well-played 65 off 66 balls (eight fours).

Despite losing the aggressive Lamb, Beaumont and new batter, Dunkley then continued the momentum out in the middle, adding another 87 runs for the second wicket, with Beaumont going onto her ninth three-figure score in her career before being eventually dismissed by Nonkululeko Mlaba (1-68) – stumped by Trisha Chetty for a record-equalling 51 stumpings.

With a superb base set for England on 236 for two in the 34th over, Dunkley and captain Knight kept their foot on the gas to continue the charge as both batters raced to their respective half-centuries.

Dunkley raised her bat for a 53-ball 51 (six fours), while Knight notched up 63 off 49 deliveries, including nine fours before both were removed through Nadine de Klerk (1- 87) and a run-out inflicted by Chetty.

The latter dismissal came after an explosive cameo from Danni Wyatt, who smashed four fours and two sixes on her way to 33 off 14 balls before holding out to Kapp in the deep off Ayabonga Khaka’s (2-64) bowling, who celebrated her 30th birthday today.

South Africa managed to pick up two more wickets near the end of the innings through Khaka and a run out from another quick piece of fielding from Ismail as England wrapped up their allotted overs on a mammoth 371 for seven.

Going into their innings with an uphill battle on their hands, the Proteas Women made a battling start with the bat through the in-form Wolvaardt, as she raced out of the blocks to help put on an opening stand worth 61 with Andrie Steyn (12).

Wolvaardt reached her 29th career fifty, including 11 fours before missing a straight Charlie Dean (3-42) delivery to be trapped LBW before the offspinner then clean bowled Steyn soon after to leave South Africa on 86 for two.

Despite Lara Goodall (24) and skipper Suné Luus (9) doing their best to calm things down in the middle, England made two more crucial inroads as Lamb (3-42) and Alice Davidson-Richards (3-35) removed the pair to bring Kapp and Tryon into the fold.

The all-action pair went on with their business in great fashion, dispatching of any erred deliveries to the boundary to put on a vital stand of 110 runs for the fifth wicket, with Kapp meticulously striding to her 11th score of fifty or more before being caught off Lamb’s bowling for 62 off 52 balls (eight fours, one six).

Although Tryon managed a few more lusty blows as she raised her bat for a 10th career fifty, the big-hitting allrounder was in the end caught out in the deep after going for one more boundary as she head back to the dressing room for a thrilling 70 off 57 balls (six fours, three sixes).

BATTED CHLOE ??

A 10th ODI half-century for Chloe Tryon#ENGvSA #AlwaysRising #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/Ss8BjXrwA1— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) July 18, 2022

That wicket was preceded by the dismissal of De Klerk (4) before the South African innings petered out to 262 all out after 50 overs, with Davidson-Richards and Issy Wong (1-50) taking the final wickets to fall as England clinched a win 4.2 overs remaining.

The two teams return to the field of play for the start of the T20 International series on Thursday, 21 July with the first clash taking place at the County Ground in Chelmsford from 8pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).