Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a wonderful half-century to guide the England Women to a comfortable four-wicket victory over the Proteas Women in the first Women’s T20 International at Buffalo Park in East London on Sunday afternoon.
With the scores level at the start of the final over, player of the match Sciver-Brunt flicked Eliz-Mari Marx (3.2-0-20-3) straight to Nonkululeko Mlaba at short fine-leg after a wonderful 59 from 54 balls as England ended on 143 for six with four balls to spare in response to South Africa’s 142 for five, having being sent in to bat first by Heather Knight.
Sciver-Brunt’s experience and seven boundaries, along with a key-stand of 50 from 38 balls with Amy Jones (31), turned the tide in England’s favour.
The Proteas’ bowlers, led by Marx and Nadine de Klerk (4-0-20-2), tried valiantly to put pressure on the powerful English line-up.
However, an unforgettable afternoon for seamer Ayanda Hlubi relieved the pressure as the right-armer conceded four no-balls, three of which came in the first over, as well as conceding 22 runs in her third over to finish with 0-40 from her three overs.
Jones in particular took a liking to Hlubi, striking four boundaries and a six from just 19 balls to give England the edge they needed in a tight match played on a tricky pitch, before seeing her offstump rattled by a delivery from Nondumiso Shangase (3-0-20-1).
De Klerk’s introduction into the attack brought about immediate success as she clean-bowled Danni Wyatt-Hodge for 11.
Marx followed suite, seeing the back of Maia Bouchier for a well-played 20.
De Klerk then had Sophia Dunkley (4) paddling a slower ball to Sinalo Jafta behind the stumps.
Marx had the crowd in raptures as she bowled Knight for just a single but then Sciver-Brunt and Jones set about relieving the pressure and handing the initiative to the visitors.
NSB doing NSB things💥#SAvENG | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/5d23jy2dkT
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 24, 2024
SOUTH AFRICA IMPLODE
Earlier, Laura Wolvaardt (22) and Tazmin Brits (15) gave the home side a steady start with an opening effort of 35 from 34 balls.
But then the South African line-up decided to start imploding. Wolvaardt came down the track, after striking three fours, and was castled by Charlie Dean (4-0-21-2).
Brits followed shortly thereafter, dancing down the pitch to be stumped by Jones from the bowling of Sophie Ecclestone (4-0-18-1).
Anneke Bosch struck two boundaries and a six but then lost her head, missing a straight one from seamer Freya Kemp (2-0-15-1) after 12 balls to fall for 18.
Sune Luus struggled and fell without scoring to Dean before Annerie Dercksen (26 not out) and Shanagase (16) steadied the rocking ship with a calm stand of 36 from 40 balls before Shangase drove Sarah Glenn (3-0-23-1) straight down the ground and into the hands of Ecclestone.
Enter De Klerk, who struck four boundaries and scored an unbeaten 29 from 16 balls to give the South African innings some impetus.
The pair added 42 much-need runs from just 28 balls to give the Proteas a par score under sunny skies and windy conditions.
🔄 | Change Of Innings
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) November 24, 2024
Strong end to our innings with the bat!💪
🇿🇦South Africa post 142/5 in our 20 overs
🏴England will need to chase 143 runs to win#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe#BePartOfIt #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/5LHPwHkwxn
The teams now travel to Benoni for the second of three T20 Internationals before moving on to three one-day internationals and a solitary test.
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Nondumiso Shangase, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayanda Hlubi.
ENGLAND: Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Maia Bouchier, Sohpia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (capt), Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell.