The Momentum Proteas wrapped up an important phase of their preparation for next week’s hugely anticipated once-off test match against England with a drawn three-day, warm-up encounter with the England ‘A’ side at the Arundel Cricket Club in West Sussex on Thursday.
South African captain, Suné Luus contributed with a measured 50 not out off 100 deliveries, including six boundaries to help usher her side to a 350-run second innings lead after the Proteas Women declared on 325 for nine in addition to their 301 all out from their first outing with the bat.
In response, the English outfit ended the final day’s play on 123 for three after 36 overs, still 227 runs behind their target, with Eve Jones raising her bat for a 98-ball 59 (7 fours), after having declared their first innings on 276 for nine in order to provide their guests with the maximum match preparation.
To kickstart proceedings on day three, batters Andrie Steyn (63) and Lizelle Lee (36) only managed to add 13 and eight runs respectively to their overnight scores before they both fell in quick succession in the first session, bringing an end to their 73-run stand.
Although Marizanne Kapp entered the fray in destructive fashion, racing to a 28-ball 34 that involved six fours, England ‘A’ managed to continue taking wickets, removing Kapp and Anneke Bosch (3) which helped introduce Luus and Nadine de Klerk (43) to the crease.
The pair went on to add 56 runs for the seventh wicket before Luus combined well with Sinalo Jafta (20) to take South Africa past the 300-run mark before declaring with one wicket in hand.
Needing 350 runs to win, England began their second innings in impressive fashion as Jones and Ella McCaughan recorded a 91-run partnership for the opening wicket before Luus (1-23) made the all-important breakthrough as she had McCaughan caught by Laura Wolvaardt for 46.
Following the fall of the opener, Nonkululeko Mlaba’s left-arm spin (2-33) picked up the final two wickets to fall in the match before both captains shook hands on the result, bringing an end to an enthralling three days of cricket.