DAY 3: Knight holds firm as England extend lead to 281

England captain Heather Knight struck her fifth test 50 as she guided her team to 167 for four in their second innings at lunch, a handsome overall lead of 281, on the third day of the one-off test against South Africa at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

Batting time – enabling the pitch to further deteriorate – was as important to the tourists as scoring runs, and Knight fulfilled that function admirably, going into the break unbeaten on 57 off 118 balls, including eight fours. Already the cracks are opening and a number of deliveries are keeping low although batting is still relatively comfortable.

South Africa started in the red with pace bowler Ayanda Hlubi ruled out of the remainder of the test, at least as a bowler, with a grade one tear to her hip flexor while Marizanne Kapp didn’t bowl at all because her fitness is being “managed”.

South Africa nevertheless made a good start to the session with England resuming on 31 for one with medium-pacers Nadine de Klerk and Tumi Sekhukhune keeping it tight against Knight and Tammy Beaumont. Sekhukhune struck in the sixth over when she angled one into Beaumont who played around it and was trapped in front.

First innings centurion Nat Sciver-Brunt joined Beaumont and both batters were challenged by left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba who bowled with guile and, most importantly, discipline as she commanded respect. England nevertheless gradually improved their run-rate with Sciver-Brunt playing the main aggressor as the pair added 67 for the third wicket.

Mlaba was unlucky when wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta, again untidy behind the stumps, dropped a straightforward catch off Sciver-Brunt as she pushed forward, but the hurt didn’t last too long as the England star (37 off 58 balls, including six fours) played on shortly afterwards to the same bowler.

Sekhukhune struck again when Dani Wyatt-Hodge, who struck a brisk run-a-ball 23, edged a drive to Anneke Bosch at wide slip, but Knight, partnered by an aggressive Amy Jones (21 off 21 balls including 4x4s through the on-side) took England to lunch.

South Africa’s bowlers were unable to maintain the discipline they showed at the beginning of the session, but Mlaba (1/41 off 13 overs), Sekhukhune (2/27 off nine overs) and De Klerk (0/22 off eight overs) were the standouts for the home side.

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayanda Hlubi

ENGLAND: Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight (capt). Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones (wk), Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell.