England women level ODI series with six-wicket win in Durban

England levelled the three-match ODI series for women with a comfortable six-wicket victory over a below-par South Africa at the “Black Day” game at a sunny Kingsmead in Durban on Sunday.

The Black Day event, attended by a modest but enthusiastic crowd, was intended to raise awareness of gender-based violence.

After winning the toss, England put South Africa in to bat, restricting them to 135 all out in 31.3 overs with offspinner Charlie Dean helping to precipitate a middle-order collapse in which five wickets fell for four runs. The spinner won the player of the match award for her figures of 4/45 in 10 overs.

England chased down their modest target in 24 overs – less than half their allocation with openers Tammy Beaumont (34) and Maia Bouchier (33) setting up the innings with a partnership of 69 in 75 balls.

England did have a minor hiccup, losing three wickets for 13 runs midway through the innings, but a 49-run partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge for the fourth wicket effectively saw the tourists over the line.

In general, the South Africans bowled way too short, with left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba (0/30 in five overs) particularly guilty. Annerie Dercksen (2/22) was the most successful bowler with Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk picking up a wicket apiece.

Earlier, England pace bowler Lauren Filer, bowling at a sharp pace in the mid-120s, had given her country the ideal start when she shattered the stumps of Tazmin Brits and Sune Luus in her first two overs to reduce South Africa to 14 for two. But then skipper Laura Wolvaardt, playing in her 100th ODI, and Dercksen settled in and raised a 50-run partnership for the third wicket without much fuss.

But then, with the total on 72, Dean struck with two soft dismissals. First Dercksen drove a half-volley straight to Filer at point, then, three balls later, Marizanne Kapp belted her straight to Sophie Ecclestone at mid-off.

Four runs later, Wolvaardt, in two minds whether to go back or forward, was bowled by Ecclestone for 35 (50 balls, 5x4s). Dean wasn’t finished however, as she next claimed the scalps of Nadine de Klerk (caught at slip) and Sinalo Jafta (leg before) in consecutive deliveries in her next over as South Africa plunged from 72 for two to 76 for seven.

Chloe Tryon saved some of South Africa’s blushes with a blazing 45 in 49 balls, including eight fours, before she became Ecclestone’s second victim, well caught at short leg by Beaumont. Ecclestone then finished off the innings by bowling Ayanda Hlubi to finish with 3/27 in 7.3 overs.

The ODI decider takes place in Potchefstroom on Wednesday. South Africa won the first clash by six wickets in Kimberley last Wednesday. The T20I series was won 3-0 by England.

The final match in the three-format tour, a four-day test, starts in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeto Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka, Ayanda Hlubi.

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 Filer