Dercksen, Kapp restrict England

Marizanne Kapp and Natalie Dercksen shared six wickets as South Africa dismissed England for 186 in the first women’s ODI at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley on Wednesday.

Despite South Africa’s relative success, they could and probably should have dismissed England for less with Charlie Dean (47*) and Sophie Ecclestone bailing out the tourists with a record eighth-wicket partnership for England against South Africa of 67 in 69 balls.

South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt missed a trick after Kapp claimed 3-14 in a dynamic start for South Africa after England had won the toss and chosen to bat first on a low, slow Diamond Oval pitch.

Kapp, swinging the ball away from the right-handed batter, grabbed the wickets of both England openers Tammy Beaumont and Sophie Dunkley, as well as the key scalp of Natalie Sciver-Brunt, leg before for a duck.

But then, with the ball swinging for her appreciably, Wolvaardt chose to take off her prize pacer.

And when she returned after 28 overs, Kapp was unable to swing the ball and went for 10 in the only over of her second spell.

Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba claimed two wickets, but they were expensive as she conceded 47 runs.

Mlaba was wayward when she wasn’t penetrative and she and untidy wicketkeeping from Sinalo Jafta were jointly responsible for many of the 26 extras, including 22 wides, an unacceptable number.

As the fierce heat in Kimberley began to kick in, South Africa began to wilt and Dean, in particular, and Ecclestone began to make the hosts pay with a calm partnership that took England from a fragile 106 for seven to 173 for eight.

England captain Heather Knight held the England innings together in the early going when the tourists suffered a mini-collapse, compiling a valuable 40 in 63 balls.

But after she fell, leg before to Mlaba when attempting to sweep, it looked like England would be dismissed for less than 150.

That was the signal for the Dean/Ecclestone partnership to give the England bowlers something to bowl at.

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Suné Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Chloé Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka, Ayanda Hlubi

ENGLAND: Tammy Beaumont, Sophia Dunkley, Heather Knight (capt), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones (wk), Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell