DAY 1: Bouchier, Sciver-Brunt pound South Africa’s bowlers

Maia Bouchier struck a century on debut while Nat Sciver-Brunt hit her second as England pulverised poor South African bowling to reach 292 for three in 60 overs at tea on the first day of the one-off test at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

Bouchier and Sciver-Brunt helped themselves to a third-wicket partnership of 174 runs in 172 balls against a South African attack that bowled way too short and with little discipline.

It had looked like the home team were getting back into the match at lunch which England took at 103 for one in 27 overs. Despite England’s sound position, at least the South Africans had restricted their run-scoring in the last hour of the morning’s play.

When Tumi Sekhukhune trapped Heather Knight leg-before with her third ball at the start of the afternoon’s play, it appeared that the South African women were right back in it.

It was an illusion, underlined by the poor performance of South Africa’s spinners, principally Nonkululeko Mlaba, who bowled a succession of half-trackers that were easy pickings for the English batters. Her first two overs went for 22 and the framework of the afternoon was set as Bouchier and Sciver-Brunt found it increasingly easy to plunder runs with a four-ball coming almost every over.

The pair scored 100 runs in 15 overs after lunch, at almost seven an over, a rate more consistent with T20 cricket than the red-ball format.

It was only when Mlaba changed ends, bowling with the wind at her back, that she made the breakthrough shortly before tea when Bouchier drove at a tossed-up delivery outside her off-stump that turned a little. The ball caught the edge and Sune Luus took a smart catch at slip moving sharply to her right.

Bouchier, who had been the picture of elegance, departed for a superb 126 in 154 balls, including 22 fours and two sixes. Some years ago, she had told an English journalist that she wanted to be “the next Nat Sciver”. The 26-year-old certainly looks the right package and was able, in addition, to bat with her heroine throughout the afternoon.

Sciver-Brunt, playing with complete composure and quiet dominance, duly went to her fifth test ton just before tea. Her undefeated 107 has so far spanned 110 balls and included 16 fours. She was accompanied by Danni Wyatt-Hodge (13 off 18 balls) at the break.

It was a measure of England’s dominance with the bat that 48 fours and two sixes have so far been struck in 60 overs.

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.