Right, that’s it for this Friday night - the teams move to Leicester for the final ODI on Monday - heatwave allowing. England have won the series, but South Africa will be desperate to pull one back. See you then!
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South Africa’s captain, Sune Luus: (apologies I missed the first bit)
“I think we have a glimpse of the kind of cricket we want to play, we just want to put in an all-round performance.”
England captain, Heather Knight: “Really happy, a brilliant performance to back up the other day. Today was even better, showed real intent at the top and Sophia’s hundred - really special when that happens. We’ve changed the [batting] order to add it to our strengths - to make the order a bit more rounded.
“I thought it was really impressive how the bowlers wanted to keep attacking and keeping wickets. Wongy banging it in and adding something a little bit different. The white ball doesn’t swing for very long, and we wanted to give the Nat the chance with that. Dean is a really aggressive, an attacking off spinner, she’s done a great job.”
The player of the match is: Sophia Dunkley for her first ODI century.
“It was a big total, they have to be realistic, 300 has never been chased in a women’s ODI. But it was almost their own undoing,” says Natalie Germanos.
Charles Dagnall, “ I would have liked to see Issy Wong with the new ball, the reason I say that is that she makes things happen, she’s a strike bowler. But having said that, England are playing some wonderful cricket. We saw a wonderful innings from Emma Lamb the other day, and Sophia Dunkley today and Nat Sciver is in supreme form.”
And that was just the sort of victory England were looking for, a dominant display with the bat and then wickets for the new caps before the spinners did their usual excellent job. Wong was particularly impressive -the South Africans visibly uneasy against the short ball.
South Africa’s batting rather fell away after a bouncy start, though Kapp kept the fires burning with a sharply-played fifty.
WICKET! Mlabla c Dean (South Africa 223 all out) England win by 114 runs
Charlie Dean is a safe pair of hands at extra-cover, taking the catch, and throwing the ball in the air in a little bounce of pleasure. England hug in celebration, Heather Knight allows herself a smile, and that’s a cruisey win for England.
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WICKET! Kapp c and b Ecclestone 73 (South Africa 223-9)
Kapp screams the ball back and Ecclestone takes it with both hands at neck height. All over bar the ice-creams.
40th over: South Africa 223-8 (Kapp 73, Khaka 5) Target 338 Kapp cuts a wide one from Bell for four, and nearly repeats the boundary next ball, stabbing at a wide one but Beaumont rolls over neatly next to the rope and stops it. A no-ball brings a free-hit but Kapp can only bring two. She’s not going to hand in the towel.
39th over: South Africa 213-8 (Kapp 65, Khaka 4) Target 338 Sophie Ecclestone? Pah! Kapp slaps her for four and six, dropping to her knee in trademark styles. Kapp to keep the strike in the next over.
38th over: South Africa 199-8 (Kapp 54, Khaka 1) Target 338 Khaka can’t get Bell away until the fourth ball, and then Kapp is unable to hit the rope.
37th over: South Africa 198-8 (Kapp 54, Khaka 0) Target 338 Kapp attacks: three fours off Dean’s last over (4-53) as she reaches fifty off 46 balls. She raises her bat towards the dressing room with a grim-set face.
36th over: South Africa 186-8 (Kapp 41, Ismail 2) Target 338 Bell bounces in, altogether like a thoroughbred with a brushed tail at the Olympics. And that’s her first ODI wicket! She grins and dips her head .
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WICKET! Ismail c Dean b Bell (South Africa 186-8)
Happy days as Bell gets her first ODI wicket! Ismail ruffles through her bag for the club and succeeds in cracking the ball to mid-off. Bell is delighted, Kapp unimpressed.
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35th over: South Africa 181-7 (Kapp 41, Ismail 2) Target 338 This feels a bit like going through the motions. One from Charlie Dean’s ninth.
34th over: South Africa 180-7 (Kapp 40, Ismail 2) Target 338 Kapp strikes the ball so cleanly, whistling Bell to the rope.
33rd over: South Africa 171-6 (Kapp 34, Ismail 1) Target 338 Dean, in sports sunglasses, a 2022 take on the ones Adam Hollioake used to wear, rattles through another smart over. A wicket, a wide and a few singles to keep the wolf from the door but not stock the larder.
WICKET! Chetty c Wong b Dean 17 (169-7)
A fourth for Dean as Chetty decides this is the one to go for, but can only send the ball into the blue evening loveliness and straight to Wong at mid-on.
Updated
32nd over: South Africa 169-6 (Kapp 33, Chetty 17) Target 338 Attacking Ecclestone is a dangerous strategy and South Africa are content with three. Ecclestone showing no sign of her previous injury.
31st over: South Africa 166-6 (Kapp 31, Chetty 16) Target 338 A couple of wides from Charlie Dean are gratefully accepted by South Africa, and Chetty gives hope by flanneling four.
30th over: South Africa 157-6 (Kapp 30, Chetty 10) Target 338 It’s still hurting her as she flows through the last few balls of the over. And to make matters worse, Lamb drops Chetty at short extra cover - a ball that bounces in and out as it drops suddenly.
Ecclestone injured
The physio runs out after Ecclestone is hit by a Kapp drive. She squats down to stop the ball, and it catches her awkwardly on the left wrist. Something comes out of the medicine bag and she swallows a tablet or two. Looks like she’s staying on the field.
Updated
29th over: South Africa 155-6 (Kapp 29, Chetty 9) Target 338 Chetty scraps three over cover, and then a handful of singles.
28th over: South Africa 149-6 (Kapp 27, Chetty 5) Target 338 As Ecclestone leaps to gather the ball off her last delivery, my dog leaps off the sofa and looks as me. That’s an England-have-got-this look, as she pads off to search for crumbs under the kitchen table.
27th over: South Africa 146-6 (Kapp 26, Chetty 3) Target 338 Kapp pounces on a short ball from Lamb and sends it flying through midwicket. A shot that hinted at frustration.
26th over: South Africa 139-6 (Kapp 21, Chetty 1) Target 338 Can Marizanne Kapp do this by herself? If it was just down to will-power...
Updated
WICKET! de Klerk c Sciver b Wong 0 (South Africa 138-6)
de Klerk tries to take on the short ball, but Sciver is waiting in the covers and takes off, holding on with both hands. What a debut for Wong!
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25th over: South Africa 137-5 (Kapp 20, de Klerk 0) Target 338 Kapp sinks balletically to one knee and pummels Emma Lamb’s first ball over her own head for four.
Updated
24th over: South Africa 132-5 (Kapp 15) Target 338 Tryon given a tasty working over there by Wong. She top edges her for four, tries to pull and misses, before being beaten for pace and losing all shape and handing Jones a chance.
WICKET! Tryon c Jones b Wong 54 (South Africa 132-5)
Tryon goes for the hook, but it is too low, and too quick, and she can only slither it through to Jones.
Updated
23rd over: South Africa 126-4 (Kapp 15, Tryon 2) Target 338 Kapp, one knee, through the off-side - bang! Then from A-Z - Ecclestone lets one through her legs, like one of those wind-up cars on a slippery floor.
22nd over: South Africa 119-4 (Kapp 9, Tryon 1) Target 338 Beautiful from Kapp, who plays the angles with a cut off Wong which flies to the boundary. These two now carry South Africa’s hopes.
21st over: South Africa 111-4 (Kapp 2, Tryon 0) Target 338 A fruitful South African start now falling on stony ground
WICKET! Luus c Bell b Dean 4 (South Africa 111-4)
A third for Dean as Luus, feeling the pressure, tries a sweep and can only edge it, flying to Bell, again, at square leg.
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20th over: South Africa 108-3 ( Luus 2, Kapp 1) Target 338 Wong strikes in her third over, and the ball after Goodall had got luck with an edge for four through the slips. Wong smiles like a cream-eating cat.
WICKET! Goodall c Bell b Wong 16 (South Africa 108-3)
This time Bell takes the catch off her fellow debutant! Goodall drives limply to mid-on where Bell takes it with both hands. And that’s Wong’s first ODI wicket! The England players rub her closely cropped hair.
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19th over: South Africa 102-2 ( Goodall 12, Luus 2) Target 338 Dean on the button, and the only runs come from a ramp played with a wink by Goodall.
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18th over: South Africa 99-2 ( Goodall 9, Luus 2) Target 338 South Africa prod at Ecclestone.
What to do with Nat Sciver? Who wouldn’t want to bowl the best allrounder in the world at the top of the innings - but what if she’s too knackered?
Nat Sciver expensive in the powerplay again - she went at 7s in the 1st ODI and is going at 8s today. (Bell going at under 4.) Is it asking too much of her to open the bowling?
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) July 15, 2022
17th over: South Africa 97-2 ( Goodall 8, Luus 1) Target 338 Well bowled Charlie Dean! A nudge from Goodall brings another boundary but the problem for South Africa is that they don’t have much time to consolidate. If you’re at Bristol today, do write in and give the OBO some atmospheric reports.
WICKET! Steyn lbw Dean 28 (South Africa 92-2)
Steyn premeditates a sweep, and the umpire quickly raises the finger. Steyn reviews ... and it is just clipping the top of leg stump - umpire’s call. Steyn widens her eyes in surprise and trudges off.
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16th over: South Africa 92-1 (Steyn 27, Goodall 4) Target 338 A delicate bit of placement from Goodall who pops Ecclestone round the corner and down to the fine leg boundary to get off the mark.
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15th over: South Africa 87-1 (Steyn 27, Goodall 0) Target 338 The wicket England were looking for - as the spinners first restrict the run-rate, then make the crucial cut. The TV cameras watch as a couple of people walk round the boundary clutching 99s.
WICKET! Woolvaardt c Wong b Dean 55 (South Africa 87-1)
From nowhere! Woolvaardt cross bats looking to hoop it high but can only find Issy Wong at mid-on. Wong and Dean hug enormously in celebration.
Updated
14th over: South Africa 83-0 (Steyn 27, Woolvaardt 51) Target 338 Ecclestone turns the screw.
Fifty for Laura Wolvaardt!
13th over: South Africa 82-0 (Steyn 27, Woolvaardt 50) Target 338 Ooof - the first chance of the innings goes down off the very first ball of Charlie Dean’s spell, as a wooden Steyn gets an outside edge but Amy Jones can’t hold on. Woolvaardt off-drives the last ball, picks up three and that’s an excellent fifty off just 41 balls. Her 31st ODI half century.
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12th over: South Africa 78-0 (Steyn 26, Woolvaardt 47) Target 338 England could do with a breakthrough and Knight turns to her not-so-secret weapon, the world’s best female spinner. Sophie Ecclestone, pink sunglasses, long pony, reels in. Steyn picks ups a boundary from an inside edge, but otherwise it is regulation binary.
11th over: South Africa 70-0 (Steyn 20, Woolvaardt 46) Target 338 Wong’s second over is tidier, as she mixes up her lengths.
“Could you pressurisé the Guardian sports editor to add a scoreboard to all the women’s games as happens for the men’s games.
I find the scoreboard useful as it gives me an instant whole game overview and let’s me see how the bowlers are doing.
Good for one good for the other.”
Thanks Patrick - I’ve been asked this before so I actually know the answer! It’s all tied up in a deal with one of the agencies - and is currently in discussion. Fingers crossed we’ll get the scoreboard for the women’s games soon.
10th over: South Africa 68-0 (Steyn 19, Woolvaardt 45) Target 338 The end of the power play leaves South Africa on top and - at the moment - untroubled. Woolvaardt takes two more easy boundaries off Bell.
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9th over: South Africa 58-0 (Steyn 17, Woolvaardt 37) Target 338 Issy Wong into the attack, also on her ODI debut. Wong starts with a fat wide one, which Woolvaardt waves away through cover for four. The last is too full and sent on its way off the pads. Che-ching tings the SA runs register.
8th over: South Africa 48-0 (Steyn 16, Woolvaardt 28) Target 338 Relief for England, courtesy of a maiden from Bell.
7th over: South Africa 48-0 (Steyn 16, Woolvaardt 28) Target 338 Welcome to the Laura Woolvaardt show! Through the covers, away she goes! Then Steyn joins in, four more, chomping on a half volley and sending it flying through the off side. South Africa flying!
6th over: South Africa 37-0 (Steyn 9, Woolvaardt 20) Target 338 Woolvaardt drops to her knee and lets fly a cover drive off the last ball of the over. Bell drifts a touch wide and Woolvaardt says, yes please. South Africa off to a brisk start here, a run a ball isn’t to be sniffed at.
5th over: South Africa 31-0 (Steyn 9, Woolvaardt 19) Target 338 Thirteen from the over, as Woolvaardt hammers Sciver back past her fingertips and then splats an inviting short ball through midwicket.
4th over: South Africa 18-0 (Steyn 9, Woolvaardt 8) Target 338 A sprinkling of people at Bristol, which is one of my favourite grounds. Will Brown is a fantastic chief exec, so keen to make Gloucestershire CCC a heartbeat of the local community. Anyway - there’s only one scoring shot off Bell’s over and it’s an outside edge which zips past slip and beats Issy Wong down to the boundary.
3rd over: South Africa 14-0 (Steyn 5, Woolvaardt 8) Sciver bowls too full and Woolvaardt’s eyes widen, she leans in and sends an on drive happily to the boundary.
2nd over: South Africa 7-0 (Steyn 4, Woolvaardt 2) Lauren Bell, on her ODI debut, shooting up into the sky with ridiculously long legs, a ponytail running down her back. She’s careful. Some nifty fielding from Emma Lamb on the rope prevents a four. Wolvaardt rather labours a ball to mid-off - actually it was a no ball. But the free hit brings nothing, as Wolvaardt can’t get a bat on it.
1st over: South Africa 3-0 (Steyn 3, Woolvaardt 0) Nat Sciver is into her run up straight away - no messing about. Steyn picks up a couple off her ankles from the first ball. The pitch and grass are shaved so short it looks, on the TV at least, as if it is a carpet.
Dunkley’s acceleration in its full glory:
Sophia Dunkley after 40 overs: 49* (60)
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 15, 2022
Sophia Dunkley after 50 overs: 107 (93)
Brilliant acceleration at the death 💪#ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/RNjY2ryzLJ
England are in their huddle, the camera getting close enough to pick up any split ends. Do send me your thoughts as South Africa move through their chase, either on @tjaldred or tanya.aldred.freelance@theguardian.com.
Really interesting discussion on TMS in the innings pause on the change between the amateur game and the professional game, and how some women really struggled with the sudden scrutiny that came with being paid: the changes in expectation.
I know Raf is our in-house expert, but I’m still going to give her a plug. Fab stats at CRICKETher - including this one on how the partnership between Lamb and Beaumont was England’s best for two years. Beaumont has been expert in the Alastair Cook role - desperately searching a solid opening partner.
England's best opening partnership in the past 2 years. pic.twitter.com/wOBD3lKNl8
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) July 15, 2022
Thanks Adam, great to have you back! What a treat to see Sophia Dunkley in full flow - and all adding up to a very handy score for England. Great to see Emma Lamb in the runs again too - I’ve watched more of her brother Danny playing for Lancashire - what an amazing talented family.
Updated
South Africa require 338 to win
Dunkley is chatting to Charles Dagnall. “It’s an unreal feeling to get my first 100 for England, especially at my new spot. I was over the moon when Heather told me I would be batting three and I’m really lucky to be getting this opportunity.”
Excuse the cliché but that’s going to be the first of many for England. What a talent.
Right, on that note, I’ll hand over to Tanya Aldred for South Africa’s chase. Bye!
WICKET! Dunkley c Wolvaardt b de Klerk 107 (93). England finish on 337-5
de Klerk to bowl over number 50. Ohhh, and she sneaks one through... past Wyatt, the stumps and Chetty; four byes. With the offside field up to Wyatt all she needs is a tiny bit of width and that’s what she has from the next delivery to hammer a four through cover. To the final ball of the innings, appropriately to Dunkley - can she finish it in style... not quite! She picked up the full toss all the but is taken on the midwicket rope. But that doesn’t detract from her innings - a special day for her.
50th over: England 337-5 (Wyatt 8*)
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49th over: England 325-4 (Dunkley 106, Wyatt 1) Wyatt to finish the job - in hindsight, she probably could have done with coming in ahead of the captain but not to worry. Kapp draws on her experience here, bowling it into the pitch with a different type of slower ball with each delivery, just four runs coming. A fine comeback from the veteran after two poor spells inside the power play earlier.
A first international hundred for @dunkleysophia 👏🔥
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 15, 2022
Scorecard & Videos: https://t.co/Aiope5IFLm
🏴 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/OnfCO3kh9p
WICKET! Knight c Mlaba b de Klerk 9 (England 318-4)
The ball after Dunkley’s ton, Heather Knight top edges a sweep into the hands of Mlaba at short fine leg. The captain applauds Dunkley once again as she departs.
48th over: England 318-4 (Dunkley 100)
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Sophia Dunkley brings up her first international century!
From her 87th delivery, hitting the second half-century in just 26 balls. Dunkley’s elevation to No3 was designed to give her more of a chance to influence games and she’s proven already what an excellent decision that was. En route to superstardom.
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47th over: England 307-3 (Dunkley 93, Knight 8) Ismail to bowl her tenth here and she’ll be frustrated at the way the home side bring up their 300: a genuine edge through about third slip for four. That’s not where Knight was trying to find the rope but that won’t bother her at this stage. Ismail responds trying to attack the stumps with teh England skipper jumping across her stumps but misses the mark and a wide is signalled. Stiff. A bouncer follows, naturally. Sloppy from what should have been the final ball - an overstep. It’s been that kind of day for the seamers. Dunkley gets plenty of the free hit but Wolvaardt does well at midwicket to save a boundary.
46th over: England 296-3 (Dunkley 87, Knight 2) de Klerk getting a bit of love on the TV commentary from Mel Jones and co, who also enjoy the enthusiastic way she goes about her cricket. She’s spot on here, denying both batters the chance to free their arms - just the five singles. Really well bowled at this stage of the innings.
45th over: England 291-3 (Dunkley 84, Knight 0) Big appeal for lbw first ball when Knight misses a leg-stump half volley but it’s not hitting the woodwork and Luus doesn’t review. Ismail has one over to bowl and there’s five left in the innings.
WICKET! Sciver b Ismail 63 (47) England 289-3
Dunkley loves the pace of Ismail, timing her back down the ground for another four to move into the 80s for the first time in international cricket. Shot. But later in the over Sciver tries to go the other way with a premeditated sweep over backward square but loses her middle stump. Another top innings comes to an end.
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44th over: England 281-2 (Dunkley 77, Sciver 63) de Klerk’s turn to face the music and for half an over, it’s going well - just one single. But Dunkley then walks at her before smashing the cover off it... if you want, a dropped catch, but nobody is taking that - four runs. And she’s in some pain, that’s hit the end of her right index finger on the way through. Out comes the medical staff for a look. She’s still shaking the hand as she takes the ball back with two balls to bowl... ohh, she nearly misses the pitch. She’s just got to get out of this over now, and does. I know she’s gone for 44 from her six overs today but reckon de Klerk will take a lot of internatonal wickets.
DUNKS 😍😍😍
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 15, 2022
Scorecard & Videos: https://t.co/Aiope5IFLm
🏴 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 | @dunkleysophia pic.twitter.com/YzwagwQu29
43rd over: England 272-2 (Dunkley 72, Sciver 61) Bosh! Dunkley’s turn to go over long-on, taking Ismail for SIX to start the over - timing and strength, that’s why the England No3 is such a handful. Shorter in reply from the South African attack leader and Dunkley goes again through cover. That’s ten off two balls to start. Now six more! Dunkley opening up that off-side, upper-cutting high over point... bang! “This could get ugly for South Africa,” says Daggers. Yep, all signs suggest that from here.
Sciver to 50 in 39 balls
42nd over: England 256-2 (Dunkley 56, Sciver 61) Just another half-century for Sciver - she’s having an incredible 2022 with loads of cricket still to come. And whaddayaknow, she celebrates the milestone by launching the next delivery over long-on for a mighty SIX! The first of the innings, one where each of the four England players so far have made been able to raise their bat. Ohh and a total gift to finish from Khaka, a half-tracker on her hip - Sciver puts it away. That ton is still on...
5️⃣0️⃣ ✅
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 15, 2022
First maximum of the innings ✅
Nat's brilliant form continues! 🔥
Scorecard & Videos: https://t.co/Aiope5IFLm
🏴 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 | @natsciver pic.twitter.com/b3AjIib2DI
Dunkley to 50 in 61 balls
41st over: England 242-2 (Dunkley 55, Sciver 48) Her fourth ODI half-century and carved out on a day where she hasn’t been hitting the ball quite so cleanly - just three boundaries to date. But like Sciver, she can move very quickly when set. The last game she played in that I was on commentary for was the third placed playoff at FairBreak in Dubai a few months ago when she blasted a 50-ball century. Later in the over, her best shot yet: down the track to Kapp then waiting on a shorter ball, steering it away through the gap at backward point and it races away for four. These two have now put on 95 in 80 deliveries together. The should get 320 from here.
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40th over: England 232-2 (Dunkley 49, Sciver 44) “You need to find a wicket from somewhere if you’re South Africa before this partnership gets out of hand,” says Charles Dagnall on Sky. Khaka has the ball thrown back to her for that task. It’s a productive over for England, scoring from every ball, but once again there’s no boundary - eight from it. Okay, that’s the middle overs done - happy hour begins.
39th over: England 224-2 (Dunkley 44, Sciver 41) Luus needed Kapp to return strong and she has so far. This, her 7th over, is worth six with boundaries. They’ll take that.
38th over: England 218-2 (Dunkley 41, Sciver 38) Tryon has barely bowled a bad ball today - she’s giving Luus flexibility on the basis that she, as the sixth bowler, has sent down seven overs. But there’s nothing she can do about Sciver’s premeditated sweep, hit hard behind square for four - nobody is cutting that off. To back in my earlier prediction, Sciver is 62 away from a ton with 72 balls left in the innings. Assuming she faces 36 of those, in the form she’s in, I can see it. I want to believe.
37th over: England 210-2 (Dunkley 39, Sciver 32) Right, 14 overs to go. If Sciver bats through she’ll be 100-plus by the end, mark my words. And that’s helped by de Klerk here, on her hip with the first ball of the fresh over and helped behind square - that’s the all-rounder’s third boundary in her last half a dozen balls. de Klerk recovers well at Dunkley though, beating the edge a couple of times in a row. So, just five off it.
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36th over: England 203-2 (Dunkley 38, Sciver 26) With the bowlers under pressure, Tryon returns for a second spell. I’m still not quite sure why she was replaced by Luus; her departure from the attack was the catalyst for England getting on the bike again. Anyway, the difference between her first spell and now is that Sciver is set, which means, even with a tiny bit of width, she’s able to time her through point from the balls of her feet out to the rope to take the home side beyond 200.
35th over: England 196-2 (Dunkley 37, Sciver 20) Sciver sweeps hard and true, backward of square for her first boundary. “She’s making cricket look very easy at the moment,” says Kate Cross (rested today) on Sky commentary, noting that the best part of the all-rounder’s game this year has been her ability to manipulate the field. Mlaba sends down a full toss later in the over to Dunkley who is already down the track, hammering it past Tryon at extra cover who never had a chance. 11 off it.
34th over: England 185-2 (Dunkley 32, Sciver 14) Khaka to Dunkley, who to this point hasn’t found the boundary from 38 balls - you wouldn’t say that about her very often. And what do you know, down the ground twice in a row to start this new over for two fours! The first was uppish through mid-on but the second properly middled. She tries to make it three in the over with a cut shot, giving it everything, but it off the bottom edge it goes with Dunkley throwing her head back in frustration. Nevertheless, 12 from the over with England’s new No3 now through the gears.
33rd over: England 173-2 (Dunkley 23, Sciver 11) Oh, so Ismail is coming off after two furious overs. Sciver won’t mind that, with Mlaba back for her sixth. The spinner does what she needs to here though, conceding six - South Africa will take that at this stage of the innings from their fifth bowler. They should still get 300+ from here.
32nd over: England 167-2 (Dunkley 20, Sciver 9) Strange one replacing Tryon with Khaka, when the latter will have to do a fair bit of heavy lifting in the death overs if Ismail keeps bowling, which she surely will after her previous over. Doubly so when Tryon was doing such an good job by taking both wickets and not conceding a boundary in her five overs. Indeed, there hasn’t been a boundary since Lamb was dismissed in the 22nd over. Eight off it too, all in 1s and 2s, no dots, good batting.
31st over: England 159-2 (Dunkley 16, Sciver 5) Back from drinks with Dunkley given the all clear and she top edges another short ball down behind square but it lands safely. Ismail the bowler most likely to break this up quickly and get into the England lower middle order order but she only has three overs left. Tricky sums for Luus.
30.4 overs: England 157-2 (Dunkley 15, Sciver 4) Dunkley badged by Ismail! Three short balls in a row and the third of the sequence gets up to whack Dunkley in the grille when looking to attack - good cricket. It prompts a concussion test (she looks fine), so they decide to take drinks halfway through the over.
30th over: England 156-2 (Dunkley 15, Sciver 4) The other part of Tryon’s spell is that she’s skipping through these overs inside 90 seconds, which can only help with building pressure to a new pair. She’s done a very good job so far. Keep going.
29th over: England 151-2 (Dunkley 12, Sciver 2) South Africa try to press home the gains made over the last nine overs by bringing Ismail back for another blast - before Sciver is set, presumably. But England are mindful of the plan, the all-rounder happy to play her defensively. She’ll worry about her strike rate once established.
28th over: England 149-2 (Dunkley 11, Sciver 1) Tryon has 2/14 from four - going very nicely, especially as the “sixth” bowler in this South African line-up. Sciver is off the mark first ball, helping a ball around the corner. Speculation on the telly that Beaumont’s hand cramp might’ve contributed to her dismissal.
WICKET! Beaumont c Ismail b Tryon 58 (England 147-2)
Beaumont does give them a second chance! This time, a chipped catch to Ismail after failing to get the elevation she was hoping for - no mistake this time on the edge of the circle. In theory, the door opens for the Proteas after picking up both set openers but, in reality, this wicket brings Nat Sciver to the middle in the form of her life...
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27th over: England 144-1 (Beaumont 57, Dunkley 8) Four singles to the sweepers off Mlaba but for a moment it looked like Beaumont might’ve been in a bit of strife with a hand complaint. Turns out if was just cramp - she laughs it off with the Proteas’ fielders after the physio leaves the field. But she’s been slowed down quite well.
26th over: England 140-1 (Beaumont 55, Dunkley 6) Just singles off Tryon so far, who is bringing the stumps into play with every delivery with that angle round the wicket. They’ve had a good five overs but needed to take that Beaumont chance.
25th over: England 135-1 (Beaumont 53, Dunkley 4) That’s the Marizanne Kapp we know and love - hard length, seam movement... and creating chances. Beaumont is dropped by Mlaba at mid-on. And it’s not a tough chance - not by these standards. Wasn’t hit hard, miscued her way... in and out. You can’t drop Tammy Beaumont.
24th over: England 133-1 (Beaumont 52, Dunkley 3) Chloe Tryon’s left-arm finger spin has a bit more pace to it than Mlaba’s and it has been effective so far, conceding just five runs from her first two overs after picking up the wicket of Lamb.
23rd over: England 130-1 (Beaumont 51, Dunkley 2) As is so often the case, a wicket slows the run rate - just a couple of singles to sweepers from Kapp’s first over back into the attack. Just what they needed from her after four ropey power play overs.
Beaumont to 50 from 64 balls
22nd over: England 128-1 (Beaumont 50, Dunkley 1) Before Lamb’s dismissal, Beaumont clipped de Klerk away for one to raise another ODI half-century. Her record since 2016 is close to the best of the world - certainly the best for England - and she loves batting at Bristol, where she averages 77 in this format. Meanwhile, Dunkley is off the mark from the final ball of the successful over.
WICKET! Lamb c Mlaba b Tryon 67 (England 127-1)
Completely and utterly against the flow of play, Lamb has helped Tryon’s second ball - a rank full toss - straight too short fine leg off a top edge! A soft dismissal ends an another excellent performance at the top of the list. She really looks the goods.
Updated
21st over: England 126-0 (Beaumont 49, Lamb 67) Lamb spent the power play finding gaps through the off-side but has changed it up since the field has gone back, slamming a second boundary through midwicket in the space of two overs. Mlaba started her spell well but looks to be right in Lamb’s firing line now.
@collinsadam Could not agree more with all you’ve said on the OBO. SA have largely been poor, England have dispatched the poor balls nicely (I think they’ve also run v well), two reviews is a nonsense!
— Sarah Berman (@sarahberman) July 15, 2022
20th over: England 118-0 (Beaumont 47, Lamb 61) Lamb is motoring now, hitting de Klerk off her length with the first ball of the over, picking her up over midwicket for four, then making it back-to-back boundaries with a cut behind point. That’s her ninth four and I’m struggling to see how these two are going to be broken up. Oh, maybe run out! Chetty had the chance to jump on an inside edge and ping down the stumps but there’s no direct hit. England could go huge from this base.
Following up her century on Monday with a half-century today!
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 15, 2022
Scorecard & Videos: https://t.co/Aiope5IFLm
🏴 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 | @EmmaLamb236 pic.twitter.com/e75AmnhN6c
50 for Emma Lamb in 54 balls
19th over: England 107-0 (Beaumont 45, Lamb 52) The opener reaches the milestone with a boundary off Mlaba, cutting away for four the first ball the spinner has dragged down so far. After a ton at Northampton, Lamb is well on her way again.
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18th over: England 100-0 (Beaumont 44, Lamb 46) Now the 100-run partnership, coming up in another pretty good over from de Klerk, who is into a nice groove. Lamb is fitting in perfectly to this England team at the start of this new World Cup cycle. Just what they needed when re-booting after their loss in the final in March.
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17th over: England 96-0 (Beaumont 43, Lamb 43) A lot to like about Mlaba, I reckon - holding her nerve at the start of her spell against two very well set openers.
NOT OUT! Yikes, yes, that’s very legside and Anna Harris’ decision is confirmed. Shocking review. Such is the absurdity of the post-Covid playing conditions, they now get two reviews in a one-day international. Anyway, whinge for another day.
South Africa review! First ball after drinks, Mlaba sneaks one past Beaumont’s inside edge from round the wicket and it’s given not out. Looked legside but up we go.
16th over: England 93-0 (Beaumont 41, Lamb 42) Just as it was in de Klerk’s first over, Lamb goes after the overpitched ball through cover and it’s sixth boundary - she overtakes Beaumont too, who got off to a flyer in the first few overs. A couple of wides follow - that’s not what they need from their holding bowler. That’s drinks. That’s a very poor hour from the Proteas, England’s openers taking full advantage.
15th over: England 86-0 (Beaumont 40, Lamb 38) Time for the left-arm orthodox spin of Nonkululeko Mlaba, who took 0/43 in the 1st ODI at Northampton. Good start too, finding her line and length at this set pair and not giving them anything to really go after - three singles to the sweepers is their lot. But no risks needed at this stage.
14th over: England 83-0 (Beaumont 39, Lamb 36) I’m a huge fan of Nadine de Klerk - can she get some control back here for the Proteas, coming into the attack for the first time? Well, she isn’t given a chance to settle with Lamb going after her second ball, up and over mid-off for four more - indeed, not far away from going all the way. But bowling with the wicketkeeper Chetty up to the stumps, the cagey medium pacer is right on the mark for the rest. Well bowled. She’s a very good cricketer.
13th over: England 77-0 (Beaumont 38, Lamb 31) Guess what? A half-volley to begin the fresh over, this time courtesy of Ismail, which Lamb accepts and drives away through cover for her fourth boundary to join Beaumont in the 30s. They’re going to have to stop bowling Ismail at some point soon as they’ll need her at the death.
The French captain, and some club teammates, are at the game in Bristol. Welcome!
Great Time here in Bristol with the meeting of Mel Jones And enjoying to watch the game #engvsa https://t.co/v2wfTgaZBi
— Brélivet Emmanuelle (@BrelivetE) July 15, 2022
12th over: England 71-0 (Beaumont 37, Lamb 26) Beaumont keeps moving, milking a couple behind twice to start the over. But the South African seamer gets back to where she needs to be, completing the set with four dots. They note on Sky the third ODI is on Monday when the forecast has the temperature getting up towards 40!
11th over: England 67-0 (Beaumont 33, Lamb 26) Ismail now returns to follow Kapp after her second unsuccessful spell - I suspect it wasn’t in the plan to be using her at the start of the middle overs but they need to keep some pressure on England or this will get out of hand before long. And it might anyway if they keep giving this England pair balls to cut, as Ismail does to Lamb, who plays that shot so well - four more. “Any modicum of pressure that’s been built up by South Africa has been released by a four-ball an over,” notes Charles Dagnall on Sky. Spot on. And right on cue, after a couple of dots, Beaumont is invited to pull - three more; easy peasy.
10th over: England 58-0 (Beaumont 29, Lamb 21) At long last a play and a miss, Beaumont lucky not to nick a tempter from Khaka. But, in keeping with the theme of the power play, the follow-up is no good - a legside wide. Later in the over, a sharp bit of fielding from Steyn hits the stumps but Lamb is well back. A solid finish, three dots in a row, completes the power play. England have laid a very useful foundation.
Updated
9th over: England 54-0 (Beaumont 26, Lamb 21) Kapp is having a shocker with her lengths here, giving Lamb a ball to slap through point - this time too full and too wide, she makes no mistake. The 50 partnership is up. England have spent quite a while searching for a long-term opening partner for Beaumont and the early signs are they have pulled the right lever this summer giving a chance to Lamb. Looks ready.
8th over: England 48-0 (Beaumont 26, Lamb 14) A good response from Khaka just when South Africa needed a frugal over - a single from Lamb out to square leg after a legside wide earlier in the set. No need for Lamb to rush with Beaumont pushing so hard during this critical power play passage. Two overs left with the field up.
7th over: England 46-0 (Beaumont 26, Lamb 14) Kapp is spun around to replace Ismail but, unfortunately, for the Proteas, the pattern continues with Beaumont pulling her for four with authority then picking her up behind square for another - back to back boundaries, which is where 24 of the opener’s 26 runs have come from. Meanwhile, Kapp has the unflattering analysis of 3-0-27-0 - six fours off her.
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6th over: England 37-0 (Beaumont 18, Lamb 13) Here’s Ayabonga Khaka replacing Kapp, who has had an unusually expensive start giving up 18 runs in two overs. But it doesn’t get much better from the first change, dishing up a short/wide one outside the off stump, dispatched behind point for Lamb’s first boundary. You can’t get away with that inside the power play with just two outside the circle. There’s a similar delivery to finish but Lamb top edges down to deep third. Eight off the over.
South Africa have unveiled their squads for England T20Is and the Commonwealth Games 👀
— ICC (@ICC) July 15, 2022
Details 👇https://t.co/2ZvBMY4HXl
5th over: England 29-0 (Beaumont 17, Lamb 6) Ismail bumper! Sharp too, ducked by Lamb - love to see it. No speed gun today? And that lays the foundation for South Africa’s best over so far, an accurate maiden completed with a yorker.
4th over: England 29-0 (Beaumont 17, Lamb 6) Better start to the over from Kapp to Beaumont but the fourth ball of the over is too short and too straight, providing Beaumont enough time to rock back and pull from her waist behind square for four. And four more to finish, given the chance to cut by Kapp for the second time in two overs. That’s help yourself stuff for an opener of her class - she’s up and about.
3rd over: England 20-0 (Beaumont 9, Lamb 5) Lamb steers a couple to start, prompting Ismail to crank it up a gear to whack her high on the back thigh with the next delivery - that’ll leave a mark. An overstep beings a free hit - Beaumont doesn’t make the most of it though, clothing in the direction of mid-on. Five off the over.
2nd over: England 15-0 (Beaumont 9, Lamb 2) Marizanne Kapp, South Africa’s best player, gets the first opportunity from the Ashley Down Road End. But she’s too wide to Beaumont with her third delivery, who gets on the back foot to ease a cut through through the gap at point for the first four off the bat of the innings. A good response from Kapp, an off-cutter that wasn’t far away from the stumps after Beaumont shouldered arms. But she’s too full with the delivery that follows that, the opener driving through the gap at extra cover for a second boundary - lovely shot.
1st over: England 6-0 (Beaumont 1, Lamb 1) Beaumont is batting in short sleeves! This is the first time I’ve ever seen that, noting that I didn’t watch the First ODI as I was in the air back from Sri Lanka. Anyway, she gets England’s first run with a steer behind point. Oooh, and Lamb is inches away from not scoring at all, cut in half by an Ismail beauty - it does so much that the ‘keeper Chetty can’t reach it either, four byes. But she’s off the mark next ball with a dab to deep third of her own.
The players are on the field. Tammy Beaumont and Emma Lamb for England; Shabnim Ismail, back into the team for South Africa today, is taking the new ball. The players and staff take a knee before the first ball, to the applause of the crowd. PLAY!
Good on Leics for having a real crack here. Buy a ticket for Monday.
As records tumble on the field … can you help us make a new one at the Uptonsteel County Ground? Be part of the largest audience for a Womens ODI at Grace Road - get your ticket asap. We are on track for it! pic.twitter.com/6lnYdnOVeS
— Sean Jarvis (@SeanMJarvis) July 15, 2022
In other news before we begin... a lot of people, not unreasonably, are going to kick off over this. Time for a re-think as to where the Blast fits alongside internationals.
The teams as named
England: Tammy Beaumont, Emma Lamb, Sophia Dunkley, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver, Danni Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Issy Wong, Lauren Bell.
South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt, Andrie Steyn, Lara Goodall, Sune Luus (c), Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba.
Lauren Bell and Issy Wong are speaking with Sky. They found out yesterday, so both have brought family members to Bristol for the day. They are England ODI players 134 and 135 respectively. When they received their Test caps at Taunton, it was from the legendary combination Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt - as Mel Jones points out, they have the chance to be the next long-standing opening pair. Wong is already an interesting figure in the women’s cricket world, her publicly-stated aim of becoming the first woman to 80mph dividing opinion. But ignoring the radar, goodness me, she can bowl - swing, skid, aggression. And Bell, a product of the domestic pathway, benefits from her height and accuracy. This should be fun.
England have won the toss
As expected, Heather Knight has elected to bat. It’s a very windy day at Bristol. “I think it will be a good surface and might spin towards the end of the game so we want to get runs on the board.” Katherine Brunt and Kate Cross the rest, which means Issy Wong and Lauren Bell are going to make their ODI debuts. Exciting.
Sune Luus says South Africa were going to bowl first, so she isn’t worried. And she’ll have the fastest bowler in the women’s game, Shabnil Ismail, back in her XI.
Preamble
Good afternoon. Lovely to be back in the UK after a few weeks in Sri Lanka for the Australian Men’s Tests, straight onto the OBO for the first time this summer. And what better time than for the two of the teams I enjoy covering most: England’s women up against South Africa at Bristol – the second ODI of a three-match series.
Heather Knight’s reconfigured and refreshed team saluted with ease in the opener at Taunton earlier in the week, hunting down the 219 they required for victory in just 32.1 overs. What an evening it was for Emma Lamb in particular, reeling off her first international ton, finishing with 102 from 97 balls at the top of the list.
With the ball, Katherine Brunt, in her first international of the season, returned the stellar figures of 3/18 from nine overs, bursting through the top order in the usual manner for the veteran. Down the other end, all-rounder Nat Sciver continued her stunning 2022: four wickets then another brisk half century in the chase. Class.
England have a great record at Bristol in the 50-over format, last year hammering India early in the summer then also getting the job done against New Zealand. I suspect they’ll be keen to bat first, which would present a fantastic opportunity for Sophia Dunkley, who has been elevated from six to three in the England list.
For the Proteas, the big-hitting Chloe Tryon saved their blushes after a limp 30 overs off the top, smacking 88 from 73. Nadine de Klerk, who impressed at the T20 World Cup immediately before the pandemic, took a couple of wickets with her lively swing after combining with Tryon for a stand of 97, contributing 38 of those.
Sune Luus’ side need to win to stay in the series. To do so, runs from the captain and opener Laura Wolvaardt are surely a must - their senior players. That’s all the more important in the absence the absence of Lizelle Lee, who retired before the series, and their full time skipper, Dane van Niekerk, who missed the tour with an injury.
Right, I’ll be back with the toss and teams shortly with play set to begin at 2pm BST. Stay in touch throughout by dropping me a line or pinging through a tweet.
