Linsey Smith came out all guns blazing as her three-wicket haul inside the powerplay rattled South Africa. Linsey Smith starred for England as Linsey Smith‘s 3-wicket haul alongside others chipping in with a couple of wickets bowled South Africa out for 69 in 20.4 overs. For South Africa, they did not turn up and only one batter got to double digits in a disappointing batting display.
Linsey Smith’s 3-wicket haul rattles South Africa to reduce them to 38/5 in the powerplay
Put into bat first, Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits came out to bat for South Africa while Lauren Bell had ball in hand for England. Wovaardt got things going by hitting a boundary through backward point. Brits too got a boundary away by slicing it over point region as South Africa made their intentions clear. Spin was introduced into the attack from the other end as Linsey Smith came onto bowl. Smith made an immediate impact getting rid of Wolvaardt for 5 off 5 balls with a boundary to her name.
Smith tossed it up a fraction fuller on off-stump. Laura planted her front leg and looked to push it down the ground. She was a bit early into the stroke and ended up chipping back to Smith who completed the catch. Sune Luus came out to bat next. Bell continued and bowled a decent over. Brits was the next one to depart as Smith dismissed her for 5 off 7 balls with a boundary to her name.
Linsey from around the wicket bowled a flighted delivery that pitched a few inches outside off-stump and kept coming in with the angle. Brits with a small stride forward pushed at it and left a big gap between the bat and front pad as the ball sneaked through to clatter the stumps. Marizanne Kapp came out to bat next. Kapp managed to get a boundary away through the covers. Bell got into the act next getting rid of Luus for 2 off 11 balls.
Bell bowled it full and a shade outside off-stump that seamed back in after pitching, Luus planted her front leg and pushed at it but got beaten on the inside edge. The ball hit the off-pole which was sent for a walk. Anneke Bosch came out to bat next and got off the mark with a brace. Smith was on a roll as she removed Kapp for 4 off 6 balls with a boundary to her name. Smith bowled another flighted delivery around off-stump again went on with the arm. Kapp looked to defend it with a big stride forward but played down the wrong line. It clipped her front pad and hit the top of middle stump. Sinalo Jafta came out to bat next.
Jafta got a boundary by hitting in the gap between cover point and backward point region. Bosch then hit Bell with an exquisite cover drive for a boundary. Smith continued as Amy Jones missed the stumping off Jafta as she got a reprieve off Smith. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt came into the attack next and got rid of Bosch for 6 off 5 balls with a boundary to her name.
Natalie bowled a short of a good length delivery on the stumps from over the wicket. Bosch misjudged the length as she stayed back and looked to flick it but missed it. The ball hit the front pad right in front of the stumps as the umpire raised the finger. Bosch opted not to review. Chloe Tryon came out to bat next.
Sophie Ecclestone came into the attack and gifted 5 wides to the batting side as a bonus. She came back and gave nothing away in the over as after the powerplay South Africa were reeling at 38/5 in 10 overs with all to do.
England drove home advantage to skittle South Africa out for 69 in 20.4 overs
Natalie Sciver-Brunt struck in his second over as she dismissed Tryon for 2 off 10 balls. Natalie bowled a short of a length delivery on leg. Tryon stayed deep in the crease and looked to work it square of the wicket in the leg side but closed her bat face a bit early. She got a leading edge and Capsey at short midwicket moved a couple of steps away to her left and took a good catch above her head. Nadine de Klerk came out to bat next.
Ecclestone continued as Jafta guided it past short third man for a boundary. Natalie bowled a miserly over. Sophie Ecclestone got her first wicket as she got rid of de Klerk for 3 off 11 balls. Sophie tossed it up nicely outside off, Nadine without any feet movement went for a drive away from her body. She got the outside edge and Knight at first slip took the good catch. Masabata Klaas came out to bat next.
Charlie Dean came onto bowl next. The 50 came up for South Africa in 14.3 overs for the loss of 7 wickets. Jafta then hit Dean by clearing mid-off for a boundary. Drinks was taken with South Africa struggling at 54/7 in 15 overs. Ecclestone continued after the break and bowled a miserly over. Dean continued and got rid of Klaas for 3 off 13 balls. She bowled a length ball around off, pitched and straightened. Klaas leaned forward as she played for the turn and she got beaten on the outside edge and the ball crashed on top of the off-stump. Ayabonga Khaka came out to bat next.
Ecclestone struck again getting rid of the well set Jafta for 22 off 36 balls with 3 fours to her name. Sophie bowled a length ball around off, pitched and kept a bit low. Jafta stepped down the track and looked to play the square drive. She got beaten on the under edge as the ball hit the off-stump. Nonkululeko Mlaba came out to bat at the end. Khaka managed to get a welcome boundary away off Dean by driving through the covers. Ecclestone continued and bowled a decent over as South Africa were 67/9 in 20 overs.
Dean finished things off for England as she dismissed Mlaba for 3 off 8 balls. Charlie tossed it up around off gripped and turned back in. Mlaba cleared her front leg and swung her bat across the line. She was nowhere to the pitch of the ball and got beaten on the inside edge and the ball crashed onto the off-stump. Khaka remained unbeaten on 6 off 12 balls with a boundary to her name as South Africa were bowled out for 69 in 20.4 overs. 8 extras given by the fielding side.
Linsey Smith was the pick of the bowlers for England with figures of 3/7 in 4 overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt finished with 2/5 in 3 overs. Sophie Ecclestone finished with 2/19 in 6 overs. Charlie Dean chipped in with 2/14 in 3.4 overs. Lauren Bell finished with 1/24 in 4 overs. England now needs a mere 70 to win this match and begin their campaign with a win.
What Lies Ahead
So, England have skittled South Africa out for 69 and now need 70 to win with plenty of time left. England should romp home to the win unless something drastic happens. South Africa look down and out at this stage and will do well to make a match out of this.
Let’s see how the chase unfolds from this position.