Mount Maunganui (NZ), March 14 (FN Agency) South Africa defeated defending champions England by 3 wickets here at Bay Oval on Monday to seal their third consecutive win in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The win took South Africa to the second spot on the World Cup standings. With six points, they are now behind Australia on net run rate. Marizanne Kapp was the star with the ball for South Africa with a maiden five-for in ODIs. She led the bowling attack in the absence of Shabnim Ismail, who had to go off the field after bowling only five overs. Chasing 236 , the start wasn’t ideal for South Africa. Anya Shrubsole went through a gap and rattled Lizelle Lee’s stumps with an inswinger to end her innings for 9.
Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits then steadied the ship with a 56-run stand for the second wicket before Brits was dismissed by Nat Sciver in an attempt to clear the ropes. Wolvaardt and Sune Luus stitched a partnership of 73 runs, ensuring the required run rate doesn’t climb out of control. Wolvaardt continued her good form in the World Cup, bringing up her second consecutive fifty in the tournament in the 31st over. Amy Jones brought ended Luus’ innings for 36. Her wicket triggered a mini collapse, with Wolvaardt and Mignon du Preez following her back to the pavilion in the following overs. Chloe Tryon hit a couple of boundaries to keep the required rate in check but was run out at the non-striker’s end after the ball grazed Brunt’s fingers onto the stumps.
Going into the final five overs, South Africa needed 31 with four wickets in hand to win the match. Kapp eased the pressure with a six off Brunt to bring the required rate below run-a-ball. Shrubsole trapped Kapp in front of the stumps in the penultimate over before Shabnim Ismail smashed a four off her first ball. Needing four to win in the last over, South Africa got across the line with four balls to spare. Earlier, half-centuries from Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones helped England set a respectable total of 236 as they went in search of their first win in the tournament. Put in to bat first, England lost Danielle Wyatt in the second over to Kapp, with Wolvaardt completing a juggling catch at point. Kapp then dismissed the skipper Heather Knight, who dragged it on to her own stumps for 9. Nat Sciver came in and smashed three quick boundaries but found a bizarre way of getting out – she missed the pull and the ball bounced off her body, hit the back of the bat and went into the hands of slip.
Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont led the recovery cautiously, rotating strike instead of going for big hits. They rebuilt the innings and got their respective fifties. They put on 107 runs for the fourth wicket before Masabata Klaas trapped Beaumont in front of the stumps for 62. Jones’ fightback ended in a run out when a bit of hesitation cost her. Sophia Dunkley and Katherine Brunt stitched a 34-run partnership to take England past the 200-run mark before Kapp struck twice in the same over to remove the two batters. Kapp completed her five-for in the next over with the scalp of Kate Kross. England managed to bat out the 50 overs, getting to 235/9.