Lamb led from the front for the hosts with an aggressive maiden ODI hundred, dispatching 15 fours for a 97-ball 102 as the Three Lionesses chased down the target of 219 set by South Africa, who were well-restricted by a combination of superb bowling from Nat Sciver (4/59) and Katherine Brunt (3/18). 

South Africa began the blistering hot day in the East Midlands at the crease after they won the toss and elected to bat first with openers Wolvaardt and Andrie Steyn (14) looking to set a solid base for their side before the latter became Brunt’s first victim, trapped LBW. 

The home side then capitalised on their positive start with the ball to remove new batters, Lara Goodall (5) and captain Suné Luus (7) in quick succession to leave the Proteas 52/3 in the 17th over. 

With Wolvaardt looking impenetrable at the other end, she managed to combine for two respective 21 and 35-run partnerships with Marizanne Kapp (14) and Tryon before becoming South Africa’s fifth wicket to fall for 41 off 72 deliveries. 

With the score on 108/5 and with the English side seemingly on top, all-rounders Tryon and Nadine de Klerk displayed their batting prowess to put on a momentum-changing 97-run stand, with vice-captain, Tryon, leading from the front with a typically destructive knock.  

Tryon smashed the ball to all parts of the ground, including three sixes on her way to a ninth career half-century to help South Africa past the 200-run mark, while de Klerk played the perfect supportive role prior to Sciver making the all-important breakthrough in the 46th over to leave the away side 204/6. 

With the crucial stand broken, Sciver and Brunt finished off the job to pick up the remaining four wickets along with a run-out to end the South African innings on 218 all out with 2.2 overs to spare. 

In reply, England got off to a shaky start as Kapp (1/45) clean-bowled Tammy Beaumont (1) in the first over. That wicket brought in Sophia Dunkley (22), who partnered brilliantly with Lamb to take the game to South Africa in an explosive 78-run stand for the second wicket as Lamb raced to her fifty before De Klerk (2/44) broke up the pair by removing Dunkley through an LBW. 

Despite the brief reprieve provided by the fall of the wicket, new batter Sciver continued the onslaught with Lamb as the former brought up her half-century while playing the role of the protagonist to help record a vital 89-run, third-wicket partnership as they marched towards victory. 

Despite Sciver (55 off 36 balls; 8 fours), Lamb and Heather Knight (20) being sent back to the dugout through de Klerk, Ayabonga Khaka (1/41) and Tumi Sekhukhune (1/44), England wrapped up the proceedings in the 33rd over to seal an emphatic victory to take a 1-0 series lead with two matches to go.

The two sides will meet once again on Friday 15 July at the Bristol County Ground with the match getting underway from 15:00.