Cricket
Proteas cruise to victory in Kimberley─── MORGAN PIEK 06:37 Thu, 05 Dec 2024
A commanding all-round performance by the Proteas Women secured a six-wicket victory over England in the first One-Day International at the Kimberley Oval on Wednesday.
Marizanne Kapp with 3/24 and Annerie Dercksen with 3/16 shared six wickets between them, restricting England to 186 all out. Captain Laura Wolvaardt’s composed 59* off 114 balls which included 7 fours, and Nadine de Klerk’s explosive 48* off 28 balls which included 11 fours guided South Africa to a comfortable win with 70 balls to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
After winning the toss, England opted to bat under the sweltering Kimberley sun. However, their decision quickly backfired as Kapp tore through the top order, dismissing Sophia Dunkley for 4, Tammy Beaumont for 11, and the in-form Nat Sciver-Brunt for a duck to leave the visitors struggling at 29/3 after seven overs.
De Klerk then added to England’s woes, removing Danni Wyatt-Hodge for 11 three overs later. England captain Heather Knight scored 40 and Amy Jones scored 21 as they attempted to stabilise the innings with a 27-run partnership before Dercksen dismissed the latter.
Charlie Dean. Photo: Cricinfo
Wickets continued to tumble, with Alice Capsey and Knight falling quickly to Nonkululeko Mlaba who took 2/27, leaving England teetering at 106/7 by the 26th over.
A spirited 67-run eighth-wicket stand between Charlie Dean with 47* and Sophie Ecclestone with 17 offered some resistance. However, Dercksen struck twice to remove Ecclestone and Lauren Filer, while a run-out accounted for Lauren Bell, ending England’s innings at 186 in 38.4 overs.
In response, South Africa began positively despite losing opener Tazmin Brits early to Lauren Bell. Wolvaardt and Suné Luus steadied the innings somewhat, taking the score to 46/1 by the end of the powerplay. The partnership was soon broken with Luus being trapped lbw.
Marizanne Kapp. Photo: Cricinfo
Wolvaardt then formed a crucial 59-run partnership with Dercksen, who contributed a career-best 27, pushing the hosts to 105/3 in the 25th over. After Dercksen’s dismissal to Filer, Wolvaardt teamed up with the experienced Kapp to edge closer to the target.
Kapp’s departure for 22 with the score on 136/4 brought De Klerk to the crease. Her aggressive knock, featuring 11 boundaries, ensured a swift finish as she and Wolvaardt guided South Africa home in the 39th over.
The second ODI will double as the fourth annual Black Day ODI, raising awareness against gender-based violence. It is scheduled for Sunday at 10:00 at Kingsmead in Durban.
