England Women's tour of South Africa 2024-25 - News Digest

December 12

Beaumont, Jones seal series win for England

England clinched the ODI series 2-1 against South Africa in Potchefstroom on Wednesday (December 11), as Tammy Beaumont (65*) and Amy Jones (49*) batted the tourists to victory. In a rain affected match, the visitors had to chase down 152 in 23 overs and they did so with aplomb having four overs to spare.

Due to the conditions, England opted to bowl but the hosts had a good opening 50-run stand within the first 10 overs between Laura Wolvaardt and Laura Goodall. Despite this, the South Africans couldn't get the run-rate moving as Goodall and Anneke Bosch, who followed the former, were striking around the 50-mark. The visitors were continuously disciplined with the ball and this resulted in Sophie Ecclestone getting the big wicket of Wolvaardt, just after the hosts crossed the 100-run mark.

Marizanne Kapp scored 38 off 54 while Annerie Dercksen (13 off 11) and Chloe Tryon (20 off 21) tried to put some impetus into the innings. But due to the regular wickets which ensued, the hosts were always on the backfoot as they stuttered to 233 for 8 in their allotted overs. Charlie Dean, Ecclestone and Alice Capsey picked up two wickets apiece while fast bowler Lauren Bell picked up Goodall early on.

Due to the downpour, the visitors were given a relatively simple equation but got off to the worst possible start. Kapp was driven by Maia Bouchier for four but she dismissed Bouchier next ball and followed it up to pick up Nat-Sciver Brunt for a duck as England were reeling at 4 for 2. Tammy Beaumont then hit Ayabonga Khaka for three boundaries before she saw her captain's stumps uprooted by Kapp, yet again, from the other end.

This however, didn't perturb Beaumont who continued to play the shots and find the boundaries. Danielle Wyatt-Hodge joined the fun for a bit before Tryon trapped her LBW but England had already chased half of the total within 10 overs as they were 75 for 4. Jones and Beaumont did consolidate their position until the 12th over before they went on a boundary hitting spree, as nine boundaries were scored as they comfortably took the visitors to a memorable win.

Brief Scores: South Africa 233/8 in 50 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 61, Marizanne Kapp 38; Sophie Ecclestone 2-26, Charlie Dean 2-52) lost to England 153/4 in 19 overs (Tammy Beaumont 65*, Amy Jones 49*; Marizanne Kapp 3-24, Chloe Tryon 1-26) by 6 wickets (DLS)

December 8