The email we’ve been waiting for! “Hello Tanya ,” Timothy Sanders, hello! “Jon (25th over) is right. A fridge warns the air around it, as does an air-conditioned building. Furthermore, both need to use energy to achieve that, by pumping a refrigerant through a compressor. The First Law Of Thermodynamics says that heat doesn’t naturally pass from a cool thing to a hot thing, and the technology can only achieve that by using energy. I hope these cricketers are keeping well as playing well.”
Thank you Tim.
The player of the match is... Tammy Beaumont! Her ninth ODI century, thanks very much.
The player of the series is...Emma Lamb! “Feels like a dream,” she says.
Right that’s it from me - the telly is being switched over to Love Island, while I must unstick myself from the sofa cushions. Thanks for all the messages, see you Thursday!
And as John Starbuck sends some useful advice for tomorrow...
“An addition to the keeping cool advice: bathe your wrists in running cold water every now and then, so your blood will deliver cool to the rest of your body . Cannot think why all those advice articles didn’t include this, as it isn’t an old wives tale, but really works.”
...that’s a full-throttle thrashing in the heat by England, 3-0 in the ODI series, which means South Africa can’t beat them whatever the result of the three T20s - after the teams shared the Test match.
A superb century by Tammy Beaumont after South Africa inexplicably chose to field first, well supported by Heather Knight and Emma Lamb - and then some clever bowling by Charlie Dean and Lamb - who picked up three wickets each, as did Davidson-Richards.
WICKET! Khaka b Davidson-Richards 1 (South Africa 262 all out) England win by 109 runs
Khaka goes for the big one and is yorked.
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45th over: South Africa 262-9 ( Khaka 1) Wong, run-up back in full working order, gets her reward.
“Just checking,” types Philip Vial. “Charlie Dean’s 21 so has around 14 years of international cricket left in her? And her best is yet to come? I’m quite excited for the future of this team.”
WICKET! Ismail b Wong 6 (South Africa 262-9. )
Backs away, has a huge dirty wipe and is bowled!
44th over: South Africa 260-8 ( Ismail 3, Khaka 0) Katherine Brunt makes rabbit ears behind her wife’s head as the teams go through the motions.
Hope that the women’s game doesn’t get flogged into the ground as the game develops - that they too don’t turn into a cash cow to be milked.
Narrator [10 years from now]: It wasn’t https://t.co/E6JhLz0TBO
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) July 18, 2022
Updated
WICKET! Chetty lbw Davidson-Richards 6 (South Africa 260-8)
A peach on the pads.
43rd over: South Africa 260-7 ( Chetty 6, Ismail 3) Wong pulls out of her run-up a couple of times - no, make that three times. She laughs to herself, and the next two balls are on target and fly from the hand.
@tjaldred Now that it seems done and dusted may I say how much I adore Tammy Beaumont?
— Ravi Nair #FBPE #PerfectPorkPie #JohnsonOut#FBPPR (@palfreyman1414) July 18, 2022
You may! What a calling card/up yours for the selectors too.
42nd over: South Africa 255-7 ( Chetty 4, Ismail 2) I hope you’ve all got your g and ts/iced mocktails in hand now as this game enters its death spiral. Davidson- Richards fizzes through her six, the bowlers hold her at bay.
41st over: South Africa 253-7( Chetty 3, Ismail 1) A delighted Dean grins, her blond hair falling out of her cap, that’s 3-42 off her 10 on her debut as England’s sole spinner. South AFrica’s balloon now truly popped.
WICKET! Tryon c Davidson-Richards b Dean 70 (South Africa 252-7)
Another big shot - she has to - but this time it goes to Davidson-Richards at long-on.
Updated
40 th over: South Africa 251-6 ( Tryon 70, Chetty 2) Two fours for Tryon off Lamb, muscled into the leg slide - but the problem is that the run-rate is more than 12 an over. It is slipping away.
39th over: South Africa 242-6 ( Tryon 62, Chetty 1) Tryon is going for this now - and why not - no point in poking about sweatily. Bang : Dean is dispatched for six over long on.
Fifty for Tryon!
38th over: South Africa 232-6 ( Tryon 53, Chetty 0) Amy Jones makes it look so easy - such soft hands. An excellent take from a curled ham sandwich of a shot.
WICKET! de Klerk c Jones b Lamb 4 (South Africa 232-6)
Not sure that was in Kapp’s instruction manual - a thick edge well snaffled by Jones.
37th over: South Africa 224-5 ( Tryon 47, de Klerk 3) Tryon fancies getting after Dean - but can’t quite get her away.
36th over: South Africa 219-5 ( Tryon 45, de Klerk 0) Hope de Klerk had a notebook on her, Kapp gave enough instructions, as they crossed on the outfield, for a small novella.
WICKET! Kapp c Davidson-Richards b Lamb 62 (South Africa 219-5)
Kapp cuts to backward point, where Davidson-Richards catches it at chest high - and that’s the big un!
35th over: South Africa 213-4 (Kapp 62, Tryon 40) Dean makes Kapp look fallible - pushing unsurely at her.
“I had a ticket,” writes Philip Vial, “but that isn’t the weather for a fat 58 year old Brit to watch cricket in!” I don’t blame you! I feel really sorry for Leicestershire as they were hoping for a record crowd - but it looks like lots of people made the same decision as you. I would have done the same. Similarly for the Championship matches starting tomorrow - especially the festivals which would be hoping for good numbers of people.
34th over: South Africa 207-4 (Kapp 58, Tryon 38) Bell walks back to her mark, rhrowing herself baby catches. A couple of wides, a couple of singles and then Kapp slams viciously her through the covers for four.
33rd over: South Africa 198-4 (Kapp 52, Tryon 37) Cross, hair scrapped back into a bun, scurries through her six. A inexpensive over this one. The cameras pan back and it looks quite dusky with the four floodlights standing tall, but it is still full light here in Manchester. Must be the angle etc.
Fifty for Marizanne Kapp!
32nd over: South Africa 195-4 (Kapp 50, Tryon 36) A crumbling of singles - one which takes Kapp to a 41-ball fifty. She’s been kissing the ball off the square this series.
31st over: South Africa 191-4 (Kapp 48, Tryon 34) This is a very efficient counter-attack - Tryon muscle a wide one from Cross up and over for four.
England still well ahead - at the end of the 30th over in their innings, England were 209-1 - but South Africa with a sting in the tail.
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30th over: South Africa 183-4 (Kapp 46, Tryon 28) Oooof - a stumping chance, extremely niftily done by Amy Jones, standing up to Bell, but Tryon’s in by a toe. The ball before, she’s worked Bell over long on for SIX.
29th over: South Africa 173-4 (Kapp 44, Tryon 20) Ten from Kate Cross’s over as Kapp helps herself to a couple of fours.
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28th over: South Africa 163-4 (Kapp 35, Tryon 19) A great little over from Wong - Tryon goes to pull, top=edges, and it sails straight to Bell on the rope who gets in a muddle - imagine someone trying unsuccessfully to unravel the sellotape - and it burst through her hands for six.
27th over: South Africa 157-4 (Kapp 35, Tryon 13) I think South Africa fancy Davidson-Richards. First Tryon smashes a half volley back over her head, then Kapp drops to her knee and carves through the covers for four more.
26th over: South Africa 146-4 (Kapp 31, Tryon 6) Wong fizzing them through in the mid 70s, but one sits up nicely and Kapp turns on a pin and pulls her for four. They take more drinks, Kapp wears a wet towel round her neck - it is still broiling out there. 226 more needed at an unlikely 9.46.
25th over: South Africa 140-4( Kapp 25, Tryon 6) Kapp, gimlet eyed, wellies six off Davidson-Richards, just in front of the man merrily pushing a couple of beer barrels on a trolley.
It’s Jon - who I think I met at Gloucestershire CCC at a climate talk last week. Hello! “Lured out of OBO lurking for the first time... Dunno how the players are even playing. Don’t think even a decarbonised grid helps (12th over): in my my meagre understanding, running a machine that cools air in one place heats air elsewhere... Dr Seymour at BASISwill know. Thick walls and Sweet Gimlets for me. (Natch, if the men decide not to play tomorrow for safety reasons I’ll be taking a dim view of their selfish refusal to lay down their lives for my casual enjoyment...)“
I don’t think the good doctor does anything as vulgar as reading the OBO. Maybe someone else can help us?
24th over: South Africa 130-4( Kapp 17, Tryon 5) Wong, white headband at ear height, shaved head - the glory of youth to be able to carry that look off. Lovely easy action. A single from an inside edge for Tryon, a hard-headed four from Kapp down the ground.
23rd over: South Africa 124-4( Kapp 12, Tryon 4) Kapp it seems, has her eye in - two fours slammed legside off Davidson-Richards.
22nd over: South Africa 115-4( Kapp 4, Tryon 3) Tryon is a bit stuck against Lamb, eventually gets down the other end, where Kapp immediately picks up two with a hustle.
21st over: South Africa 112-4( Kapp 2, Tryon 2) It’s a bit hot for a hopeless run chase. But Kapp isn’t one for tossing her wicket away. Lovely to see England celebrating Davidson-Richards’ (and Bell’s) wickets.
WICKET! Goodall c Bell b Davidson-Richards 24 (England 109-4)
And now a first ODI wicket for Davidson-Richards! Goodall gives a regulation chip to mid on where Bell bends and clutches on.
20th over: South Africa 109-3(Goodall 24, Kapp 1) South Africa start to slide down the slippery slope.
WICKET! Luus b Lamb 9 (South Africa 107-3)
Luus doesn’t get to atone for her decision at the toss and Lamb picks up her first ODI wicket!
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19th over: South Africa 105-2 (Goodall 22, Luus 8) Dean again tricky to milk, Goodall sends a near-chance towards mid-on but it grounds before reaching Issy Wong.
18th over: South Africa 101-2 (Goodall 19, Luus 7) Round of applause to the owner of the strawberry pink parasol in the crowd. A four each from Goodall and Luus off Emma Lamb - ten from the over, and South Africa need more like this.
“So ce soir, I am invited to write by the mention of Plymouth gin, which I adored many years back having been turned on by an article in Len Deighton’s book on booze - courtesy of Town magazine, to date me firmly as a sixties lad
“I have occasionally googled Plymouth, not seriously, and decided it was a thing of the past, like Bass No.1, but no! Your classy readerhood has awakened me to Plymouth revival possibilities, multi grazie. Ok, now back to the match, girl’s cricket is amazing!”
17th over: South Africa 91-2 (Goodall 14, Luus 2) A couple of wides. the most lucrative part of Charlie Dean’s over for South Africa.
16th over: South Africa 88-2 (Goodall 14, Luus 1) A bit of Emma Lamb bowling to go with her exploits with the bat.
15th over: South Africa 85-2 (Goodall 13, Luus) What a wicket for Charlie Dean! And you sense that is South Africa’s chance for victory gone with Wolvaardt’s dismissal. They take drinks -the umpires stand underneath an umbrella to cool off. Heat-stress doesn’t just affect people physically but mentally too - split second decisions must be more difficult.
WICKET! Wolvaardt lbw Dean 56 (England 86-2)
And for the third time this series - Dean gets her woman! Wolvaardt drops down to her knees to sweep and is trapped on the crease.
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14th over: South Africa 85-1 (Goodall 12, Wolvaardt 56) Wolvaardt is pinned down by Cross - four consecutive balls - but she smashes the last straight down the ground, no chasing that one.
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13th over: South Africa 78-1 (Goodall 11, Wolvaardt 52) England have rested Sophie Ecclestone so Charlie Dean is playing as the number one spinner. Just a couple of singles to add to the total.
12th over: South Africa 78-1 (Goodall 10, Wolvaardt 51) Better from Cross who is an energetically bouncy as ever - she reminds me of all the sporty girls I ever knew at school.
An email from David Keech, hello! “I’m following the OBO from my home in FL. We have 35+C Temps all the time. USA solution? Air Conditioning. Nobody even thinks of living without it. As the climate changes maybe it should become the norm for all UK houses too?”
I have no idea how tricky this would be? I guess you have to decarbonise the grid first otherwise you’re just adding fuel to the fire - so to speak. I hope you have a porch and a rocking chair like in the movies.
11th over: South Africa 76-1 (Goodall 8, Wolvaardt 51) Goodall licks her lips at a ball from Dean floating wide of her legs and due to drift off to sea - and helps it on its way to pick up her first four.
A fifty for Laura Wolvaardt!
10th over: South Africa 69-1 (Goodall 2, Wolvaardt 50) Wolvaardt drives Cross dreamily through the covers for four to reach a 36-ball fifty. She and Goodall punch gloves - easy does it, at the moment.
9th over: South Africa 63-1 (Goodall 1, Wolvaardt 45) A binary kind of day for Charlie Dean - a golden duck and then a wicket with her warm-up ball. And the wicket immediately slows the tempo - though Wolvaardt is the notch England really want.
Ian Thompson writes, “Plymouth Gin is nice, but my better half’s preference at the moment is for Mermaid Gin from the Isle of Wight. Expensive, yes, but bloody lovely, and as we’re looking at a whitewash in the 50 over format why not?”
I’m going to the Isle of Wight next month - will make it my business to track it down a glass in honour of OBO readers everywhere.
WICKET! Steyn b Dean 12 (South Africa 61-1)
Dean high-kicks the air in delight as she rips through Steyn’s defences, clipping away leg stump.
8th over: South Africa 61-0 (Steyn 12, Wolvaardt 44) A bowling change, but not the result Heather Knight was hoping for. Kate Cross is slammed for four fours in the over by Laura Wolvaardt - off side, legside take your pick! Elegance indeed. South Africa are now 16 runs ahead of England. The teams take well deserved drinks and my daughter covers the weary dog with a damp tea towel.
7th over: South Africa 45-0 (Steyn 12, Wolvaardt 28) A breather for the fielders as Bell keeps it tight.
6th over: South Africa 42-0 (Steyn 12, Wolvaardt 25) Facing Wong proving lucrative for South Africa at the moment - Steyn gets in on the act with an on drive, and then Steyn tucks in with two, one through the tips of Knight’s fingers at slip.
“Evening, Tanya. I realize there’s a rule saying the floodlights should be on, but if the Leicester staff had just unilaterally decided not to go ahead with that lunacy, what would’ve happened — the umpires refusing to start the second innings? A fine from the ECB? Forfeiting the game to the opposition? It’s hard to see how a penalty could survive the obvious public outcry and bad press that would follow any attempt to impose it.” I sniff revolution in the air from Smylers!
5th over: South Africa 29-0 (Steyn 4, Wolvaardt 20) Better from Bell, and Steyn can only pick up two from the over. The BBC’s cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew is on TMS -good to hear him, feels like a while since we’ve heard him commentated on a women’s game. But could well have done the last game - heatwave brain.
4th over: South Africa 27-0 (Steyn 2, Wolvaardt 20) Wolvaardt picking up where she left off in the last game - one four off a short one from Wong. South Africa are currently ahead of England at a similar stage.
Daniel reminds me that the lights are on because you can’t turn them on mid innings. I think that’s a regulations thing - possibly from a time when lights took longer to warm up. Any floodlights experts out there? Anyway, it’s not Grace Road’s fault.
3rd over: South Africa 23-0 (Steyn 2, Wolvaardt 16) Bell is a little wayward as well: a couple of wides and a gimme which Wolvaardt is too good to let go - and shovels through point for four.
John Starbuck has a cooling down suggestion. I’m in. “A Sweet Gimlet: tall glass, ice, apple juice, Roses Lime Juice, Gin of choice (though Plymouth is preferable). The measures depend on how you are feeling at the time, or how you want to feel 10 minutes later.”
2nd over: South Africa 15-0 (Steyn 1, Wolvaardt 12) Izzy Wong’s radar is a bit off to start with, a couple of hit-me balls are duly dispatched by Wolvaardt, but she finishes with four dots including an optimistic lbw appeal, which Knight declines to encourage.
1st over: South Africa 7-0 (Steyn 1, Wolvaardt 4) Bell, fluent run up, bouncy pony tail, full of energy on the sun-baked prairie. Finds some early swing. Three England fielders converge on one nudge by Wolvaardt - no heat ennui on show at this point.
The floodlights are on - a completely ridiculous decision made worse by a heatwave caused by a climate emergency. Grrrr. Lauren Bell has the new ball!
As we get ready for the South African run-chase in the sun, let me know where you’re watching this ODI and how you’re cooling down - from G and T’s straight from the fridge to a make-do cold foot bath for your toes.
The performances of the two teams must reflect the mood in the respective camps. England - full of beans and youthful promise, closing in on their World record total. Tammy Beaumont - left out of the team for the Commonwealth Games somewhat controversially - able to put her personal feelings to one side to whallop a century. South Africa: choose to bowl first in a heat-wave, fielding goes off the boil, best bowlers not getting through their full allocation. Mysterious goings on in the camp around the Lizelle Lee affair.
South Africa coach Hilton Moreeng says that he is "not aware of" any threat by CSA to withdraw Lizelle Lee's NOC to participate in The Hundred.
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) July 17, 2022
This had been discussed on air on Friday as a possible contributing factor to her sudden retirement.
Thanks Daniel, great stuff. Hope you can find somewhere cool to lie down and take a minute. Sitting in a curtained room here wearing a wet sheet round my neck - so completely in awe of anyone out in the heat able to play cricket - or even type.
England post 371-7
That is going to take some beating. Tammy Beaumont was brilliant for her 119 off 107 but kudos as well to Emma Lamb (65 off 66), Sophia Dunkley (51 off 53) and Heather Knight, whose 63 runs came off 49 balls. Oh, and Danni Wyatt who bludgeoned 33 from 14 balls.
South Africa were poor. In the field they were sloppy and dejected-looking. With the ball they were wayward and lacked precision. 27 extras will hurt Luus who once again looked bereft of ideas. Penny for her thoughts after winning the toss and electing to bowl first in a record heat wave.
I’m off to cool down. I leave you in the safe hands of Tanya.
Til the next one...
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50th over: England 371-7 (Davidson-Richards 2, Cross 2) That’s that. England stumbled a little at the end but still post a formidable 371. Khaka does well here to finish with 2-64 from her 10. Tidy set to close it out with the bonus wicket of Dean.
Wicket! Dean lbw Khaka 0 (England 367-7)
Charlie Dean lasts just one ball. Khaka pings her on the pads right in front and that is plumb as plumb can be.
Wicket! Knight run-out (Chetty) 63 (England 367-6)
Well of courser Knight is run-out. Davidson-Richards gets an inside edge onto her pads and it dribbles to the ‘keeper. Knight calls for the single. She might as well. But the direct hit sends her packing for a 49-ball 63.
49th over: England 367-5 (Knight 63, Davidson-Richards 2) Ismail’s final over, but just her 7th. What has happened? Though maybe it’s for the best as she fails to stick to whatever plan was set. She’s wide of the crease which is ill-advised with no cover sweeper. Three fours in this over, all to Knight means it’s a costly one.
Credit to Knight. What a player she is by the way. A scoop to fine leg, an intentional slice behind square on the off side and that bunt through cover takes her into the 60s. Quality cameo from the captain.
48th over: England 353-5 (Knight 50, Davidson-Richards 1) The run-out of Jones brings Alice Davidson-Richards to the middle and she does as she should by feeding Knight the strike. The England skipper then slogs Khaka towards the leg side and finds the gap for four. She’ll keep the strike for the penultimate over and also brings up her fifty with that single
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Jones run-out (Ismail) 5 (England 347-5) Jones is the only batter not to join the party today, though she was invited rather late. She’s run-out looking to help Knight steal a single but Ismail’s direct hit procures the fifth wicket.
47th over: England 346-4 (Knight 45, Jones 8) Ismail’s back. She bizarrely won’t bowl her full quota but here she is, steaming in with zeal. The extra pace is a help for the England batters. Jones spoons one for four that just about clears short fine leg and Knight helps a lifted cut shot for four over short third. England have rediscovered fifth gear and are motoring once more.
46th over: England 334-4 (Knight 38, Jones 3) De Klerk continues. Why, I’m not sure. This is her eighth over. Kapp and Ismail have only bowled five each. Are they injured? Then why are they playing? It’s all a little weird.
Anyway, de Klerk continues to haemorrhage boundaries with Knight going back-to back. The first four is mowed through cow corner and the second is burst through Goodall - who has had a stinker in the field today - at cover and it meets the boundary.
45th over: England 322-4 (Knight 29, Jones 0) Wyatt was just getting going and had already smoked Khaka’s full-toss for four towards deep midwicket. She looked to do it again and there was no problem with the timing off the final ball of the over. Had it been a few yards left or right it may have gone for six. Instead it went straight to Kapp who pulled off a stunner.
Wicket! Wyatt c Kapp b Khaka 33 (England 322-4)
What a catch that is! Wyatt clears the front leg and nails Khaka down to deep square leg. Kapp gets her body in the way and gets herself in a tangle but clings on with both hands. That’s a really good grab. Not that her teammates seem overly fussed. Barely a celebration from the women in green. So I’ll applaud that myself. What. A. Catch!
44th over: England 316-3 (Knight 28, Wyatt 29) Ooooph! That’s more like it. Wyatt explodes into beats mode and wallops de Klerk for two sixes and two fours in an over that also includes a couple of wides.
The second six was the standout. A mighty cleave over the sight screen that means de Klerk has coughed up 24 runs from that over. That will sure be the end of her contributions in this innings.
Powerful hitting from Wyat. How many more can she muster before the close?
43rd over: England 293-3 (Knight 28, Wyatt 7) The (small) boundary drought comes to an end as Wyatt makes room for herself and belts Khaka’s slower ball over the ring on the off side. Muscled is the right adjective for that one. There’s also a review for an lbw decision but Wyatt has got bat on that and South Africa have spent them all. Still, it’s neat enough from Khaka who only concedes four singles across the over. At this stage that’s not too shabby. Her full length is the key here.
42nd over: England 285-3 (Knight 26, Wyatt 1) Success for South Africa. They were staring at a mountain when Beaumont was biffing it about in the 34th over. But from 236-1 it’s now 285-3. It’s still going to take a monumental batting effort but at least they’re keeping it tighter than it otherwise would be.
De Klerk concedes five from this over but, crucially, no boundaries. Been a while since one of those. Four overs in fact.
Wicket! Dunkley c Tryon b de Klerk 51 (England 282-3)
Two balls after bringing up her fourth ODI 50, Dunkley looks to pop de Klerk for six down the ground. She can’t quite catch hold of it and steers it wider than she intended on the leg side. It goes high by Tryon is settled and takes the catch without any drama. De Klerk lets out a roar. She really wanted that and she’s got it. South Africa have pulled this back really well.
41st over: England 280-2 (Dunkley 49, Knight 20) With South Africa’s spinners out of the equation now it’s the seamers who will have to close it out. Khaka is back and has found a full length. Knight is aided by some poor fielding - the Saffas must be sapped out there - and scampers a two to Steyn at midwicket. With boundary riders down the ground it’s a few singles across the board. Just six off the over. Nice set there from Khaka.
40th over: England 273-2 (Dunkley 47, Knight 19) De Klerk is back at it but slings a wide outside off stump that Chetty can’t contain. She maintains a full length across the rest of the over and keeps a lid on England’s batters, who aren’t quite going ballistic just yet. Surely they’re gearing up for a charge in the last 10 overs? Four singles across the over will do de Klerk just fine.
39th over: England 267-2 (Dunkley 46, Knight 16) Dunkley moves to within a boundary of her half century as she slaps Tryon’s first ball through the off side for four. Slightly quicker but Dunkley is on it in a flash with a flashing blade.
Two singles, one for each batter, closes out Tryon’s contribution with the ball today. 10-1-58-0 is genuinely commendable. She may not have bagged a wicket but she kept it clean and went at less than a run a ball. If South African fail to restrict England to a hefty total it won’t be her fault.
38th over: England 262-2 (Dunkley 41, Knight 16) Knight is in the groove. An extra drive of the highest calibre off Mlaba skips to the rope as if stuck to a scampering Jack Russell. Tossed up, gets to the pitch and times it with aplomb. Great cricket shot. Turn that one into an NFT.
Mlaba’s done. 10-0-68-1 isn’t her cheapest return but she did claim the crucial wicket of Beaumont. In the context of the game that’s not the worst performance for the finger spinner.
37th over: England 255-2 (Dunkley 39, Knight 11) Knight is starting to find her feet and unfurls a lovely reverse sweep that beats Goodall to the boundary. Beyond the boundaries, it’s the ease with which the English are taking ones and twos. It’s quality batting. Would love to know if they’ve practiced their running between the wickets. Knight is a notorious runner-outer (is that a word?) of her team-mates but she’s been assured here today.
36th over: England 247-2 (Dunkley 38, Knight 4) There’s an appeal for a run-out at the non-striker’s end. Dunkley, squeezes Mlaba for four off a thick edge, then drills one straight back from whence it came. Mlaba get’s a hand on it and it cannons into the stumps. The uqnpire isn’t sure if Knight is short so it’s sent upstairs. Yeah, no worries at all. The skipper survives. Two singles for both of them keeps the scoreboard ticking.
35th over: England 241-2 (Dunkley 32, Knight 3) Knight, off the mark from the last ball of the previous over, doubles her total with another single to cover. Dunkley gets a single herself with a hack down to long on and both batters camper another single each. A slight lull in the tempo. Is this the deep breath before the plunge? The calm before the fireworks? Tryon has done brilliantly, conceding less than a run a ball in the context of this game is noteworthy.
34th over: England 236-2 (Dunkley 31, Knight 0) Success for South Africa and it won’t be a record innings for Beaumont. She was a long way off Charlotte Edwards’ ODI score is 173 not-out, but with so many overs left she had the time to do it. Not to be. Mlaba bags an unlikely breakthrough and Knight saunters out with a formidable platform.
Wicket! Beaumont st Chetty b Mlaba 107 (England 236-2)
Oh no! Mlaba has got the big fish and Beaumont is gone for a sublime 119 off 106 balls. Beaumont was battling through cramp - no surprise in this heat - and she can’t quite get low enough with her sweep shot to a flighted delivery. It misses the stumps but Beaumont is out of her crease and all Chetty has to do is gather and clip the bails off. Wonderful knock as she receives the ovation she deserves.
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33rd over: England 234-1 (Beaumont 118, Dunkley 30) In a sea of expensive bowlers who have served hittable dross both sides of the wicket, Tryon has been rathe tidy. Three off the bat and a leg bye.
Beaumont’s in business here
Charlotte Edwards England record ODI score is 173*. Beaumont is on 117 and there are still 17.3 overs to go.
— daniel norcross (@norcrosscricket) July 18, 2022
32nd over: England 230-1 (Beaumont 116, Dunkley 29). This has not been a good day for Nadine de Klerk. Three boundaries for Beaumont - a reverse scoop towards deep third, a smeared drive over cover from a full ball, a scintillating scythe through point - has ruined de Klerk’s already ruined figures. Four overs have cost 40 runs. She’s been taken to the cleaners.
31st over: England 214-1 (Beaumont 103, Dunkley 27) Tryon is back. She bowled with control earlier in the piece and she’s bang on again. Compared to her mates, she’s rather tidy and concedes five singles in this over. England happy to keep it rotating. Still hovering around seven per over.
30th over: England 209-1 (Beaumont 101, Dunkley 24) Oh Dunkley is good, isn’t she? That’s a wonderful shot as she hangs back and heaves it past mid-on for four. She takes a couple the next ball and a single the one after that. Just good batting. Fully in control and building nicely. Should mention that the over was delivered by de Klerk, shouldn’t I?
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29th over: England 202-1 (Beaumont 101, Dunkley 17) Just the four from this over from Khaka and it’s time for a drink. A welcome pause before the carnage commences after a refresh. Time for a rethink for the Proteas. Time for a restart for England. They say you should double the total after 30. That puts this one above 400. Who’d bet against them?
No smoke without fire. This just in from Cricket South Africa:
“Cricket South Africa (CSA) has on 08 July 2022 issued a media release announcing the retirement of Lizelle Lee from all forms of international cricket. The release was issued, pursuant to Lee’s engagement with CSA, and also incorporated her statement in her own words.
CSA has however noted recent media reports, making reference to Lee’s retirement, which are devoid of truth, fact or sanction from either CSA nor Lee.
Consequently, CSA distances itself from such reports, reaffirms the integrity of the media release issued on 08 July 2022 and confirms that no other communication was issued regarding Lee’s retirement by both parties.
The comments made in the media regarding this are therefore unfortunate, regrettable, and discredited”
Make of that what you will.
100 for Beaumont
28th over: England 198-1 (Beaumont 100, Dunkley 14) That is a wonderful century from Beaumont, her ninth in the format to go along with one in T20s. She’s brought that up from 93 balls and breezed through the 90s with two fours at the start of this Mlaba over, both with expert sweep shots. A couple of singles late and she’s on to three figures. But she’s got plenty of time to build something rather special here. I have no idea how South Africa get her out, and I’m sitting under the shade. Those Proteas are burning up as if caught in a wilde fire on the slopes of Table Mountain.
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27th over: 183-1 (Beaumont 90, Dunkley 9) Dunkley leans into a wide ball from a returning Khaka and swats it past a diving Tryon at cover. The ball was already past the fielder but she still felt compelled to put in a rather comically dive. Fair play to her, we’ve all bee there and this is starting to feel rather grim for the tourists.
Dunkley wants some more and takes a short hop down the pitch and mows one past Ismail at mid-off. That whizzed off the dry surface and clattered into the colourful moving adverts.
26th over: England 178-1 (Beaumont 89, Dunkley 5) Dunkley is off the mark with a boundary - the 23rd of the match, just under one per over - and it’s a textbook straight drive as Kapp over pitches. She’ll have first at Ismail in the next over after pinching a quick single on the off side with a solid bunt from the full face of the bat.
You said it...
The South African women's team look as disinterested and lethargic as it gets - and it's not the heat in Leicester. They've conceded 135 runs in 21 overs, messed up 3 chances to remove England's openers (in one over) and bowled 9 wides. Time for someone to tell us what's going on
— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) July 18, 2022
25th over: England 172-1 (Beaumont 88, Dunkley 0) Beaumont kept the strike with a single off the last over. She’s hogging the action right now and why not? This is wonderful batting and she’s steaming ahead.
There’s a clip wide of mid-one for four and another drive to the fence through extra cover. When Ismail goes short Beaumont swivels and pulls her to deep square for four more. Brilliant from Beaumont. Whatever the South Africans serve her she’s just belting it for a boundary.
Just found out that the written press will be selecting the player of the series. I assure you I won’t let this awesome power go to my head.
It’s got to be Lamb at the minute, right? Who would you pick?
24th over: England 158-1 (Beaumont 74, Dunkley 0) The 150 is up as Kapp makes her return. Ismail’s wicket in the last over encourages Luus to have go with seam at both ends. It almost pays off. There’s a review for caught behind. No danger of bat, but close enough feels like a victory. There’s also an edge from a delightful full ball that may have straightened off the deck. But it goes for four. Oh, almost forgot, Beaumont started the over with a well-balanced clip through to ther midwicket boundary. Tsmmy’s ticking along well.
23rd over: England 149-1 (Beaumont 65, Dunkley 0) One run short of the 150 stand, Lemb is bowled by Ismail. The extra ooomph provided by the tearaway does the trick. Sophia Dunkley, fresh from a ton in the last game, is the next batter in so it won’t get any easier for South Africa. Still, they have the breakthrough with a wicekt maiden. And as the old adage goes, one brings two.
Wicket! Lamb b Ismail 65 (England 149-1)
Well, well, well. It needed something special and that’s what Shabnim Ismail is. She’s a special, special bowler. The ‘Demon’, as she’s know, steamed in and gets her yorker spot on. It’s too quick for Lamb who looks to scoop it over fine leg. Was there bat on that? Perhaps. Not the smartest shot but I admire her gumption. Top knock either way, Emma.
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22nd over: England (Lamb 65, Beaumont 65)
Even when the Saffas manage to land one in a good area and find an edge it races to the boundary. Mlaba drags Beaumont out of her crease and gets it to grip and turn away from the onrushing batter. Still, four more to the total.
That’s the third boundary of an expensive set. The first ball is nailed through cover by Beaumont on the charge and the third ball is punched through cover with sumptuous timing. That’s a wonderful cricket shot, using the crease to perfection and making more room for the stroke that was there.
South Africa need a miracle now.
21st over: England 135-0 (Lamb 60, Beaumont 57) Salt, meet wound. Wound, salt. Lamb obliterates Tryon with a mighty swatted six back over her head and with crunching scythe through point. Lamb to the slaughter? More like Lamb the slaughterer.
Key event
20th over: England 123-0 (Lamb 55, Beaumont 51) There’s Beaumont’s fifty as she leans back and cuts Mlaba for a single down the sweeper. But that’s not the story of this calamities over that sums up how poor South Africa have been.
First, Steyn puts down a sitter at long-on from a gentle lob from Lamb. Then Mlaba shells a sharp chance off her own bowling. Then, to close it out and to prove embarrassing things come in threes, Chetty sees a ball dribble through her legs when all she needed to do was pick it up and run Lamb out at the striker’s end with the batter five feet out of her crease. It’s hard to encapsulate. I fear that may be part of a YouTube compilation at some point in the near future.
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19th over: England 120-0 (Lamb 54, Beaumont 49) Tryon is trying to spark something but it’s just more of the same. There’s a half chance when Lamb’s leading edge flies over Ismail at mid-wicket, but it was safe the moment it left her bat.
Otherweise a compartively uneventful over that still goes for six as Beaumont and Lamb continue to rotate the strike with ease.
18th over: England 114-0 (Lamb 50, Beaumont 47) Fifty for Lamb who has looked immovable. Mlaba is varying her pace but England’s batters are wise to it, milking four singles in the over. Lamb now has three fifty-plus scores this series - including the ton in the first ODI. She’s rather enjoying her summer, thank you very much.
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17th over: England 110-0 (Lamb 48, Beaumont 45) That’s back-to-back century stands for Beaumont and Lamb. The 100 is brought up with a smartly taken two from a smartly played Beaumont reverse sweep. Two wides follows down the leg side and then Lamb springs into action, switches her stance and reverse biffs it past backward point. Sensational stroke. Two singles and a two brings that Tryon over to 12 runs.
“Daniel, Hi. It may be a real scorcher for English people but South Africans are probably used to more extreme playing conditions. It could be an advantage on a day like today.”
Not sure John. As a South African myself, I can tell you that hot is hot. And they’ve been in the UK and Ireland for some time now. I’m sure they would have acclimatised. They’ll certainly be feeling it. Besides, this partnership has evaporated any advantage they may have held.
16th over: England 98-0 (Lamb 41, Beaumont 42) SHOT! Maybe the shot of the day so far. Sensing that these spinners were stifling their progress, Beaumont skips down the track and meets it perfectly with a flowing drive on the move that whistles past extra cover. Cracking cricket, that.
The scoreboard is ticking along nicely with two singles for each batter. What a union this is turning in to.
15th over: England 90-0 (Lamb 39, Beaumont 36) South Africa’s spinners have put the skids on this run avalanche (runvalanche?). Tryon’s over goes for just three.
14th over: England 87-0 (Lamb 37, Beaumont 35) Drinks break. I’ve left the press box to sit outside to find some cooler air. Dear reader, it’s just as hot.
An eventful over. Looks like Chetty has put down Lamb but hard to tell. Mlaba’s reaction suggests she thought there was a tickle. Either way, Lamb survives and takes two singles. Beaumont does the same. South Africa need something and they might get it. If I was Luus I’d keep plugging away with the spinners, which she’ll certainly do.
13th over: England 84-0 (Lamb 35, Beaumont 34) Forgive me if this comes through late. I nearly fell off my chair. A maiden over. As in, no runs from six balls bowled by the same bowler at the same end. No extras. No boundaries. What madness is this? Chloe Tryon into the attack shows her teammates how it’s done with some simple, wicket to wicket finger spin. Beaumont is happy to give it the respect it deserves and plays within herself.
12th over: England 84-0 (Lamb 35, Beaumont 34) Spin now, with Mlaba into the attack. It doesn’t stop the boundary flow or the addition of another extra. A wide down the leg side could just have easily have gone for more were it not for the sharp work of Chetty with the gloves. Then a quicker, flatter one is met by Lamb’s angled blade and it’s steered behind square on the off side with impeccable timing. Nine off that over as well. The run-rate has just reached seven.
Yeah, I’m not sure myself.
South Africa won the toss and CHOSE to field??? In this...???? #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/WdSzSIFpNf
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) July 18, 2022
11th over: England 74-0 (Lamb 28, Beaumont 32) England are hitting a boundary every over. The latest iteration is a gift from a Khaka full toss that Lamb duly dispatches through extra cover. It was a back of the hand slower - a delivery Khaka bowls well - but Lamb waits for it and gives it the business. Another wide because of course, and two singles apiece means that’s nine from the set. Why or why did Luus elect to bowl? Her charges already look flat.
10th over: England 66-0 (Lamb 19, Beaumont 34) England are motoring along and Beaumont looks in the mood. Two boundaries - one with another punishing pull, the other with a lofted swipe over cow corner - means she’s now struck six of them. That last one was off a free hit because what’s a South African over in this match without either a no-ball or a wide? Three additional singles makes that an expensive over costing 12 runs. Worrying signs here for South Africa. England imperious at the minute.
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9th over: England 54-0 (Lamb 18, Beaumont 24) Khaka starts with a wide, the 5th of the innings. The rest of the over isn’t much better. Lamb bludgeons her up and over mid-on for four and a rank full toss is hoiked for two behind square on the leg side. Looked above waist height from here, but the umpires are a lot closer than me.
8th over: England 45-0 (Lamb 10, Beaumont 24) Another fresh face with Nadine de Klerk entering the scene. Her second ball is wide down leg, taking the extras tally to 11. The rest of the over is tidy, though, until (another) misfield at mid-off from a Beaumont drive is spilled and trickles towards the boundary.
South Africa have been dreadful. Both with the ball and in the field.
7th over: England 40-0 (Lamb 10, Beaumont 20) Not sure if it’s because of the heat or Ismail’s waywardness, but we have a change in personnel with Ayabonga Khaka coming into the attack in only the 7th over. She starts well and beats Beaumont’s outside edge, but there’s no real zip on it. All angles and seam position. But she over pitches and offers width and the England opener is too good to miss out. Another four runs to her name.
We’re also taking a drinks break. Given the heat (have I mentioned the heat?) we’ll be having regular hydration stops throughout the game.
6th over: England 35-0 (Lamb 10, Beaumont 15) Oooooh, genuine edge there, but it flies wide of first slip. Top ball from Kapp who gets one to straighten and lift from a good length. Completely squares up Lamb who has a little prod at it. She gets four but it’s a moral victory for the bowler.*
*There’s no such thing. No bowler likes going for runs and whoever came up with that phrase obviously never saw one of their best balls fly down to deep third for four undeserving runs.
5th over: England 30-0 (Lamb 6, Beaumont 15) Ismail is struggling her radar. When she’s full, she’s down the leg side and concedes a wide. When she gets her line right, she’s too short, and is easily picked off through backward point. She’s also bowled her third no-ball in as many overs. The free hit again goes unpunished, but don’t be surprised if she gets a wicket after overstepping. Lamb keeps things ticking along nicely with three singles as Beaumont grabs a couple herself.
4th over: England 23-0 (Lamb 4, Beaumont 12) Beaumont is dealing exclusively in boundaries. That’s her third but it really should have been a dot ball. A short delivery is whacked by a hard cut shot but it’s straight to Wolvaardt at point. Doesn’t matter. South Africa’s premier batter makes a mess of it and it splurts for four through her legs. Shoddy work. Could be a long old day in the heat if that continues.
3rd over: England 17-0 (Lamb 3, Beaumont 8) Just one run off the bat in an over that costs six runs. Another no-ball from Ismail is followed up by four byes. Ismail put extra effort into that one, making it difficult for Lamb to connect with her swing off the free hit. It proved too much for Chetty as well and burst through the ‘keeper’s gloves. Lamb does get a run thoough with an angled bat away to deep third.
2nd over: England 12-0 (Lamb 2, Beaumont 8) It’s Marizanne Kapp from the other end. Lamb gets away for a single first up from a misfield (too many of those in the last game from South Africa). Beaumont has another boundary with a neat cut in front of square. Kapp finishes strong though, finding a better length that squares up England’s opener.
1st over: England 6-0 (Lamb 1, Beaumont 4) Shabnim Ismail has the new rock in her hand. Eyes like pools of fire. Legs stamping. Arms pumping. Aaaaaand.... she starts with a half-tracker that’s also a no-ball. Thankfully for her, that loosener is only cut for one to deep third by Emma Lamb and the subsequent free hit is a dot-ball courtesy of a well-directed bouncer.
No such luck with her next short one as Tammy Beaumont rocks onto the back foot and pulls it perfectly to deep square. Confident shout of “NO RUN” from a solid defence to end the set.
Not sure we’re buying it. At the pre-match chat, Sune Luus conveyed a harmonious change room. Hmmm. With Lizelle Lee retiring and then having a (sort of) war of words with her former coach, I doubt that it’s as rosy as the skipper is letting on.
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Go well Ben. No doubt you’ve already heard the news that Ben Stokes has retired from ODI cricket. He also took a not so subtle stab at the hectic schedule the players are asked to endure. Surely something has to give? Sadly it’s Ben. We’ll always have that mad day at Lord’s.
It’s a good point, why wouldn’t you bat first just to sit in the shade?
Sune Luus has won the toss at Leicester - in 34 degrees with a boiling breeze - and has willingly volunteered to field first. You feel for her fielders.
— Nick Friend (@NickFriend1) July 18, 2022
“Hi Daniel”
Heya Christian.
“My local first class ground, North Marine Road Scarborough, has a justified reputation for being cold and windy, even in the height of summer. Today, we’re grateful for that. Evening Cup final tonight, and it looks like we’ll avoid any players keeling over with heatstroke.”
Glad you’re keeping cool. Have I mentioned it’s cooking this side?
South Africa win toss, bowl first
Sune Luus wins the flip of the coin and she has no hesitation electing to bowl first. Heather Knight doesn’t mind, though. She would have had a bat anyway.
It’s a happy hunting ground for the Saffas, having won all three of their matchers here.
England are resting Katherine Brunt, Nat Sciver and Sophie Eccelstone, so there team is:
Tammy Beaumont, Emma Lamb, Sophia Dunkley, Heather Knight (c), Danni Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Alice Davidson-Richards, Charlie Dean, Kate Cross, Issy Wong, Lauren Bell
South Africa are unchanged from the last match. Why would they tweak it when it went so well [eye-roll emoji]:
Andrie Steyn, Laura Wolvaardt, Lara Goodall, Sune Luus (c), Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Kkaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba
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Preamble
Good day and welcome to this third ODI between England and South Africa at a scorching Grace Road in Leicester. If you’re reading this in the UK you don’t need me to tell you how hot it is. I fear I may run out of adjectives to describe this heat wave (and can I apologise for any poor comparisons to Issy Wong’s bowling now?)
There will be additional drinks breaks today, due to the heat. Quicker than the ones on the hour, but basically a chance to ensure everyone on the field (players and officials) are hydrated. I hope you’ll be doing likewise.
Whatever the weather, South Africa have to find their groove. They’ve been third best in a two horse race across in this white-ball series, losing the opening ODIs by five wickets and 114 runs, though both margins flatter the visitors.
There’s talk of discontent in the camp following Lizelle Lee’s sudden retirement but the English have shown no sympathy. Maiden centuries for Emma Lamb in the first rubber and Sophia Dunkley in the second has underlined the gulf in class between the groups.
Nat Sciver has been destructive and Charlie Dean has impressed with her finger spin. Can England make it a sweep of the 50-over stuff? Unless I melt I’ll be with you for the first half. Chat soon with the toss.
Play begins at 2pm BST in Leicester – buildup to the action will begin shortly.
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