Raf Nicholson's report of day two
That completes our coverage for the day. Check back for the report of day two, which’ll be up shortly, but otherwise join us again tomorrow for what promises to be another tremendous ruckus. Ta-ra.
England end day two on 328-6, their lead 44
The Sciver/Davidson-Richards partnership ends on 207, but it may well go on to win the match for England. Davidson-Richards trudges off, but her mates are waiting for her at the rope, the hugs she receives reminding her of a wonderful achievement. I’m so happy for her.
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WICKET! Davidson-Richards c b Sekhukhune 107 (England 328-6)
Aaaarggghhh! Davidson-Richards blocks two, then can’t help but administer to a wide one, only to pick out point! She’s out to the penultimate ball of the day, having played a sensational knock. She’d’ve took it.
100th over: England 328-5 (Sciver 119, Davidson-Richards 107) Sciver takes a single to square leg, then ADR wonders how many balls are left; she’ll want to be back in the middle tomorrow, so I’d expect her to block what’s left of Sekhukhune’s over.
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99th over: England 327-5 (Sciver 118, Davidson-Richards 107) Sky tell us that the only other English player to both take a wicket and score a century on debut was WG Grace, so ADR is in decent company here. Sciver takes two to midwicket, then wallops down the ground; Bosch gets a hand on it, so it’s only a single when otherwise it was another four. She feels it, but is fine to continue.
98th over: England 324-5 (Sciver 115, Davidson-Richards 107) Looking again at that appeal, it hit Davidson-Richards on the back thigh, close to in front; that was a decent shout, and we see that it was hitting but umpire’s call. Back to the current over, Sciver takes a single to mid on, and the freeness with which England are scoring, along with how rarely south Africa are threatening, makes the continuing presence of two slips and odd one. Two overs remaining.
97th over: England 323-5 (Sciver 114, Davidson-Richards 107) Davidson-Richards has been especially good since tea, and cuts to the cover sweeper for one, then Sciver forces past mid on for the two which raises the 200 partnership. There’ve only been five 200 partnerships in women’s Tests, the last in 2003, which tells us what a gargantuan effort this is, if we didn’t know. Anyhow, Sciver turns to leg for one, then Davidson-Richards wears one on the pad, the appeal rejected and unreviewed.
96th over: England 317-5 (Sciver 111, Davidson-Richards 106) Davidson-Richards takes two to midwicket then turns one to backward square; Sciver pulls to the same area, again for one, then her mate drives a single to mid off.
Alice Davidson-Richards gets a century on debut!
95th over: England 314-5 (Sciver 110, Davidson-Richards 102) Bosch, whose last spell was a poor one, returns, and when Jafta takes a catch down the leg side, she thinks she’s got Sciver. But there was no edge, and when a single to mid on gets Davidson-Richards at the striker’s, her ton feels imminent. AND IT IS! She waits, then opens the face at a wide one, creaming four through point, and what a moment! Enid Bakewell is the only other English woman to score a Test ton on d’boo, which tells you just what an achievement this is. The partnership is 193.
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94th over: England 308-5 (Sciver 109, Davidson-Richards 97) Eeesh, don’t bowl there (or anywhere else). Sekhukhune hangs one outside off, and Davidson-Richards goes back to wait for it, then fondles four through cover. That ton on debut will soon be hers, and she asserts her superiority once more by getting forward to drive four more just wide of backward point, then let’s one go lest she give it away, resetting with a typical grin.
93rd over: England 300-5 (Sciver 109, Davidson-Richards 89) De Klerk overpitches a fraction, and the way Davidson-Richards is timing it now, that’s gone – via forward press! Four more! A single to mid off follows, and that’s England’s 300.
92nd over: England 295-5 (Sciver 109, Davidson-Richards 84) Davidson-Richards will be ganting on a ton, ideally tonight, but she misses a turn to leg off a full one and has to cede strike running a leg bye, then Sciver can’t tuck into a similar delivery.
91st over: England 294-5 (Sciver 109, Davidson-Richards 84) A decent enough over from De Klerk, then Davidson-Richards pushes one to cover and Sciver tickles four through extra. That call to fiddle through the last bit before the new ball, when these two really took the ascendancy, looks even poorer now than it did at the time.
“Pleased to see mention of Natsci,” emails Niall Taylor. “You may be interested to know that this Thursday evening, teams from departments of Physics and Chemistry play one another at the Hills Road ground. Will our batters now be inspired to make centuries too? I hope so.”
A needle match if ever there was one.
90th over: England 289-5 (Sciver 105, Davidson-Richards 83) Sekhukhune, who bowled pretty well earlier, if pretty slowly, is chucked the ball, and her fourth delivery is cut hard by Davidson-Richards; it looks like four, but a chase and a dive turns it into two. Nevertheless, England now lead and a turn through midwicket for one, then a forced pull for two complete the over.
89th over: England 284-5 (Sciver 103, Davidson-Richards 80) I was about to say Davidson-Richards has chilled a little, but after a Sciver single gives her the strike, she times a guide wide of point – I think that should probably have been stopped – and earns four. A single to mid off completes the over, and the scores are now level - South Africa are staring down the barrel of a major deficit, so to cheer them us, here’s this.
88th over: England 278-5 (Sciver 102, Davidson-Richards 75) I’d be interested to see Mlaba with the new ball – she got decent bounce with the old one – but in the meantime, Kapp continues and sends a down a very wide outside off. A single to Sciver, bunted to mid on, completes the scoring from the over.
Something very wrong about the fact that Joe Denly has played more Tests than Nat Sciver. Top-class innings, this. #ENGvSA
— Nick (@SharlandNM) June 28, 2022
87th over: England 276-5 (Sciver 101, Davidson-Richards 75) De Klerk has found a better line than Bosch and hustles through an over that yields just one, Sciver turning to square leg.
“ADR could have many meanings,’ returns Richard Hirst. “I particularly like Accord Dangereux Routier, which are apparently European regulations for the international transport of dangerous goods by road. The twisted paths you can go down when inspired by the OBO!”
Hopefully the UK have binned them in the interests of freedom, sovereignty and independence.
Nat Sciver makes a hundred!
86th over: England 275-5 (Sciver 100, Davidson-Richards 75) Eesh, Sciver checks a pull, but gets enough on it to go over midwicket and they run two, then she flicks the next ball off her hip for four, and she’s one away! AND THERE IT IS! Sciver slices into the off side, hares through for one, and enjoys a huge hug from Davidson-Richards, just as excited as she is at a superb knock, especially given she ran out her captain at the start of it. In a box, Katherine Brunt, her wife, stands in pride, then has to take a second to compose herself as you might – I’ll confirm when my wife makes her first Test hundred, but for now know that it’s imminent.
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85th over: England 268-5 (Sciver 93, Davidson-Richards 75) De Klerk replaces the out of sorts Bosch and begins with a full one outside off at which Davidson-Richards flashes before withdrawing her blade and guffawing. The South Africans must absolutely love that ... all the more so when she retreats into the crease to caress four through cover point. That’s a lovely shot, and she’ll be smelling a debut hundred ... all the more so when she absolutely cleanses a cover-drive to the fence, holding the pose Ian Bell-style. Her joy in this innings is joyous to behold.
84th over: England 260-5 (Sciver 93, Davidson-Richards 67) Kapp continues testing the batters, Sciver this time – her fifth ball rears up off a good length and Sciver, who goes to play it, has to get bat and phizog out of the way before it cracks one or t’other. Maiden.
83rd over: England 260-5 (Sciver 93, Davidson-Richards 67) Davidson-Richards is timing it beautifully now, easing four through cover, then flicking two to midwicket. In comms, they think there might be rain coming soon – it looks a bit grimy out thee – but ADR doesn’t care, dismissing a wide one from her countenance with a cross-batted swat through cover. Ten from the over, and at drinks, England are just 24 behind; South Africa could use a strong one.
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82nd over: England 250-5 (Sciver 93, Davidson-Richards 57) Naturally it’s Kapp from the other end, and her second ball is a nice one, just a little bit of shape away taking it past Sciver’s airy dangle. This is a better over than Bosch’s - Kapp is really flinging herself through her run-up and delivery stride – and it’s a maiden.
“Did you ever watch that BT advert when it first came out?” asks Ravi Nair. “I did.”
Yes, sadly I too am old – and I’m also Jewish, Maureen Lipman’s grandma being one of very few telly representations of such in my childhood.
81st over: England 250-5 (Sciver 93, Davidson-Richards 57) Bosch, who’s taken three of the five wickets to fall, gets first go with the new littleun and when she overpitches, Davidson-Richards steps into a one-footed tickle ... that races past the bowler for four! That’s gorgeous footwork and timing.
80th over: England 246-5 (Sciver 93, Davidson-Richards 53) Mlaba bowls the final over with the old orange and it yields two singles, but what comes next is really where it’s at: it’s no exaggeration to say that the period between now and stumps might settle the match. If these two are still batting at the close, you’d strongly fancy England, but just one wicket for South Africa and they’re into the tail.
79th over: England 244-5 (Sciver 92, Davidson-Richards 52) Davidson-Richards takes one to midwicket, then Sciver rearranges feet, backs away to leg, and lifts Luus over extra to record her best Test score. She’s been brilliant in the V today and three singles from four balls complete the over, eight from it.
78th over: England 236-5 (Sciver 86, Davidson-Richards 50) Mlaba returns, presumably in a bid to stem the rate before the quicks return the over after the over after next. She goes for two, the first when Sciver nudges to fine leg and the second when Davidson-Richards eases to backward point for her fifty! That is a terrific, feelgood knock, and there’s no reason to think there’s not more in it yet!
77th over: England 234-5 (Sciver 85, Davidson-Richards 49) England are making the most of the old sphere, Sciver dancing down to lift Luus back over head for four. A pull for one to long on follows, after which ADR – whose dressing-room nickname is, I trust, Alternative Dispute Resolution – misses a cut but also misses an edge.
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76th over: England 229-5 (Sciver 80, Davidson-Richards 49) Three singles, then Davidson-Richards wafts at one, edges ... and it drops shy of slip!
“Shiver,” begins Richard Hirst. “I didn’t know there was another way of pronouncing it: what is it? And as for Natsci, I had you down for arts not sciences, so you never can tell. Yours disappointedly.”
It’s pronounced Natski, but don’t worry, I didn’t do it - I did social and political sciences, so I do, nevertheless, have an ology.
75th over: England 226-5 (Sciver 78, Davidson-Richards 48) Davidson-Richards is such a likeable character, and it feels like she’s physically growing in front of us, as if she’s eaten a mushroom headbutted out of a brick. She again takes care of the scoring in this over, two twos recorded – one to backward point, one to cover.
74th over: England 222-5 (Sciver 78, Davidson-Richards 44) De Klerk replaces Mlaba; I’m surprised we’ve not seen at least one of the quicks, partly to see if they can get anything out of the old ball but mainly because South Africa are leaking runs. And as I type that, Davidson-Richards is hurried by a short one, but the way things are going at the moment, it’s no surprise that her top-edged pull flies away for four. A pulled single follows - pork, chips, what isn’t pulled these days? – and it seems that Kapp is getting warm.
73rd over: England 217-5 (Sciver 78, Davidson-Richards 39) Luus gives one some air, but overpitches so that by the time it drops, Davidson-Richards is right there to swat it through cover for four. She’s absolutely loving this, such that when she gets a fractionally short straight one, she’s able to pull it off the stumps for four to long on before taking one to the cover sweeper. Another nine-run over from England making it 41 runs in the 10 overs since tea.
72nd over: England 208-5 (Sciver 78, Davidson-Richards 30) This partnership looks so serene now, Davidson-Richards cutting to cover for one to raise the team’s 200, then Sciver leaning back to leather four through point. She loves width but is also excellent on the drive down the ground, which makes her a problem to bowl at. And there we go, Mlaba darts one that’s too leg-side and Sciver just about gets enough on a pull, earning four to fine leg. Nine from the over, and Sciver is 11 away from her highest Test score, 22 away from a ton that is hers for the taking.
71st over: England 199-5 (Sciver 70, Davidson-Richards 29) Sciver takes a single to mid off, then Davidson-Richards drives through point for a single.
“For some reason I always end up mispronouncing Nat Sciver’s last name,” tweets Richard, or @theskiver. “I can’t imagine why...”
70th over: England 198-5 (Sciver 69, Davidson-Richards 28) Mlaba have been the pick of the spinners so far, and hustles through another maiden – her third.
69th over: England 198-5 (Sciver 69, Davidson-Richards 28) No doubt Luus wants to save her quicks for the new ball, due in 11 overs, but she’s letting things drift at the moment, and if she waits it out, there won’t be much of her team’s lead left. Davidson-Richards takes a single to cover, Sciver does likewise to mid on, and when when a further one gives her the final ball to face, she edges a cut for two more.
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68th over: England 192-5 (Sciver 62, Davidson-Richards 27) Natural sciences twizzles two away to fine leg, the only runs off the over.
67th over: England 190-5 (Sciver 64, Davidson-Richards 27) Davidson-Richards comes forwards to one tossed up, so when the ball isn’t there for her, she retreats and inserts bat between ball and stumps, just. Two singles and a two follow, and South Africa need something; their spinners are being milked.
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66th over: England 186-5 (Sciver 61, Davidson-Richards 25) Davidson-Richards goes back to Mlaba, squirting off the edge to fine leg and they run one, the only scoring shot in the over. South Africa lead by 98; the partnership is 65.
65th over: England 185-5 (Sciver 61, Davidson-Richards 24) Sciver looks in such control at the crease, and she walks into a forward push, running one, then Davidson-Richards takes one more to cover. Not long ago, South Africa bowled three straight maidens, but the scoreboard is ticking and Sciver sweeps for two, then two more singles complete the over.
64th over: England 179-5 (Sciver 57, Davidson-Richards 22) It’s taken them a while, but these two look ready to tuck into the bowling now – the last few overs before tea you could see them feeling settled, and now they’re looking to score. Davidson-Richards takes one to the cover fence, the sweeper cutting her off, then Sciver hauls a half-tracker around the corner only to find the fielder at deep square.
63rd over: England 177-5 (Sciver 56, Davidson-Richards 21) Remember, this is a four-day Test with 100 overs on each of them, so eyes down for a serious sesh here. Luus begins it and Davidson-Richards fails to spot her goggly, but she defends well enough, carving a single to cover point.
We go again...
I’m off for some scran – see you again in 15 or so, for what promises to be another exciting passage.
62nd over: England 176-5 (Sciver 56, Davidson-Richards 20) I’ve enjoyed Mlaba’s bowling and she bounds through another miserly over, Davidson-Richards taking just one, to cover. That’s tea, and this has been another invigorating session, Sciver batting through it and Davidson-Richards batting through it minus one ball.
61st over: England 175-5 (Sciver 56, Davidson-Richards 19) Luus tosses herself the ball and sends down another loose over; credit to England for taking advantage of it, even though tea is imminent. A wide and a single come from the first two balls, then a half-tracker sits up and Davidson-Richards’ eyes light up, her pull from outside off looping only just past mid on before racing away to the fence. Three singles follow.
60th over: England 166-5 (Sciver 54, Davidson-Richards 13) Mlaba replaces Kapp and after three dots, Davidson-Richards steps back gracefully and caresses four through the covers. She’s enjoying this, and so are we.
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59th over: England 162-5 (Sciver 54, Davidson-Richards 9) Bosch returns in place of Sekhukhune and Sciver drills her second ball straight back past her forlorn dive, earning four and raising her fifty – her third in eight Tests. Girl can play. Then when she’s sent a full toss, she’s onto it greedily, biffing four more down to the same area.
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58th over: England 154-5 (Sciver 46, Davidson-Richards 9) It’s really gratifying to see Davidson-Richards batting well and loving the contest. She must’ve feared her chance had been and gone, but here she is aged 28, confidently blocking out a maiden in a Test match ... though as I type that, she misses a drive then stretches into an elegant cover drive, only to pick out the fielder. That’s three overs without a run.
57th over: England 154-5 (Sciver 46, Davidson-Richards 9) Sciver drives Sekhukhune to cover, twice, finding the fielder twice. But the fact remains, she’s seeing it nicely, and will be telling herself not to give that away. Other hand, there’s only a wide slip behind the wicket, so she’s got plenty of scope to go hard at the ball, knowing that if she properly throws hands, if she edges there’s still a decent chance of four. Maiden.
56th over: England 154-5 (Sciver 46, Davidson-Richards 9) Kapp returns – maybe that’s why she let that last shot go, unwilling to over-extend when she’s got a 20-minute pre-tea spell to force her body through. That innings yesterday must’ve taken it out of her, mentally as well as physically – she won’t have batted better, and dealing with that must be hard, especially when you’ve also got to bowl. She begins with a maiden.
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55th over: England 154-5 (Sciver 46, Davidson-Richards 9) Shortish from Sekhukhune, so Sciver goes back and slashes, sending a catch to where second slip isn’t; the ball rushes away for four. Four dots follow, then Sciver stands up, plays down into the ground ... and when Kapp doesn’t have the strength to get over to it, earns herself a surprise four.
54th over: England 146-5 (Sciver 38, Davidson-Richards 9) Sciver hasn’t lost her appetite for quick singles, dabbing towards mid off and sprinting; Davidson-Richards then steps away to leg, waits, and strokes four gorgeous runs through cover. There’s a bit of patter out in the middle, and I doubt she’s behind the door in that regard, so she’ll have enjoyed that; next ball she goes again, but her firm cut is straight at point.
And not before time.
Quite a raucous atmosphere at Eton v Harrow - the last annual match they are scheduled to play at Lord’s. I’ll be canvassing opinions on this controversial matter pic.twitter.com/K22o4luJuw
— Huw Turbervill (@huwzat) June 28, 2022
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53rd over: England 140-5 (Sciver 36, Davidson-Richards 5) I should say, Accuweather were predicting rain this afternoon, but the latest gen is that it’ll miss us, which is great – though a thunderstorm is predicted for tomorrow afternoon. Anyhow, Sekhukhune returns, spraying her loosener not just wide but wider. Davidson-Richards then takes a single of her own to backward square, before Sciver defends the over’s final two balls.
52nd over: England 138-5 (Sciver 36, Davidson-Richards 4) Three dots and more laughter – South Africa are enjoying the hell out of this – then Sciver presents the full face, driving Mlaba back past a despairing right hand and to the fence for four. That’s England’s first boundary in tiiiiime, and they badly needed it because you sense wickets are ready to fall because South Africa are ready to claim them.
51st over: England 134-5 (Sciver 32, Davidson-Richards 4) De Klerk flings one into Sciver’s pad and is right there for the lb, but her mates all saw the inside edge, laughing at her as you would. Sciver then takes another one to backward square, and two dots mean she’ll be on strike for the next over.
I love how approachable these girls are.
Just the cutest ❤️ https://t.co/79nnHoE0cL
— Kate Cross (@katecross16) June 27, 2022
50th over: England 133-5 (Sciver 31, Davidson-Richards 4) It’s a tricky situation for Sciver, because she’ll want to attack but knows the importance of staying at the crease. She plays out three dots, then misses out when a drag down keeps low and she can’t pull it away before taking a single to backward square. South Africa are bang on top here.
49th over: England 132-5 (Sciver 30, Davidson-Richards 4) De Klerk replaces Bosch and Sciver drives to mid off for one, the only run from the over; its penultimate ball is edged onto the pads, and you can see from the chatter in the field that they’re bang into this. They lead by 152 and know that if they can break this partnership, they’re into the tail.
Otherwise, I hope you’ve all seen this; if not, prepare for some sweaty eyeballs.
"Take care of this cap because you'll never get a first one again."@KBrunt26 presented @Wongi95 her England Test cap yesterday. ❤️
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2022
🏴 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/FtXOPJh13L
48th over: England 131-5 (Sciver 29, Davidson-Richards 4) Mlaba found some bounce in her last over, which tells us there’s something in the pitch; yesterday, we might’ve put it down to Sophie Ecclestone’s skill and height. “Oooh hoo hoo, hello!” cries Jafta when one grips a little, and she’s equally excited when Davidson-Richards defends the final ball of a maiden.
47th over: England 131-5 (Sciver 29, Davidson-Richards 4) Thanks Daniel and afternoon everyone. Nat Sciver will know she’s got to come up with something here, after running out her captain first ball after lunch – you’ve got to laugh – on which point, is it just me who calls her Natural Sciences? Silly, I know, but at university, that subject was called Natsci so here we are. Anyhow, she gets down low to glance Bosch around the corner for two, then steps out of her crease to crack a short one to the midwicket fence. She’s looking good out there.
46th over: England 125-5 (Sciver 23, Davidson-Richards 4) Runs. Sweet, pressure relieving runs. It’s a half steer, half squirt from Davidson-Richards who jabs this flighted one from Mlaba down to a vacant deep third boundary. England will take it.
And taking you to the close will be Daniel Harris as I’m off at the call of this drinks break. South Africa’s hour post lunch with three sharp wickets for 39 runs.
Hope you enjoyed it. See you tomorrow.
45th over: England 121-5 (Sciver 23, Davidson-Richards 0) Will South Africa conceded a run again? England have lost two wickets for one run in the last six overs. Bosch brings one back in sharply after going away, away, away. Sciver is wise to it and chops her bat down in time from the back foot.
44th over: England 121-5 (Sciver 23, Davidson-Richards 0) Another maiden. Mlaba is accurate while still asking questions. This is not tame dibbly dobbling finger spin. Quite the opposite and the England batters are giving it the respect it deserves. They’re against the ropes here but Sciver is more than capable of playing the Kapp role and digging her team out of this mess. She’ll need help. Davidson-Richards handles this over well, going forward like Jones should have done. A knife’s edge. That’s where this game currently resides.
43rd over: England 121-5 (Sciver 23, Davidson-Richards 0) That’s another maiden from Bosch who has just been outstanding. Unnerving, probing, teasing and testing. Cricket made to look simple. Shape away from the right hander, saying, ‘go on, have a go’. I could watch a seamer do this all day.
42nd over: England 121-5 (Sciver 23, Davidson-Richards 0) South Africa are all over England here. From 65-0 to 86-2, England are teetering at 121-4, still 163 behind. Bosch has been brilliant since the restart after lunch but Mlaba has given the batters something else to consider. It’s her guile and flight that set up Jones with one that gripped just enough to bowl her past the outside edge. Still 14 needed to avoid the follow on. They surely won’t, will they?
Collapse! Jones b Mlaba 0 (England 121-5)
Jones is gone for a duck! Nicely flighted from Mlaba but it looked like a fairly innocuous ball from here. Mind you, I don’t have to face it. You know what, sod it, let’s give the bowler her dues. She’d been tossing it up and might have pushed that one through a little quicker. It certainly rushed Jones who seemed reluctant or unable to get all the way forward. It’s a first Test scalp for the left-armer and she’s celebrating with gusto!
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41st over: England 120-4 (Sciver 22, Jones 0) A wicket maide for Bosch who has backed up her 30 with the bat with three wickets (so far) with the ball. Dunkley’s expansive drive now seems like an obvious error but credit must go to the bowler. Bosch has moved it and moved it late. What a contest we have here. Remember, it was Kapp’s 150 batting at No 6 that turned the game yesterday. Big partnership coming up.
Wicket! Dunkley c Steyn b Bosch 18 (England 120-4)
Dunkley’s taken the bait and paid the price! Bosch has her third with a wide one that the batter chases but can only nick straight to the only slip fielder. It might seem like a loos stroke, and it is, but the away shape that Bosch is getting is why Dunkley’s booming drive has found the edge rather than the middle of her bat.
South African keep chipping away. They have a lead of 164 and are now into the middle order. Long way to go yet but it’s another impressive fightback from the tourists in this game.
40th over: England 120-3 (Sciver 22, Dunkley 18) Spin for the first time this innings. It’s Nonkululeko Mlaba with the left arm finger twirls. She’s round the wicket with a slip in place and concedes four - one each for Dunkley and Sciver through the on-side, and a couple for Sciver who rocks back and punches it through the cover ring.
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As if Heather Knight didn’t have enough to worry about
Heather Knight has RUINED that white shirt. RUINED.
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) June 28, 2022
39th over: England 116-3 (Sciver 19, Dunkley 17) South Africa are motoring through their overs now. Maybe that’s a deliberate ploy to rush the batters? If it is then it almost worked as de Klerk finds the edge of Sciver’s bat as she looks to cut, but it goes wide of Lee in the gully. Dunkley takes two off her hips after that scampered single from Sciver’s edge.
38th over: England 111-3 (Sciver 16, Dunkley 15) Glorious drive from Dunkley. Plants her front foot towards and the ball and sweetly times Sekhukhune through the covers. Dunkley’s looked good since she first took guard. Ticking along at a nice rate.
There’s also a half chance behind the stumps. Jafta is now standing up the stumps. A ball down the leg side is missed by Sciver as she drifts out of her crease. But Jafta can’t gather and remove the bails. A half chance, nothing more.
So long Morgs. Worth mentioning that Eoin Morgan has announced his retirement from international cricket. Here’s Ali Martin’s piece from yesterday on the “best we’ve ever had”.
37th over: England 106-3 (Sciver 15, Dunkley 11) Second maiden on the bounce fro de Klerk who has improved as the day has gone on. Just a leg-bye adds to the score and rotates the strike.
36th over: England 105-3 (Sciver 15, Dunkley 11) A poor ball is given the business. A rare short and wide stinker from Sekhukhune and Dunkley crunches it in front of point with a scything cut shot. Two singles for both batters and a two taken from a misfield in the covers means it’s a costly set for Sekhukhune who apparently either deals in maidens of expensive overs.
35th over: England 97-3 (Sciver 14, Dunkley 4) Another maiden. This time from de Klerk. Pressure building. That’s what a calamitous wicket can do.
34th over: England 97-3 (Sciver 14, Dunkley 4) That’s more like from Sekhukhune who bowls her fourth maiden in her eighth over. Tight channel, good to full length and there’s that buzz back in the field. The South Africans fancy themselves here. A couple more and they may even have a lead. They’re 187 ahead currently.
33rd over: England 96-3 (Sciver 14, Dunkley 4) Three runs from the opening two balls of this de Klerk over as Sciver works on off her pads and Dunkley takes two through mid-on. De Klerk adjusts her line and moives outside the off-stump and keeps it clean for the remaining four ball.s
32nd over: England 93-3 (Sciver 13, Dunkley 2) Sekhukhune makes a return to the Marcus Trescothick end where she was so accurate in the morning session. She finds her range immediately but loses her shape on her fourth delivery, splaying it down the leg side and that’s easy pickings for Sciver who clips it for four. Another single keeps Sciver on strike for the next over.
31st over: England 88-3 (Sciver 8, Dunkley 2) They say that the first few minutes before and after a session break can define a Test match. (Not sure if anyone’s actually said that, but it sounds vaguely true).
Well, what about the first ball after a break? England’s captain has been run-out immediately after lunch. There was never a run there and she’ll be fuming with the mix-up. Hard to know who was to blame - Knight or Sciver - but it doesn’t matter. South Africa have the early wicket they were after.
De Klerk concedes two runs to the new batter Sophia Dunkley who is in much sooner than she would have anticipated.
A run out! First ball after lunch! Knight run-out (Sekhukuke) 8 (England 86-3)
What in the what! A run out first ball after the break. Scenes! Absolute scenes!
There’s a mix up in the middle. Knight bunts the ball to the leg side and sets off. She’s sent back and puts in a big dive but the throw from Sekhukhune is firm and accurate and Jafta flicks the bails off. Disaster for the England skipper is gone after consultation from the third umpire.
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Good lunch? Mine wasn’t bad, actually. A half decent chilli and rice. Could have personally done with more spice.
(Ready for a seamless transition?)
Speaking of spice, South Africa need to amp the heat up and get one of these two out sharpish. They might have done, had Jafta - doing what all keeps should do - held on to a thick edge from Knight off Kapp’s bowling.
De Klerk has the ball in her hand from the River End away from me. It was moving before the break. Can it talk again?
Lunch: England 86-2 (Knight 8, Sciver 8)
England’s session, but only just thanks to two quick wickets from the blue courtesy of Bosch. It could have been even tighter had Knight’s thick edge from a Kapp teaser wide of off-stump been held. As it was, Jafta dived in front of her first slip and grassed the chance.
Strong comeback from the Proteas who had no answers to a dominant opening stand of 65 between Tammy Beaumont and the Test-rookie Emma Lamb. They were both particularly strong through covers and kept the strike rotating off their hips.
South Africa were wasteful with the new ball, either bowling too straight or too short. But Sekhukhune reverted to a simple line and length to build pressure with a ring field before Bosch’s double strike to remove both openers.
I’m off for a bite. Catch you in 40 mins.
30th over: England 86-2 (Knight 8, Sciver 8) That’s lunch as Kapp delivers another maiden.
“Thanks for the link but that’s the standard 5 live link which is blocked for non UK IP addresses. “Content not available in your area.” The only way we can follow is via the YouTube overseas link for the men’s tests - which the BBC does not open up for women’s matches. Back to my earlier email about BBC not respecting women’s sport!”
Thanks for the mail David. Will see if there’s anything I can do.
29th over: England 86-2 (Knight 8, Sciver 8) De Klerk is neat neat throughout. Good lenght across all six balls and Sciver either defends or leaves.
28th over: England 86-2 (Knight 8, Sciver 8) DROP! What’s Jafta done there? I’ll tell you what she’s done. She’s dived right in front of first slip and shelled a huge chance to get rid of Knight before lunch.
It’s a wide ball that should have been left alone but Knight chases Kapp’s teaser and gets a fat edge on it. Jafta, like all ‘keepers are naturally inclined to do, dives full stretch but can’t get enough glove on it and it’s floored. I think that’s Luus at first slip. Whoever it was would have had a much easier go at it. Big moment in this Test.
Earlier, Knight plays a tasty flick to the fine leg boundary. As if you needed reminding that she can play.
27th over: England 82-2 (Knight 4, Sciver 8) Another maiden. That’s two in a row. Riveting! No, for real, it really is. De Klerk is tidy. Sciver is compact. There’s a buzz in the field that was missing for the first hour. South Africa know that one more before lunch could crack the game open. England’s veterans know they need to remain unscathed come the break.
26th over: England 82-2 (Knight 4, Sciver 8) Another maiden from Kapp who sticks to a fifth stump line. Knight is comfortable letting most of them go and is watchful for the one that angles back in. Are we still allowed to use the term “delicately poised”?
It’s a simple game, really.
What a superb delivery from Anneke Bosch. Two deliveries that straightened to begin to over and then a cross seamer that nipped back in.
— Ananya Upendran (@a_upendran11) June 28, 2022
She’s proving to be a handful with the ball. As @NatalieGermanos said, “she’s kept things very simple”. #ENGvSA #TeamPacer #BoschIsBossingIt
25th over: England 82-2 (Knight 4, Sciver 8) Sekhukhune has changed ends, but she’ll wish she hadn’t. Back to back boundaries for Sciver means it’s an expensive return for the Protea’s usually stingy seamer.
A crunching pull from a long-hop is followed by an edge over the gully region, but even that shot had a degree of control give the width on offer.
The pressure’s still on but South Africa mustn’t let these two settle while they have the momentum.
24th over: England 74-2 (Knight 4, Sciver 0) Kapp is back and follows on Bosch’s wicket-maiden with another run-less over. The ball is moving now and Kapp’s slingy, whippy action could get it seaming too. Knight is cautious but compact. Two titans going toe to toe.
23rd over: England 74-2 (Knight 4, Sciver 0) The game has turned in the space of three Anneke Bosch overs. England were in cruise control at 65-0. Now they’re two down with two new batters at the crease.
Bosch seems to have found a good lenght and she stays there for three balls, drawing Lamb forward and inviting the drive. The batter duly accepts and goes seraching for the ball but doesn’t account for the movement back in.
The stumps are disturbed. The bails are scattered. And England’s two senior batters must now rebuilt.
Don’t you just love this game?!
Wicket! Lamb b Bosch 38 (England 74-2)
Another one! Bosch has another one and this one’s a beauty. Full and around off-stump, she draws Lamb forward and moves it just enough to find the gap between bat and pad.
Lamb will no doubt admit that she was a little loose there, but it’s the late movement that tempted the drive.
Bosch has been guilty of some wayward bowling but that was a peach. If she can stay around there she’ll have a lot of joy. Game on!
22nd over: England 74-1 (Lamb 38, Knight 4) This doesn’t make sense to me. After bowling three maidens in a row, which I’d wager had a lot to do with the Beaumont wicket at the other end, Sekhukhune has been taken out of the attack.
Unless she’s tired or injured (though she’s still on the field) I can’t see any cricketing sense to make that change.
De Klerk returns but she’s loose and is carved away by Lamb off the back foot between cover and point.
South Africa almost burgle a wicket, though. There’s a mix up on the final ball. An accurate throw to the ‘keeper’s end and Knight was gone.
21st over: England 69-1 (Lamb 33, Knight 4) The skipper is off the mark. It’s a gift from Bosch. A rank full-toss and Knight biffs it down the ground for four.
“Really enjoying your commentary - thanks.”
No, thank you Anna. Really glad you’re enjoying it!
“Yesterday on telly they called Kapp the greatest all rounder these days. Is she even number 1 in her family? (Dane) And what about Nat Sciver? I think we can agree these are in the top 5 women all rounders. Who get the last two spots?”
Great question. One for the readers maybe? Hard to look past Elysse Perry (for my money the best of them all).
If you’re interested, here’s the ICC’s player rankings.
20th over: England 65-1 (Lamb 33, Knight 0) That’s three maidens in a row for Sekhukhune. Excellent lines, wicket to wicket, keeping things tight. That’s how you get wickets in this format, any format. She may not have the star next to her name but there’s no doubt she’s contributed to her team’s success. England still on top but there’s a sense that South Africa are clawing back slowly.
19th over: England 65-1 (Lamb 33, Knight 0) Success for South Africa as Bosch pings Beaumont on the toe right dead in front of the stumps. The ball before is overpitched and driven back down the ground for four, but the bowler has the last laugh with a breakthrough her team sorely needed. Skipper Heather Knight walks out with a great platform set by her openers. But a few more wickets could change things before lunch.
Wicket! Beaumont lbw Bosch 28 (England 65-1)
That’s come from nowhere! England were cruising! Beaumont was charging towards milestones and records. Along with Lamb she was going to bat for a month!
But no, like a bolt of lightning she’s been struck down by a straight one from Bosch. Beaumont plays around her pad and it hits her on the toe. That’s plumb and the Proteas have got the breakthrough!
18th over: England 61-0 (Lamb 33, Beaumont 24) That’s a genuine edge off Lamb’s bat and it’s brought about by a full-ish length and a testing line from Sekhukhune. I hope I’m not banging this drum too loudly and too often but the South Africans haven’t found their radar with enough consistency. When they have landed the ball in a challenging area they’ve looked good. It’s pressure that takes wickets and you build pressure from landing the ball in a consistent area. It’s why Cross and Sciver were so effective. That allows Bell and Wong to steam in from the other end. The Proteas need to find their groove, and quick!
Just the one bye off the over so that’s back-to-back maidens for Sekhukhune. She needs some help from the other end.
17th over: England 60-0 (Lamb 33, Beaumont 24) That’s a messy set from Bosch. Too straight and Lamb tucks her for two. Too short and wide - maybe around the seventh or eighth stump line - and Lamb reaches and biffs her to the point boundary. Run-rate is now 3.5 and steadily climbing. It’s not Baz-Ball but it is fluent.
16th over: England 54-0 (Lamb 27, Beaumont 24) Wouldn’t you know it, it’s a maiden! Only the second of the innings. That’s what happens when you bowl one side of the wicket, which is exactly what Sekhukhune does. The extra fielder at midwicket also helps. Now just two slips and a gully, though they’re effectively spectators at the minute.
Emma Lamb made her international debut nine months ago. This is her fourth game for her country but these are her first runs. She made a two-ball duck and didn’t bat in her two ODI games and ended 0 not-out in her only T20I. Minor details. She looks born for this stage.She’ll have to get herself out
15th over: England 54-0 (Lamb 27, Beaumont 24) Anneke Bosch into the attack. Her 30 yesterday with the bat was pivotal in her partnership of 72 with Kapp. She’s got a job on here with the ball against two set batters.
Not the worst over but once again, not very threatening. Lamb takes two off her legs (how many is that now?) and another two with a faultless on-drive. Very impressive so far. Bat on!
Oh, that’s drinks. A dominant hour from England.
14th over: England 50-0 (Lamb 23, Beaumont 24) Sekhukhune returns and is around a half decent area until her fifth ball which is full and wide and stylishly swatted to the cover boundary by Lamb. Another single to finish things brings up the 50 run stand.
13th over: England 42-0 (Lamb 18, Beaumont 21) Two sumptuous drives from both batters means that’s another expensive over for South Africa. First Lamb leans into a gorgeous caress through the covers and then Beaumont does the same. De Klerk really hasn’t threatened here. Luus must now hope her change bowlers can crack this partnership.
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12th over: England 32-0 (Lamb 9, Beaumont 20) Has Kapp bowled seven balls there? She has. I can’t figure out why. Oh, there was a no-ball called by the third umpire. Kapp will be livid as her seventh is thwacked by Beaumont on the pull. Wonderfully controlled aggression from the England opener who is climbing through the gears. Kapp’s off the field too after that over worth eight runs. All getting pretty ominous for Luus and her team.
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11th over: England 24-0 (Lamb 8, Beaumont 14) De Klerk bangs one in short but it sails over Lambs head. That’s high enough to be called wide but you know what, fair play to the bowler for giving it a go. She can’t back up that aggression with a probing line and is - once again - clipped through the on side.
SA missing a trick here. If anyone wants my opinion I’d take a slip out and put her at midwicket.
TMS Link - this one’s for you, David Keech. Do stay with me but if you want to add some audio to your visual, here’s the Beeb comms.
10th over: England 22-0 (Lamb 7, Beaumont 14) Kapp strikes Beaumont on the pads first up and there’s a huge appeal. The Saffas look convinced so they go upstairs. It’s a terrible review. Beaumont has practically middled it! A little desperate and unnecessary, Kapp is bowling so well here. She finds the edge with her next ball but it lands short of Luus at first slip. Beaumont gets one away off her pads - they’ve both been good at dealing with anything straight - but the rest of the over is tidy. Kapp is certainly SA’s best hope at a breakthrough.
“Morning Dan Welcome to the middle, if this is your first OBO outing”
Thanks Martin. Yesterday was the dayboo, but glad to be on board!
“Will the England Women play Bazball, that’s the question?”
Hmm, they’re certainly laying a platform for some fireworks later.
“Also, spare a thought for Dom Sibley...”
I always do.
9th over: England 20-0 (Lamb 7, Beaumont 12) Class from Beaumont. Bottle that and save it for the gloomy days. Sure, it’s a leg stump half-volley, but hasn’t she played flick through mid-wicket to perfection! De Klerk struggling with both her line and length. Too full, too short, both sides of the wicket. Can’t build pressure that way.
8th over: England 15-0 (Lamb 7, Beaumont 7) Better from Kapp. She hasn’t quite found her length but her line is sharper. around that fourth stump which means Lamb has to contend with all six balls. There’s also a well-directed bouncer, but Lamb navigates that well. First maiden of the day.
Fancy a nice refreshing cry? Go on then.
"Take care of this cap because you'll never get a first one again."@KBrunt26 presented @Wongi95 her England Test cap yesterday. ❤️
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2022
🏴 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/FtXOPJh13L
7th over: England 15-0 (Lamb 7, Beaumont 7) Change of ends for de Klerk as well but it doesn’t seem to have made much difference. A little toothless from the tourists. Then again, England’s openers look rock solid. A two and a single - both towards the leg side - for Lamb who is in complete control out there.
6th over: England 12-0 (Lamb 4, Beaumont 7) Aha... So it’s a change of ends for Kapp. This is where Issy Wong and Lauren Bell began their spells so perhaps there’s a belief that it offers some extra oomph? Not if you bowl on the pads. Beaumont loves it there and takes another two through a vacant square leg.
5th over: England 10-0 (Lamb 4, Beaumont 5) Bowling change. After four overs. That couldn’t have been part of the plan. Either way, Kapp is off and Tumi Sekhukhune is on. Bustling action but she’s a little short early doors. Allows Lamb to take a couple from a nice clip behind square, though she miss-times two cut shots that ought to have gone for four.
This is what it’s all about.
Wish I could have made it to the #ENGvSA test @SomersetCCC
— Katy Snelling (@katysnelling) June 27, 2022
Still my niece has made friends with England's senior bowler @katecross16 @MichaelDouble11 @NoBallsTCP pic.twitter.com/XneuoPKeDB
4th over: England 8-0 (Lamb 2, Beaumont 5) Shot! The first boundary of the morning is a classic cut backward of square from Beaumont. De Klerk is too short and wide and is given the business. Pretty sedate from the South Africans. No use wondering about what-ifs and maybes, but they could evidently missing the heat of Shabnim Ismail. Anyhoo, de Klerk tightens up and Beaumont is comfortable in defence.
3rd over: England 4-0 (Lamb 2, Beaumont 1) Not sure if this is a deliberate ploy of if Kapp has yet to find her range, but she’s very wide outside the off stump for most of the over. Beaumont is content with leaving. The last two balls are straighter but one is too straight and the England opener is off the mark with a soft dab towards midwicket.
2nd over: England 3-0 (Lamb 2, Beaumont 0) De Klerk is from the Marcus Trescothick end. She starts on the pads and Lamb tucks another off her legs. There’s a fumble behind the stumps but to be fair to Jafta the ball kept very low after pitching. Something to keep an eye on.
1st over: England 1-0 (Lamb 1, Beaumont 0) Lamb has her first international run nine months after making her debut as she tucks Kapp neatly off her pads for a single. Sedate start from Kapp, perhaps a little stiff from yesterday’s heroics. Beaumont solid in defence.
Here. We. Go. Right then. Clouds overhead. Dramatic music from the speakers. A stacked slip cordon and wouldn’t you know it, Marizanne Kapp with the new Dukes in her hand. get comfy. This should be a good ‘un.
“Good morning Dan”
Hi Jerry in Cape Town, hope it’s as gorgeous as always!
“We agree fully that yesterday was an exemplary day’s cricket, really riveting stuff in all departments. The Duke ball is a bugger though, and we are holding thumbs the SA bowlers, without Ismael and Kaka can do the same kind of damage. Hoping also the weather holds.”
Will be interesting to see how they get on without their two leading seamers. One expects Kapp might be difference with the ball as well.
Kapp-tain Marvel! Does that work? Tell you what does work, Marizanne Kapp’s bat. She was blistering yesterday. Why not read Raf’s report on that marvellous knock while we gear up for the start of play at 11am.
Preamble
Morning all! Welcome to the second day of this one-off Test between England and South Africa. Yesterday was a joy. Honestly, one of the best days of Test cricket I’ve been fortunate to watch.
It had everything. Excellent new ball bowling from England with Kate Cross the standout, picking up 4-63 as she assumes the lead role now that Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt have left the scene. Lauren Bell and Issy Wong were also superb in their Test debuts and Nat Sciver was miserly as well.
At 45-5 we wondered if South Africa would reach three figures. Enter Marizanne Kapp whose 150 is up there with the great innings produced by a Saffa. She hauled her team to 284. It’s perhaps a touch below par but the tourists are still in this thanks to one woman.
England will need to bat well. They’re going through their work in the practice nets to my right. My name is Dan, do drop a mail or send me a tweet. Can’t wait to get stuck in!
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