A magnificent 150 from Marizanne Kapp – the highest score by a South African woman in Tests – helped her side to 284 all out at stumps on the first day at Taunton, putting a dent in England’s hopes of a dream start to their new-look era.
The hosts had reduced South Africa to 45 for four, with the debutantes Issy Wong and Lauren Bell claiming maiden scalps after Heather Knight made the bold decision to bowl first. Kapp, though, was happy to spoil the party, creaming boundaries through the covers and punishing anything overpitched. She shared partnerships of 72 with Anneke Bosch and 41 with Nadine de Klerk, before bringing up a 151-ball hundred during the evening session – the fastest recorded against England in women’s Tests.
