Well, what a breakfast thriller! Brilliant from South Africa, who have now won their first three games - with England their biggest scalp. England have failed to move from square one of the limited-edition World Cup board, despite three close games falling within their grasp.
There were bonuses for Engaland today - the batting of Jones and Beaumont and the embroidery-perfect bowling of Ecclestone (again). The fielding, though, still seems to be choreographed by PT Barnum. For South Africa, player of the match Kapp was brilliant with ball (5-45) and bat, and Laura Wolvaardt superb with her second consecutive fifty - though she was dropped twice.
#CWC22
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) March 14, 2022
"Technically you won't get much better than that. Watch this at home. This is just about perfect. Bend your front knee, top elbow, that is perfection for an off drive": Nasser Hussain
Laura Wolvaardt. ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/c6bFXI3vZ0
There was a last-over banger in Hamilton too, where Bangladesh recorded their first World Cup win - against Pakistan.
That’s it from me, thanks for tuning in. England, the current World Cup champions, now have to win all their remaining games and then rely on others in order to qualify - their next game, against India, starts in the early hours of Wednesday morning GMT. South Africa play New Zealand at the same time on Thursday.
Have a lovely day.
February 2020: South Africa beat England for the first time at a Women's T20 World Cup
— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) March 14, 2022
March 2022: South Africa beat England for the first time at a Women's ODI World Cup since 2000
Quite the way for #TeamSouthAfrica to avenge their loss vs #TeamEngland in the 2017 ODI WC semis
Updated
The player of the match is Marizanne Kapp for her bounteous bowling and clear-headed batting at the end. She drops to her knees in prayer on the field. More knee-sinking for England, but in despair rather than in thanks as their campaign bus continues to lose cogs and springs and even the front wheel. Three catches were dropped, a stumping missed, Sciver and Brunt all out of sorts.
“We’re pretty gutted by the situation,” says a solemn-faced Knight. “Its not out of lack of effort. I would have liked 15 or 20 more, they bowled pretty well at the death though Amy and Tammy batted brilliantly.
“We’ve got no other option we’ve obviously got to win that game (against India) and win that well. It’s not through lack of effort, things just havent’ gone our way.”
Updated
South Africa win by three wickets!
49.3 over: South Africa 236-7 ( Chetty 13; Ismail 5) Sciver is handed the last over rather than Brunt, it’s risky as she hasn’t had the best day. The first ball is down the legside and Chetty sends it off her legs and they scramble two - Chetty just making the crease. The second is a wide. The third is short, Chetty pulls in delight and they joyfully take the run. South Africa’s highest successful chase in World Cups! And back to the drawing board for England, whose progress in the tournament is out of their hands.
Four needed from the last over!
49th over: South Africa 232-7 ( Chetty 8; Ismail 5) England have never lost three World Cup games in a row...but the ball after Kapp’s wicket is short and fat from Shrubsole, and Ismail flays her first ball to the boundary. “The value of a left handed!” says Nasser sagely. Two more runs, dib and dab, and South Africa can do this in singles.
Updated
WICKET! Kapp lbw Shrubsole 32 (South Africa 226-8, need 10 from 10 balls)
The big one! Kapp goes for broke after seeing off Ecclestone, down on one knee opening the throttle. Misses and the replay shows the ball would have trundled into the stumps.
Updated
REVIEW! Kapp lbw Shrubsole
Given out on the field but Kapp review immediately....
48th over: South Africa 225-6 ( Kapp 32; Chetty 8) Knight plays her trump card, what can South Africa do with Ecclestone. Kapp has a plan, and that plan is to see her off. Dot, Dot, Dot, and... edge! There’s no slip and a suddenly flaying Kapp picks up four. Ecclestone rolls her eyes. 11 need from 12 balls.
47th over: South Africa 220-6 ( Kapp 28; Chetty 7) Shrubsole again, and she’s not quite on song, but South Africa can’t get her away. 16 needed from 18
“Eeeeleeeeeeeeeeeeee” types Moin Shahid
“Eeeeeeeee3eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee333333333333eoee!”
Well, exactly!
46th over: South Africa 215-6 ( Kapp 26; Chetty 4) Kapp doing with the bat what she did with the ball, flicking Brunt’s nice n juicy full toss for six behind square. Brunt, says Nasser, has bowled too short all tournament. Chetty can’t get Kapp back onto strike for the next over. England’s World Cup hopes hang by. a thread. 21 neeed from 24 balls.
Updated
45th over: South Africa 205-6 ( Kapp 17; Chetty 3) Excellent from Shrubsole, who hits the spot as she’s brought back into the attack; Knight holding back Ecclestone’s last over just in case. 31 needed from 30 balls
44th over: South Africa 200-6 ( Kapp 15; Chetty 0).Magic from the quick-thinking Brunt who had just been shuffled for four by Kapp 36 needed from 36 balls.
WICKET! Tryon run-out (Brunt) 15 (South Africa 199-6 37 needed from 38 balls)
Lucky, lucky England! Kapp powers the ball back and an acrobatic Brunt gets a slither of a finger onto the ball and deflects it into the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Tryon trudges off before the umpires have a chance to check Brunt’s fingers on the replay. There’s a contagion of these this World Cup!
Updated
43rd over: South Africa 192-5 ( Kapp 10; Tryon 13). Ah, apologies, THIS is Ecclestone’s penultimate over. Kapp is content to play her back: just one from it and run rate slips back to over a run a ball: 44 from 42 balls. Where’s your money?
Updated
42nd over: South Africa 191-5 ( Kapp 10; Tryon 12) Tryon is beaten by Brunt’s first ball, as she returns for the final push, but the second is thick-edged down to the boundary. Seven from the over. 45 needed from 48 balls.
41st over: South Africa 184-5 ( Kapp 9; Tryon 6) Ecclestone’s penultimate over. Kapp has a wild swing and ball bounces awkwardly, over Jones’ gloves and down to the rope. Eccestone crouches down on her haunches, a blaze of suncream across her nose. Ominously perhaps for England, the TV shows Chloe Tryon has the second best strike-rate in Women’s cricket. 52 needed from 54 balls.
NOT OUT!
Replay shows it was missing the stumps, spinning past leg stump.
REVIEW! Kapp lbw Ecclestone...
Given out on the field
40th over: South Africa 179-5 ( Kapp 9; Tryon 5) Kapp has a swing and its screams over mid-on for four. Tryon cuts her second ball for four more, just beating Shrubsole on the rope. Ten from Cross’s over. 57 needed from 61 balls.
Updated
39th over: South Africa 169-5 ( Kapp 4; Tryon 0) A wicket maiden as the run-rate creeps up to more than a run a ball.
WICKET! du Preez c Jones b Ecclestone (South Africa 169-5 need 67 from 67 balls)
Jones swallows the ball on the rebound! du Preez, tied down by four successive dots balls edges behind and Jones grabs at the ball, but then calmly gathers as it pops down up hip high
38th over: South Africa 169-4 ( du Preez 8; Kapp 4) I think that, through a glass darkly, Lizelle Lee is chewing her fingernails. Du Preez finds the boundary, pulling Cross for a muscled four.
Morning @tjaldred. I'm hoping that was a vital wicket for Charlie Dean and England, who were a good 25-30 runs short earlier. It was feeling like the game was getting away from us so vital we stem runs or take more wickets or it may be over before Brunt & Ecclestone are back.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) March 14, 2022
Yes, those two quick wickets have really changed the feel of the game.
37th over: South Africa 163-4 ( du Preez 3; Kapp 3) One of Dean’s skills is the ability to rattle through her overs so quickly. Five from the over, including a wide.
36th over: South Africa 158-4 ( du Preez 2; Kapp 0) I was wondering if Cross could get those two dropped catches out of her head. Answer: yes! Wolvaaardt has to go after a stylish knock, and the ball after driving Cross for four. This game is getting tasty.
WICKET! Wolvaardt c Sciver b Cross 77 (South Africa 158-4 need 78 from 85 balls)
Disaster for South Africa and triumph for England as Wolvaardt falls going for the boundary, pulls, and a swooping, whooping, Sciver swallows the ball at midwicket!
Updated
35th over: South Africa 152-3 ( Wolvaardt 72; du Preez 1) Dean makes the crucial breakthrough just as it was all starting to look like a cakewalk for South Africa.
WICKET! Luus st Jones b Dean 36 (South Africa 147-3)
A stumping! Fine glove work from Jones to atone for her earlier error as Luus is drawn forward by a lovely ball from Dean and the TV replay shows Luus’ boot a whisper from the ground when the bails are removed.
34th over: South Africa 147-2 ( Wolvaardt 69; Luus 36) And a second catch goes down off Knight’s bowling, albeit a very tricky one as Cross leaps at mid-off as Wolvaardt goes high. The ball bounces off her outstreched hand like someone trying to catch a flying freshly boiled egg. Some excellent, selfless fielding by a diving Brunt on the boundary to save two.
33rd over: South Africa 139-2 ( Wolvaardt 62; Luus 35) It’s black now at Mount Maunganui, and the floodlights have taken over completely. Dean rattles through an over, but seven come from it.
32nd over: South Africa 132-2 ( Wolvaardt 56; Luus 33) England’s butterfingers performance continues as this time Amy Jones misses an easy stumping off a beauty from Heather Knight: Wolvaardt dances down the pitch to let fly, misses and was well out of the crease but Jones can’t gather. To makes matters worse, Wolvaardt kisses Knight back over head for four. Drinks.
Updated
Fifty for Laura Woolvaardt!
31st over: South Africa 125-2 ( Wolvaardt 50; Luus 32) Wolvaardt’s fifty comes up with a tasty cover drive and England lose a review.
NOT OUT!
England lose their review
REVIEW! Woolvaardt lbw Dean 50
The ultra-edge does not want to play - is ultra edge out there? Yes it is and I think that’s bat on ball....?
30th over: South Africa 119-2 ( Wolvaardt 48; Luus 29) Knight brings herself on, she can’t stem the scoring, but nor can South Africa get on top of her.
29th over: South Africa 115-2 ( Wolvaardt 46; Luus 27) Dean’s first ball is pinged over mid-off by Luus, then a thimbleful of singles.
28th over: South Africa 108-2 ( Wolvaardt 45; Luus 22) Ecclestone is not able to stop South Africa from gathering singles, though the boundary remains elusive. Outside my window, the morning is starting to stretch into life.
And an email arrives - hello Kevin Tong!
“Greetings from Singapore! It’s the middle of the afternoon and I am very much awake, and loving the OBO!
In fact, New Zealand’s time zone is far better than the West Indies for me, but I am just grateful for the abundance of cricket. Thanks for bringing us through in the middle of the night where you are!! Much appreciated :)“
Thank you! Glad to know are people out there in the ether.
27th over: South Africa 106-2 ( Wolvaardt 44; Luus 20) Time for Charlie Dean, on her World Cup debut. They pick off three singles before there is a pause as Luus is holding her wrist awkwardly. The physio comes on and - eek, look away now - manipulates it. A fourth single completes the over and, behind the city, the sort of glorious sunset that decorates religious paintings is blazing away.
Updated
26th over: South Africa 102-2 ( Wolvaardt 42; Luus 18) Watchful, wary, Luus and Wolvaardt tick away at Ecclestone as Marizanne Kapp, five wickets in her pocket, watches bare-footed from the South African dugout.
Updated
25th over: South Africa 100-2 ( Wolvaardt 41; Luus 17) The South African hundred is up, the second fifty considerable faster than the first (62-87, I think, though it flashed very quickly from the screen). Luus edges Sciver down to the rope.
24th over: South Africa 94-2 ( Wolvaardt 40; Luus 12) Big Ecclestone appeal against Wolvaardt, but Ecclestone doesn’t seem convinced and neither is Knight - so they don’t review. Correctly, as it turns out
23rd over: South Africa 92-2 ( Wolvaardt 39; Luus 11) Sciver again and a comedy bit of fielding as a Luus drive manages to evade two players who appear to be diving through jelly. Lovely four though.
Updated
22nd over: South Africa 82-2 ( Wolvaardt 38; Luus 6)Just as the television flashes up England’s 62 per cent win predictor rate; Luus leans into a drive and Ecclestone is sent spinning through the covers for four.
21st over: South Africa 81-2 ( Wolvaardt 37; Luus 2) Three wides and a frisky two off Sciver.
20th over: South Africa 76-2 ( Wolvaardt 37; Luus 0) Just a single off Ecclestone as the run-rate starts to hike.
19th over: South Africa 75-2 ( Wolvaardt 35; Luus 0) It’s the the ever energetic Nat Sciver who makes the breakthrough after conceding four leg byes off the second ball. Odd shot from Brits, who had just started to look at ease.
Updated
WICKET! Brits c Cross b Sciver 23 (South Africa 74-2)
A CATCH STICKS! Brits tries to hoop Sciver for four but Cross is at deep fine leg and the Copydex works at last.
18th over: South Africa 69-1 ( Wolvaardt 34; Brits 23) The witching hour: England know it, South African know, it as Knight turns to Ecclestone, who has her long hair in a very neat Dutch braid climbing half the way down her back. South Africa are watchful, Brits beaten by a beauty before bringing up the fifty partnership with a single.
17th over: South Africa 66-1 ( Wolvaardt 33; Brits 22) Brits is starting to pull up the armchair and warm her socks by the fire. She takes six off Brunt’s over, including a low-armed pull-jab for four.
Updated
16th over: South Africa 60-1 ( Wolvaardt 31; Brits 15) The sun is setting now, the sky is no longer periwinkle blue. It looks chilly but on the grassy banks the spectators are still in T-shirts. Six from Cross’s over, including a pulled four by Wolvaardt. They take DRINKS, with South Africa needing another 176 from 34 overs.
15th over: South Africa 54-1 ( Wolvaardt 27; Brits 15) I’m thinking: nearly Ecclestone time? Three from Brunt’s fifth over, and an lbw appeal which Knight declines to overturn. Brunt wrinkles her nose.
Raf is not impressed with the win predictor:
England 66% according to the win predictor. That seems crazy given that SA have 9 wickets in hand and are really not chasing a high total. #CWC22
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) March 14, 2022
14th over: South Africa 51-1 ( Wolvaardt 25; Brits 15) An ugly looking bottom-handed swipe by Britts off Cross - but they all count. A stress-relieving four..
By comparison, at this stage, England were 51-3.
13th over: South Africa 46-1 ( Wolvaardt 24; Brits 11) Ah, there is one more for Shrubsole. Brits releases some of her energy with a four down to long on, but then absorbs four more energy-sapping dots.
Correspondence!
@tjaldred Thanks heaps for covering the #CWC22. Following the obo from rainy Portland, where Hussen's comment 'England couldn't catch a cold at the moment'
— SyClopp (@psyclop5) March 14, 2022
after Kate Cross' drops Wolvaardt on her own bowling warmed the cockles no extent!
I liked that too!
12th over: South Africa 41-1 ( Wolvaardt 23; Brits 7) Five dots in a row from Cross, Nasser thinks he can sense South Africa getting itchy feet. Sure enough, Brits has a fizzy swing to the last ball but can only find midwicket. A maiden. Super bowling.
11th over: South Africa 41-1 ( Wolvaardt 23; Brits 7) Possibly an over too many for Shrubsole, as Brits pulls a tasty short one for four and then Shrubsole leaks a wide. If anyone is awake out there, do let me know!
10th over: South Africa 35-1 ( Wolvaardt 21; Brits 1) Oh dear, oh dear, dear. Another catch goes down. It wasn’t easy, but it was gettable, as Wolvaardt hits Cross straight back. Cross does the hard bit, leaping in the air, but can’t hold onto the catch with her right hand and, as if it slow motion, it falls to the ground.
9th over: South Africa 32-1 ( Wolvaardt 21; Brits 1) Ignore what I said about Shrubsole, she reappears from the other end immediately with another niggardly over, she now has four overs one for six.
8th over: South Africa 31-1 ( Wolvaardt 21; Brits 0) Enough of Shrubsole for now, wise of Knight to keep her in her pocket for later. Kate Cross takes over - oof - and has Wolvaardt in trouble straight away, bottom edging one that zig zags behind to Amy Jones, who doesn’t quite pick it up cleanly. Possibly distracted, Wolvaardt swings at an outswinger and completely misses. She finally hits the sweet spot with the last ball, driving uppishly past two fielders for four.
On the grassy banks behind, some young girls lounge, picking at the grass and chew the cud. A perfect day.
Updated
7th over: South Africa 27-1 ( Wolvaardt 17; Brits 0) Wolvaardt eyes up a short one from Brunt and pulls it with panache to the boundary. A slower ball is driven, rather beautifully actually for another, Brunt looks seriously unimpressed.
6th over: South Africa 18-1 ( Wolvaardt 8; Brits 0) Superb by Shrubsole who has got the conker on a string this morning. Incidentally, England’s fielders are struggling slightly with the glare from the setting sun. it could have been what discombobulated Beaumont when she put down Wolvaardt in the second over.
WICKET! Lee b Shrubsole 9 (South Africa 18-1)
A frustrated Lee has a wild swing at Shrubsole, but it’s a booming inswinger and, good night Mary, she loses her off stump!
5th over: South Africa 16-0 (Lee 7; Wolvaardt 8) Another sparse over from Brunt, as Wolvaardt picks a couple off her first ball but can’t pick any more. Good mean initial spells here by England’s opening pair.
4th over: South Africa 14-0 (Lee 7; Wolvaardt 6) A neat over of inswingers from Shrubsole.
And news from Hamilton, where Bangladesh have beaten Pakistan by nine runs, leaving England and Pakistan the only winless teams. A huge win for Bangladesh in their first World Cup competition.
3rd over: South Africa 13-0 (Lee 7; Wolvaardt 5) It’s all go this morning, a bit much when you’ve just rolled out of bed. First Lee - who incidentally averages 63.7 against England - riffs Brunt to the legside boundary, then South Africa go for a, er, glamorous, single which would have been out had Nat Sciver been able to hit the stumps from midwicket.
2nd over: South Africa 7-0 (Lee 2; Wolvaardt 4) Ye gods, there goes catch number one this morning, as Wolvaardt drives a touch waspishly to point where the ball goes straight into Beaumont’s breadbasket and out again. She looks dismayed, as does Shrubsole, who rests her head in her hand.
1st over: South Africa 5-0 (Lee 1; Wolvaardt 4) It’s Katherine Brunt with the new ball - England will be hoping for a much improved performance in the field to the last banana-skin effort against West Indies where they missed six - SIX - chances in the field. And as I write that, Wolvaardt edges Lee just past the diving hands of Knight at slip, who went with two hands initially and couldn’t quite stretch to snatch the ball, which whizzes down to the boundary.
Updated
Thanks Jim! And good morning from a black Manchester where a lone blackbird (?) was trilling in the garden when I let the dawg out. England are already out on the field in their big power huddle in this must-win game at gorgeous Mount Maunganui where the sky is pure bliss.
Updated
As the England players go through their warm ups in a gloriously bright looking New Zealand and the sky beyond the window remains black as treacle here at my brother’s house in Leeds I think the time has come to hand you over to the wonderful Tanya Aldred to take you through the second half of this game. Thankyou and goodnight/morning!
Just to say... there is a thriller going on between Pakistan and Bangladesh!
What a game this is...
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) March 14, 2022
Pakistan need 40 runs to win from 5 overs against Bangladesh!
Sidra Amin has just scored #TeamPakistan's first century at a Women's World Cup!
📲 Keep up to date with the score on the @BBCSport website and app #BBCCricket #PAKvBAN
Hats off to Marizanne Kapp who picked up 5-45 off her ten overs. She had success by taking pace off the ball, I wonder if England will have picked up on this and aim to bowl their cutters and slower balls, it could be the way to go on this used surface.
Well played too to Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones who did a rescue job after a dodgy start. England were in strife but those two combined very well to re-build and then rack up some runs in the middle overs. Nasser Hussain on comms thinks 235 is around par, and who are we to argue? My shillings are on Kate Cross to have a ‘big day out’ as the those in the England camp like to say.
Half-centuries for @Tammy_Beaumont and Amy Jones see us set South Africa 236 to win.
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 14, 2022
Scorecard: https://t.co/FxhU3HPc5f#CWC22 pic.twitter.com/Lnf7Yk4mM7
50th over: England 235-9 (Ecclestone 15 Shrubsole 2)
England hustle to snatch 8 runs off Kapp and South Africa’s final over.
South Africa will need 236 runs to win. England need to find a way to stop them or else be staring down the barrel of an early World Cup exit. Exciting!
Wicket! Dean b Khaka 6 (England 227-9)
Dean paddles Khaka away effectively to pick up a boundary but she is then cleaned up by a dipping yorker. England manage 8 runs off the over. We’ve got one left.
49th over: England 227-8 (Ecclestone 9 Shrubsole 0)
48th over: England 219-8 (Ecclestone 7 Dean 1 ) Charlie Dean, fresh into the side, is the new batter. She’s off the mark with a pull into the deep. Two overs to go.
Wicket! Cross ct Tryon b Kapp 6 (England 216-8)
Kapp has five! A fine display from the quick bowler. Again she foxes an England batter by taking pace off the ball, Cross skying a slower delivery down to third man where the catch is comfortably swallowed.
47th over: England 216-7 (Cross 6 Ecclestone 5) Kate Cross swings one away just out of reach of the boundary rider to pick up a handy four. England notch up a very useful 9 runs off Khaka’s penultimate over. Three more to go. Can England threaten 250?
46th over: England 206-7 (Cross 0 Ecclestone 1) Four overs left - what can England get to here? The two new batters will have a roll with ball in hand but their side need them here with the bat, every little helps.
Wicket! Dunkley ct Chetty b Kapp 26 (England 204-7)
Another wicket in the over! Dunkley has to depart this time. England stuttering here at the last as they did at the start of the innings.
Wicket! Brunt ct Sekhukhune (sub) b Kapp 17 (England 201-6)
Brunt is suckered by a slower ball from Kapp which she spoons into the air and is caught easily.
45th over: England 201-5 (Dunkley 25 Brunt 17) 200 up for England, at one stage in the first hour of this match a score like this looked to be a long way away. Still England will want as many as possible on the board for their bowlers.
44th over: England 195-5 (Dunkley 23 Brunt 14) Getting down to the business end of the innings and England are eking towards 200. Five more runs off Klaas. A few lusty blows in the final five overs could see them post a challenging total.
43rd over: England 190-5 (Dunkley 21 Brunt 11) Khaka returns from over the wicket and England pick up five runs. They have five wickets in the hutch and might start to have a bit more of a swing here.
42nd over: England 185-5 ( Dunkley 19 Brunt 8)Six runs off Tryon. Brunt and Dunkley hustling, rotating the strike well.
41st over: England 179-5 ( Dunkley 15 Brunt 6) Better. Happier. More Productive... from England as they manage to get eight off Luus. Brunt with a well timed heave off a full ball and Dunkley stylishly accumulating.
Updated
40th over: England 171-5 ( Dunkley 12 Brunt 1) Forgive the brevity. I briefly had to help administer a does of Calpol to a sickly 11 month old. Poor mite. Just three off Tryon as the squeeze is applied. Ten overs to go.
39th over: England 168-5 ( Dunkley 10 Brunt 0) Just a solitary single to Dunkley off Luus as South Africa build pressure.
38th over: England 167-5 ( Dunkley 9 Brunt 0) Katherine Brunt is the new batter. This is a good passage of play for the Proteas. 12 overs to go.
Wicket! Jones run out Kapp 53 (England 167-5)
Disaster for England. Hesitation and Jones is left scrabbling for her ground. Big wicket. Both set batters have now perished.
37th over: England 163-4 (Jones 52 Dunkley 7) Luus continues and England rotate the strike, picking up four runs.
Yes Jonesy 🙌
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 14, 2022
Scorecard: https://t.co/ucoW6aRwlX#CWC22 pic.twitter.com/5aIp3pV21z
36th over: England 159-4 (Jones 50 Dunkley 6) Fifty for Amy Jones! Well played! A fluent knock from England’s keeper. Five runs off Tryon.
35th over: England 154-4 (Jones 48 Dunkley 3 ) Sophia Dunkley is the new willow wielder and she is into her work right away. A sweep and a drive off Luus’ assortment of spin.
Wicket! Beaumont lbw b Klaas 62 (England 149-4)
Beaumont on the charge and she gets a meaty edge off Klaas that flies away just out of reach 0f the sprawling keeper. Welcome boundary for England. Good intent from Beaumont too. But but BUT. That is Out! Klaas pins Beaumont on the crease with one that just tails back in! It ain’t going over and looks pretty plumb on first look! Beaumont thinks so too, after a brief consultation and a resigned glove punch with Jones she departs without going for a review. Well batted. South Africa needed that, the game was starting to drift away from them there after a strong start.
34th over: England 149-4 ( Jones 46)
33rd over: England 145-3 (Beaumont 58 Jones 46) The hundred partnership does come up! Luus is back on after her poor couple of overs earlier. Despite an early wide It looks to be coming out a bit better for the South African skipper, so far. Four runs from it.
32nd over: England 141-3 (Beaumont 56 Jones 45) Runs coming more freely now for England! Amy Jones goes to her highest World Cup score with another confident pull shot off Kapp. She then picks up a single to cover. Kapp sends down a leg side wide and then in frustration bangs one down short which Beaumont rocks back and chops away for a boundary through point. Shot! A single off the final ball means it is 11 from the over and a well earnt drink for these two set batters. They’ve taken their side from 42-3 to 141-3. On the brink of a hundred partnership. I’m going to have a graveyard shift brew, back in two shakes of a teabag.
31st over: England 130-3 (Beaumont 51 Jones 40) Beaumont glides a single to point to notch up her fifty! Well batted indeed - she’s been there from the start and has been both watchful and aggressive when the situation has called for it. Four singles off Khaka.
30th over: England 126-3 (Beaumont 49 Jones 38) Heather Knight is chomping away nonchalantly on some marmite (or vegemite?) on toast. She looks far more relaxed now than she did an hour or so ago. The destructor in that first hour, Marizanne Kapp, returns to the attack and she tightens things up immediately. Just three off her over.
29th over: England 123-3 (Beaumont 47 Jones 37) Another fruitful over for England. Khaka back on with the ball - Beaumont and Jones scamper two off her first ball. Beaumont gets back on strike and bunts the next ball down the ball for four! Good stuff from these two who seem to have a good understanding together. 11 off that one.
28th over: England 112-3 (Beaumont 36 Jones 37) South Africa get away with a scruffy over. Two wides and a leg by off Klaas.
27th over: England 109-3 (Beaumont 36 Jones 37) Fantastic over for England and Amy Jones! The keeper-bat drives powerfully down the ground to pick up four and then unfurls a pull to the square leg fence for four more! England would love for her to come to the party today. Ten from Tryon’s over.
26th over: England 99-3 (Beaumont 36 Jones 27) Klaas is back on to replace the yippy looking Luus. She is full and straight and England can only manage a couple of singles off it.
25th over: England 97-3 (Beaumont 35 Jones 26) Tryon tightens things up at the other end. A tidy maiden, is there another kind? We’re halfway through the overs. England have fought back well in the last ten, the fifty partnership is up for this pair.
24th over: England 97-3 (Beaumont 35 Jones 26) Luus is struggling here, a double bouncer results in a free hit. She then serves up a wide and tightens up completely. I don’t think she’ll give herself another, the ball is just not coming out right form the hand. 7 runs off it all told, felt like it was a lot more.
23rd over: England 90-3 (Beaumont 34 Jones 22) Tryon keeps it tight. Just three singles off her latest. These two batters ticking over.
22nd over: England 87-3 (Beaumont 33 Jones 20) Proteas skipper Luus brings herself on so we have spin from both ends. She serves up a series of full tosses but England cloth every single one and so miss out on doling out some punishment on some loose bowling from Luus (did I mention it was early?) Just five runs from a scruffy first over.
21st over: England 82-3 (Beaumont 31 Jones 17) Tryon bowls a tighter over, just a single each to the batters.
England’s @natsciver has already invented one shot in a World Cup match with the NatMeg.
— Adam Mountford (@tmsproducer) March 14, 2022
She seems to have invented another.
Incredibly unlucky dismissal for England’s all-rounder. #bbccricket #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/FnHLat6Ntk
Here’s the fatal moment of that Sciver dismissal.
20th over: England 80-3 (Beaumont 30 Jones 16) Another good over for England, 8 runs coming off the returning Ismail. Amy Jones strokes a beautiful drive down the ground and follows it up with a paddle pull that runs away fine for another boundary. That’s 26 runs in the last four overs to this pair without really taking any risks. South Africa just taking their eye off the ball in the last few.
19th over: England 71-3 (Beaumont 29 Jones 8) Too short and wide from Tryon and England pick up nine from her over. Their best yield yet. Five singles and a well timed four to Beaumont.
18th over: England 62-3 (Beaumont 22 Jones 6) Klaas wheels one past the edge of Beaumont’s bat, nervy moments for England. Next ball is a gift though and Beaumont does bot miss out on a half volley on leg stump, flicking it away for a welcome boundary. She also picks up a single from the last.
17th over: England 57-3 (Beaumont 17 Jones 6) Chloe Tryon is on to bowl some left arm spin and it’s a tidy start from the twirler. Just three from it.
16th over: England 54-3 (Beaumont 15 Jones 5) Klaas shows her class (sorry but it is early) and sends down a maiden with the first one back after drinks. England are watchful, they can still salvage this innings if these two can stick in here. Big If.
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15th over: England 54-3 (Beaumont 15 Jones 15) Three singles off Khaka and that is drinks. 15 overs gone and very much South Africa in the ascendancy. Tammy Beaumont is still there for England.
Beaumont and Jones have to bat to 30 at least. Cmon girls #ENGvSA #CWC22
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) March 14, 2022
14th over: England 51-3 (Beaumont 14 Jones 3) Beaumont picks off a leg side ball from Klaas for a welcome boundary. The umpire signals leg byes but it looked like she got a bit of bat on that. Nay bother, four to the score. Tammy B also picks up a single but has to dive for her ground as the fielder swoops and knocks down the stumps with the throw! England do not need a run out right now!
13th over: England 45-3 (Beaumont 13 Jones 2) A single each to Jones and Beaumont off Khaka.
12th over: England 43-3 (Beaumont 12 Jones 1) Amy Jones is the new bat and she clamps down on a full one to get off the mark. England need a partnership.
Is that the most unlucky dismissal ever? 🙈🙈 #CWC22
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) March 14, 2022
Wicket! Sciver ct Lee b Klaas 16 (England 42-3)
That is so unfortunate. A bit of a freak dismissal for Sciver and she can barely drag herself from the field... Klaas comes into the attack and with her third ball she drops short, Sciver goes to pull and the ball hits her on the hip, as she swivels around the back of the bat glaces the ball straight to Lee at slip. What a way to go. England in all sorts here.
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11th over: England 40-2 (Beaumont 12 Sciver 14) Khaka continues, Beaumont picks up a single off the first ball to get down the non-strikers end where she is almost run out! That would have been a sickener! Sciver rasps a drive back straight and Khaka got a slight touch with her outstretched finger in her follow through, the ball crashing into the stumps. Fortunately Beaumont was just quick enough to turn and get her bat down in time. And I mean just. Sciver picks up a single too.
10th over: England 38-2 (Beaumont 11 Sciver 13) Beaumont picks up a single and then Sciver drives Kapp for four! A glorious cover drive, on the up. Sciver is counter-punching here and it is a good move. Kapp, her slingy action and head tilt reminiscent of Shaun Tait (IMHO), then sends down four dots in response. Ten overs done. South Africa still on top.
9th over: England 33-2 (Beaumont 10 Sciver 9) Ayabonga Khaka is into the attack and her very first ball is short, wide and cut away imperiously by Sciver for four! That’s a nerve settler. Khaka serves up a wide too and then drops short with her last ball and Sciver puts her away for four more through the leg side this time, a swivel pull that whistles away across the carpet-like outfield.
8th over: England 24-2 (Beaumont 10 Sciver 1) Beaumont is tentative to Kapp and she nearly chops on trying to leave too! Eeeesht. The next ball she comes wandering down the pitch, in an effort to be decisive and the ball passes just past the edge! Was there a tickle on that? Kapp looks uncertain but is coerced a little into going for a review... NOT OUT - flatline as the ball passed Beaumont’s blade. A maiden for Kapp and pressure very much on the team in pale blue.
7th over: England 24-2 (Beaumont 10 Sciver 1) Nat Sciver arrives at the crease and England need her to stand up, again, here. Beaumont picks up three with a flick out through deep square and Sciver gets away immediately with a single to mid on. Beaumont picks up another single to make it 5 runs from the over.
Gah!
WICKET!
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) March 14, 2022
Marizanne Kapp gets a key wicket!
Heather Knight chops onto her stumps and the England captain is out for 9.
England 19-2.
📻 Listen live on @BBCSounds and @5liveSport extra
📲 Updates and video clips on the @BBCSport website#BBCCricket #CWC22 #SAvENG
WICKET! Knight b Kapp 9 (England 19-2)
6th over: England 19-2 (Beaumont 6 Sciver 0) Nooooo (for England)! Knight drags one onto her stumps and Kapp has another! She was looking to leave but a late bit of indecision cost her and that tiny mis-judgement has cost her dear. South Africa have two wickets inside the powerplay. Deep breaths for England’s batting line up.
5th over: England 17-1 (Beaumont 6 Knight 7) Dot dot dot dot dot and... dot. Maiden from Ismail. Beaumont studious in defence.
9 out of 11 games won by the side batting first, but South Africa choose to bowl.
— Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) March 14, 2022
Bold move.#bbccricket
4th over: England 17-1 (Beaumont 6 Knight 7) England’s skipper looks in fine fettle as she opens the face and glides a full ball by Kapp away for four through point! She also picks up a couple through square to make it six runs from the over. Knight averages an incredible 99 against South Africa. Just putting that out there...
3rd over: England 11-1 (Beaumont 6 Knight 1 ) Beaumont slaps away a free-hit (because of a front-foot no ball by Ismail) for four over mid-wicket! Knight gets off the mark by scampering a single. England take 7 from the over.
Wicket! Wyatt ct Wolvaardt b Kapp 3 (England 4-1)
2nd over: England 4-1 (Beaumont 1 Knight 0) Kapp it is from the other end and she’s on the button straight away. Wyatt has been promoted to the top of the order as Lauren Winfield-Hill has not scored a fifty since 2016. She leans on a full ball through the covers to pick up two but is CAUGHT OUT NEXT BALL! Slicing a pumped up Kapp to backward point where Wolvaardt clings on after a bit of a juggle. Wyatt has to go and Heather Knight is the new batter. Not a good start for England. South Africa are ecstatic.
1st over: England 2-0 (Beaumont 1 Wyatt 1) Nasser Hussain says the pitch has lost its green tinge from the other day and looks a “belter”. A tight start from Ismail, probing away outside off. A single each to England’s new opening partnership.
The South African players are in a huddle of green at the side of the pitch, the sun blazes down in Mount Maunganui. Tammy Beaumont and England’s new opener Danni Wyatt stroll out onto the wicket... the players take the knee. Ismail has the ball in hand - let’s play!
South Africa are unchanged; England bring in Charlie Dean for Lauren Winfield-Hill, with Danni Wyatt to open the batting.
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 14, 2022
Surprised by #TeamSouthAfrica's decision to bowl? https://t.co/HDMoihQW3N #SAvENG #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/1ehvsH5GIG
One change to the XI.
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 14, 2022
South Africa win the toss and elect to bowl.#CWC22
South Africa win the toss and choose to bowl first
England have made one change, Charlie Dean comes into the side and Lauren Winfield-Hill misses out.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the third match of England’s spluttering World Cup campaign. After two defeats to Australia and West Indies, Heather Knight’s team will be on the brink of an embarrassing early exit if they do not prosper over Sune Luus’ South Africa.
A competitive showing in a last over loss to Australia in their first game was somewhat overshadowed by a sloppy performance in their second against the Windies in which they dropped five catches and gave away 23 freebie runs in wides, eventually going down by just seven runs. It felt like more.
England will need to be a lot sharper against the Proteas, who are currently ranked the second best side in the world and have already chalked up two wins from two against Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Kate Cross was on the media rounds in the build up to the game and struck a hopeful tone:
“We’re losing by small margins, but a lot of it is our own doing… the amount of wides we’ve been bowling has cost us and the fielding has not been the standard we set for ourselves, so that is something we have to look at and hopefully improve on.”
The seamer was bullish too, “If we can get that win on the board, there is still a great chance we can qualify and go on to win the World Cup. We’ve not written that off yet.”
Knight’s side currently have their paws on the World Cup trophy and they won’t want to relinquish it without putting up a fight. They’ll need to conjure up some of the magic that they harnessed so memorably during that frenzied afternoon at Lord’s almost five years ago. Heck, a re-watch of that epic game against India should be enough to get the juices flowing before we get going here in a little while.
Today’s game is a day/nighter and gets underway in Mount Maunganui at 2pm which is a bleary eyed ONE AM here in blighty. I’ll be back shortly with news of the toss and the teams - can’t promise I won’t be in my dressing gown and slippers but let’s keep that between us? Thanks.
As ever, do get in touch on the email or that other thing if you are out there and tuning in, this OBO needs YOU!
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