Day two summary
Lauren Bell took four wickets as England fought back on day two of their one-off Test match against South Africa and extended their lead to 145 runs in Bloemfontein.
Despite their solid start, a batting collapse saw the Proteas dismissed for 281 in response to the visitors’ opening-day 395 for nine declared. Captain Laura Wolvaardt put on a 92-run partnership with Annerie Dercksen, making 65 before being dismissed by Sophie Ecclestone.
Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp proved a difficult duo to break as the pair added 99 in the afternoon, but debutant Ryana MacDonald-Gay found the breakthrough by bowling Kapp for her first Test wicket, then dismissed Nadine de Klerk for a duck after lightning caused a break in play.
Bell completed South Africa’s demise with three quick wickets, including two in two balls. The hosts claimed a valuable wicket by dismissing Maia Bouchier for a duck, but Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight steered England to 31 for one at stumps. PA Media
Lauren Bell, who took four wickets, has had a chat with TMS. “It’s been a great day, we’d have taken that at the start, they had patches of good partnerships, we’re really happy. My job is to swing it and take new-ball wickets and Filer’s is to bowl fast. The pitch is giving us movement and the ball is wobbling.
England will be heading Down Under in January for the Women’s Ashes. “We’re playing in a country with similar conditions to Australia, so it’s really important,” Bell adds. “We’ve said at the start of the game how amazing a result is in Test cricket. Things can change very quickly but we’ll take it an hour at a time.”
