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Lauren Bell took four wickets as England they hit back on the second day of their one-off Test match against South Africa and extended their lead to 145 runs.
Despite their solid start, a batting collapse in the evening session saw the Proteas dismissed for 281 in reply to the visitors’ declared 395 for nine.
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 a dominant afternoon session, but debutant Ryana MacDonald-Gay found the breakthrough and took her first Test scalp bowling Kapp.
The seamer soon struck again after a lightning delay to dismiss Nadine de Klerk and Bell orchestrated South Africa’s downfall with three quick wickets, including two in two balls.
The hosts claimed a valuable wicket by dismissing Sunday centurion Maia Bouchier for a duck but Tammy Beaumont and the skipper Heather Knight steered England to 31 for one at the close of play.
Bell found the perfect start for England in the second half when Anneke Bosch fed the ball behind Amy Jones.
Wolvaardt led South Africa’s reply with patient batting to bring up her half-century in 99 balls and her partnership with Dercksen bore fruit until England struck again at lunchtime.
Lauren Filer’s shorter delivery to Dercksen was chipped to the slip cordon and Knight lifted the ball into the air for Ecclestone to make a superb one-handed catch.
Ecclestone took her first wicket by dismissing Wolvaardt lbw for 65, but England were left frustrated by the fourth-wicket partnership of Luus and Kapp, who settled into their innings during the afternoon session to go on for 87 before tea.
After the break, Kapp raised her 50 and was soon followed by Luus.
MacDonald-Gay brought England back into the game, claiming their first Test wicket of the match by uprooting Kapp’s off-stump and – after a brief lightning break in play – the seamer soon had another to dismiss new batsman De Klerk, who bounced to Jones.
A stubborn Luus innings was eventually brought to an end by Filer as the shot fell short to Jones and fell for 56 off 148 deliveries, with Chloe Tryon next up after hitting Bell’s delivery to Beaumont at mid-on.
Bell had further success as she clipped the top of Sinal Jafta and sent nonkululeko Mlabe’s middle stump in the next ball, but Ayanda Hlubi successfully saved the hat-trick ball.
The protean collapse is complete by Nat Sciver-Bruntwho claimed the last wicket of Hlubi as the hosts slumped to 281 all out.
South Africa earned a valuable scalp six overs into England’s second innings when Bouchier was dismissed for a duck after Hlubi delivered Jafta.
Knight and Beaumont will resume day three on the 19th and 8th respectively.