England will enter the three-day Bloemfontein Test in commanding position after being bowled out for 281 in South Africa and extending their lead to 145 at stumps on Monday.
South Africa finished by bowling seven maidens and removing them the first innings of century Maia Bouchier Ayanda Hlubi to duck with the edge of the trunk. But Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight safely repelled further attacks, consolidating a tough innings from England’s bowlers earlier in the day.
South Africa had patiently bowled two of the three sessions: a partnership of 92 from 173 balls between Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen was followed by a record 99-run fourth-wicket stand between Marizanne Kapp and Sune Luus, which took them safely through. tea
But in the evening, a lightning-fast 45-minute break led to a batting collapse that flashed almost as suddenly as the first lightning strike: South Africa’s last seven wickets fell for 44 runs.
“We were disappointed with how we ended our innings,” Kapp said. “We decided really well, but he, Sune [Luus] or Wolfie [Wolvaardt] He had the urge to kick and a hundred. “
England’s bowlers played to their complementary strengths: Laurence Filer unleashed two of the most hostile spells of the new ball ever in women’s Test cricket, knocking twice on South Africa’s helmet before Lauren Bell wrapped up a swinging tail. 49 quatrains
Also memorable is the 20-year-old’s Test debut for Ryan MacDonald-Gay, who was called up just three weeks ago and is playing in place of the injured Kate Cross. The jointed trunk, joined by the movement of the seam, was folded on both sides of the bolt. First came a huge test hair girl, chipping the ball into Kapp’s off-stump; then Nadine de Klerk tried to pick it up.
Kapp, who played three seasons as Macdonald-Gay’s teammate at the Invincible Oval at Centenary, described her as “a very talented young cricketer”. He added: “I felt like she was scoring the best balls. If you are so close, you will always have a movement.
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Sophia Ecclestone was once again stingy, sending nine maidens from her 25 overs, and picking up a key wicket in front of Laws Wolvaardt, however, in a manner that left the absence of the DRS rushing hosts. Wolvaardt shook his head firmly when he called Ecclestone, he was convinced he had it inside the curb, but he moved his finger and had to go.
Kapp said: “We were disappointed on the left side of it, but it goes both ways. That’s cricket. It is never easy to make these choices. It is a hard job for them to correct each day.
Dercksen also used to highlight the wicket, Ecclestone highlights the reel: Afer Australis pushed the stone from Filero towards the second slide, and when the soldier could not stick, Ecclestone jumped behind him. to catch a clear crack.