South Africa Women ODI series win by 6 wickets.
(The Post News)- South Africa defeated England by six wickets in the first One-Day International at Kimberley, taking a 1-0 series lead. England, opting to bat first, posted a disappointing 186 in 38.4 overs, with South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp leading the way with a stellar 3-16. Despite a brief fightback from Charlie Dean (47*), the English batting crumbled under pressure, with Kapp’s relentless new-ball spell tearing through their top order.
The Proteas women chased down the target of 187 with ease, reaching it in 38.2 overs. Captain Laura Wolvaardt played a key role in the chase, finishing unbeaten on 59 with 114 balls. Despite a couple of early drops, Wolvaardt stood firm and steered her team to victory. Nadine de Klerk’s explosive 48* off just 28 balls sealed the deal, with the Proteas crossing the line with 11.4 overs to spare.
The match highlighted several issues for England. Their top order was undone by Kapp’s precision, and despite a brief resistance from Dean and Sophie Ecclestone, they never truly recovered. South Africa’s bowlers, aided by the variable bounce of the pitch, kept the pressure on throughout, while England’s bowlers failed to exploit the conditions in the same way.
Fielding mistakes didn’t help England’s cause either. Both Wolvaardt and De Klerk were offered lifelines, which the Proteas capitalized on. England’s lack of creativity in the middle overs also meant they could never fully threaten South Africa’s chase. South Africa’s performance was a reminder of their all-round strength, with Wolvaardt and Kapp proving pivotal.
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