full length, on the toes, flicked to the on-side, and England take first blood in this series!
SA Women vs ENG Women, 1st T20I at East London,SA vs ENG [W], Nov 24 2024 - Match Result
ENG Women won by 4 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)
5.22pm So, that's a wrap from Buffalo Park. England are up and running in their multi-format series. From Miller, Valkerie, Firdose, Chetan and the team, see you next time!
Time for the presentations:
The Player of the Match is Nat Sciver-Brunt: "The openers had got us off to a good start, up with the rate, it got slower and lower but partnership with Amy broke the back of the chase. Whoever comes out in that situation, the idea is to get to know everyone. Hitting to the leg-side, not allowing [Wolvaardt] to hit to the off-side was the plan.
Laura Wolvaardt: "Came out with good intent, 150 would have been a good total. Good momentum going into the second innings but couldn't defend it. Showing intent early on in the powerplay. In the World Cup we didn't use our depth. Brings a bit more risk, but nice that we bat deep. We were very good for a lot of that bowling innings, frustrating... tough to lose. A lot of positives, but let it slip in one or two pressure moments."
Heather Knight: "I probably should have batted, it did get worse. We wrestled momentum at the back end of the powerplay with wickets, and Charlie and Soph were excellent. A little scrappy, pleased to get the win, but room for growth. Our spinners all bring different things, on and off the field. Soph was on the money, so hard to play when she bowls like that. A lot of different options, they are a fundamental part of our gameplan. The smartness of Nat's innings, and Amy's momentum-shift, took the game back in our favour. Nat is awesome, calm head under pressure. Nice to start with a win, now to try to win the series as we go back to Joburg."
Hypocaust: "This is the most runs England women have scored after the fall of the 4th wicket to win a T20I run chase (78). Their previous record was 64, in going from 54/4 to chase a target of 118 against New Zealand at Bath in 2007."
5.07pm They were made to work for it, but Nat Sciver-Brunt's superb half-century, allied to Amy Jones' timely injection of power, broke the back of a stiff chase. The World Cup finalists have been felled in the series opener.
Sonny: "NSB is quite possibly the most clutch player England have ever had, male or female. Stokes for me is a close second. She's probably the best woman's cricketer we've ever produced"
flicked off the legs, straight to backward square! Marx strikes, and England's means of production is seized! It's a standing ovation for Sciver-Brunt though... England can't muff this, can they...
In fact, it is scores level as the umpire decided it wasn't a wide... is there a twist?
turns down the leg-side, and away to the rope! That, as they say, will be that... Kemp was aiming for a reverse again, but bailed out as she saw where the ball was headed. The keeper could do nothing
reverses her stance, to sweep from outside off, past the keeper's gloves... a strangled appeal as the ball looped off Kemp's gloves
flicked with the turn, to the on-side. Singles everywhere now
languid clip out of the full length, out to wide long-on, and more hustling running grabs a precious second
half forward, fenced off an inside edge through square leg to hand the strike back
another urgent sweep, out of the full length on the legs, swept up on the run at deep backward square and it's just the single
hustles another single to long-on... England are in command of their destiny as we enter the final two overs
back of a length, tight line, cracked hard out to deep midwicket, and excellent running brings two! De Klerk gathered at the bowler's end but couldn't whip off the bails in time
leading edge, just wide of the bowler! Jittery moment, as NSB is early through her drive, but gets away with it
Hypocaust: "Nat Sciver-Brunt's fifteen 50 scores are the most made by any non-opening batter in women's T20Is."
bashed off the back foot, wide line, good sprawling intercept in the covers to cut off the boundary
It's a run a ball now...
winds into a cramped pull to midwicket and jogs the single
tossed up outside off, drilled through long-off! Lovely strike, up comes her fifty, and that's put the pressure on the bowler right at the outset of this over
De Klerk returns
clipped out of the full length, another single to keep the strike. We are heading down to the wire at this rate...
too full down the leg-side, paddled through backward square! The timing, and the angle, is perfect from NSB... vital for England
lots of air outside off, and a firm drive from the left-handed Kemp, out to deep cover
flicked away to the square leg sweeper... another single to the cause, as Wolvaardt brings the field in for the new batter
tight line, met on the back foot with a nudge into the off side
walks to the off-side for a slog-sweep, thumped on the pads! A huge appeal, not out is the call... but South Africa review... it looked leg-sides, but we shall see... oof, hitting very much in line with leg, maybe missing, maybe clipping? Clipping leg! Review retained, but how close was that!
NSB on strike... how crucial is she now...
2W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Buffalo Park, East London | |
Toss | England Women, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2024/25 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | England Women led the 3-match series 1-0 |
Match number | WT20I no. 2133 |
Hours of play (local time) | 14.00 start, First Session 14.00-15.30, Interval 15.30-15.50, Second Session 15.50-17.20 |
Match days | 24 November 2024 - day (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |