Last updated on Sat, 16 Jun, 2018, 07:32 AM
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Beaumont reached her century in the 41st over and departed two deliveries after reaching her milestone. © Getty
Successive centuries from opener Tammy Beaumont helped England seal a win over South Africa Women, who picked up a seven-wicket victory in the third and final One-Day International in Canterbury on Friday (June 15) to take the series 2-1 after having lost the opening match in Worcester.
After having opted to bat, South Africa were restricted to a below-par 228 on the back of a valiant 106-ball 95 from from captain Dane van Niekerk and a half-century from 19-year-old Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 64 off 100 balls. Van Niekerk’s knock comprised 11 fours and a six in an otherwise sorry scorecard for South Africa with the next-best score – apart from Wolvaardt – being 19, jointly scored by Andrie Steyn and Chloe Tryon. From the last five batters, only Shabnim Ismail managed a 6 as the other four copped ducks.
Katherine Brunt was once again among the wickets towards the end of the innings. Anya Shrubsole, however, scalped just the one wicket, but that of the big fish, as South Africa’s in-form batter, Lizelle Lee, was trapped leg before for 2. But it was Sophie Ecclestone’s miserly 10 overs that kept South Africa under check as she conceded just the 26 runs in her 10 overs for a wicket.
With 229 to win and take the series, England’s reply spelt caution throughout as they were led by a very patient Beaumont, who tackled South Africa’s great show of bowling up front. Without much to defend, South Africa’s bowlers came out with an intent that Beaumont countered patiently, batting through the wickets of Amy Ellen Jones and Sarah Taylor who fell in the span of three overs to Ayabonga Khaka (2-63).
She then took control and staged a 151-run partnership with captain Heather Knight as they paved the path for a comfortable England win. Beaumont reached her century in the 41st over and departed two deliveries after reaching the milestone, after being trapped leg before by Marizanne Kapp, with England still requiring 24 runs to win.
Knight’s unbeaten knock, with Natalie Sciver for company, didn’t have England struggle for too long to scale the remainder of runs. Knight, who remained unbeaten on 80, smashed four boundaries off Khaka in the 44th over before five wides from Masabata Klaas brought an end to the game with six overs to spare.
Brief scores: South Africa Women 228 in 49.5 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 64, Dane van Niekerk 95; Katherine Brunt 3-52) lost to England Women 232/3 in 44 overs (Tammy Beaumont 105, Heather Knight 80*; Ayabonga Khaka 2-63) by seven wickets.
