England sealed a 2-1 ODI series victory against South Africa with a six-wicket triumph in a rain-affected decider in Potchefstroom.
Set a revised target of 152 in 23 overs, England faced early setbacks as Marizanne Kapp’s fiery new-ball spell left them reeling at 25-3. However, Tammy Beaumont (65* off 46) and Amy Jones (49 off 36) anchored the chase with a stellar unbroken 90-run stand, guiding England to victory with four overs to spare.
As per the sources of Leaders, South Africa had initially set 234 in 50 overs, led by captain Laura Wolvaardt’s composed 61 off 68 balls. However, their innings faltered as no other batter converted starts into substantial scores. England’s spinners dominated, claiming six wickets, while Alice Capsey, stepping in for the injured Kate Cross, picked up two key wickets despite conceding 59 runs.
The rain delay added drama to the contest, but England’s resilience shone through. Beaumont’s attacking fifty, her fastest in ODIs, was a clear statement of her enduring prowess, particularly against a potent South African attack led by Kapp and Nonkululeko Mlaba.
According to the reports of Leaders sources, England captain Heather Knight praised her team’s effort, saying, “Losing your opening bowler in the first over and rallying on a flat wicket in this heat was outstanding. Tammy set the tone brilliantly.”
South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt acknowledged her side’s shortcomings, stating, “We started well but fell short in the final 10 overs. England was a tough competitor, and we’ll take important lessons from this series.”
The tour concludes with a one-off Test match in Bloemfontein, starting Sunday at 08:00 GMT, offering both sides another opportunity to showcase their mettle.
