England and South Africa batters gave a preview of what can happen on batting wickets of South Africa in upcoming women’s T20 World Cup 2023. In a high-scoring clash at Stellenbosch, as many as 24 sixes were hit in a game where 476 runs were scored. Had this been a T20I encounter, the record for match aggregate (397 runs) would have been easily broken.
Five batters hit half-centuries where bowlers searched for the golden dot ball. After winning the toss, South Africa skipper Tazmin Brits chose to field first. Sophie Dunkley went berserk in the powerplay overs. She smashed 59 runs from just 19 deliveries including nine fours and three sixes. Veteran pacer Shabnim Ismail took the prized wicket to slow down the flow of runs for a short while.
Alice Capsey took over Dunkley's role and went after the bowlers. Danielle Wyatt scored with a strike rate over 140 but it seemed like she was anchoring the innings. Wyatt scored 24 runs before getting bowled by Nadine de Klerk. England crossed the 100-run mark in the eighth over itself.
Capsey and Natalie Sciver attacked from both ends leaving batters clueless. They shared a 80-run partnership from just 37 deliveries. Once again, Ismail broke the partnership. Capsey scored 61 runs from 33 deliveries. Her 61-run knock was laced with six fours and three sixes. Sciver took England's score past 200 in the 16th over. She scored 51 runs from 25 deliveries including four fours and as many sixes.
Three wickets fell in the slog overs but Maia Bouchier's 7-ball 19 cameo ensured England posted a mammoth total of 247/7 on the board.
South Africa openers walked out with the intent to chase down the total but the required run rate starting climbing at an alarming rate in powerplay overs itself. Laura Wolvaardt contributed with a 11-ball 17 whereas Marizanne Kapp (9) and Sune Luus (8) got dismissed by Sarah Glenn and Charlotte Dean respectively.
Hard-hitting Chloe Tryon decided to go all guns blazing. She smashed seven sixes and five fours in her 23-ball 65. She shared a 98-run partnership for the fourth wicket with skipper Brits but did the bulk of scoring. Tryon's knock kept the game alive but once again it was Dean who got the breakthrough.
In the next over, Brits departed as well. She scored 38 runs from 28 deliveries including five fours and one six. Sarah Glenn struck twice in the 13th over as she got Annerie Dercksen out for a two-ball duck. Despite three quick wickets, South Africa were still in the game with 151/6 from 12.3 overs. They needed 97 more runs from remaining 45 deliveries.
Nadine de Klerk did some damage in the slog overs but wickets kept falling at the other end. Despite Nadine's 27-abll 50 South Africa fell short of the target by 18 runs as they managed to post 229/9.
