Go back to Here for Her

Women’s Cricket World Cup - England thrash SA by 10-wiccket

cricket03 October 2025 12:30| © MWP
By:Neil Manthorp
Share
article image
England © Getty Images

South Africa began their Women’s World Cup campaign in disastrous fashion when they collapsed to a shocking 69 all out against England and losing by 10-wickets with 35.5 overs to spare after being asked to bat first in their opening match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Friday.

 

England openers Amy Jones (40* from 49 balls) and Tammy Beaumont (21* from 35 balls) cruised to victory without breaking sweat reaching 70-0 in just 14.1 overs to take not just two points but a massive net run-rate differential in case qualification for the semifinals is close. In this form, however, England will be certain qualifiers but it may cost South Africa dearly at the end of the group stage.

Left arm spinner, Linsey Smith, opened the bowling and claimed three wickets in a remarkable spell of 4-2-7-3 to claim the Player of the Match award as the Proteas crashed to 38-5 in the Power Play which immediately became 38-6 after 10.1 overs.

Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt enjoyed an opening spell of 3-1-5-2 with her seamers while Sophie Ecclestone, one of the world’s premier left arm spinners, finished with 2-19 from six overs.

 

 

Proteas wicketkeeper, Sinalo Jafta, was the only player in the entire innings to reach double figures after being promoted to No 6 but her 22 from 36 balls (3x4), as doughty and determined as it was, could not help the total to anything remotely competitive.

The carnage started in just the second over when captain Laura Wolvaardt (5) chipped a return catch to Smith and opening partner Tazmin Brits (5) was bowled a Smith ‘drifter’ which did not spin before hitting off stump.

Sune Luus (20 missed a straight delivery from seamer Lauren Bell before Smith claimed the prized wicket of Marizanne Kapp (4), also bowled between bat and pad.

Sciver-Brunt trapped Anneke Bosch (6) lbw before Chloe Tryon attempted to turn a delivery from the England skipper to midwicket but chipped a catch straight to Alice Capsey on the legside. Ecclestone removed Nadine de Klerk (3) before removing any hope of South Africa reaching 100 by bowling Jafta who was attempting to clear the infield with a straight drive.

 

 

It wasn’t South Africa’s lowest ODI total having been dismissed for 51 by New Zealand at Bowral during the 2009 World Cup and 63 by Pakistan in Potchefstroom in 2019 but that will be of absolutely no consolation for an unacceptably weak performance.

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta (wkt), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba

ENGLAND: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wkt), Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Alice Capsey, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell

Advertisement