Nat Sciver-Brunt hit a half-century as England earned a four-wicket victory against South Africa in their T20 opener.
After winning the toss and opting to field, all of England’s spinners took wickets along with Freya Kemp, but a late surge saw South Africa add valuable runs as Annerie Dercksen and Nadine de Klerk put on an unbeaten 42-run partnership to help them finish on 142 for five.
Although England were four wickets down just past the midway stage of their reply, Sciver-Brunt starred with the bat alongside Amy Jones as the pair put on 50 runs before Sophie Ecclestone hit the winning run.
Starting as we mean to go on 🤩#SAvENG | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/pxPlkJh15q
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 24, 2024
England received a blow ahead of the game after wicketkeeper-batter Bess Heath was withdrawn from the squad due to a fractured thumb.
Laura Wolvaardt scored 22 before Charlie Dean sent the South Africa skipper’s stumps flying and the visitors struck again when Tazmin Brits was stumped from an Ecclestone delivery.
Anneke Bosch was dropped in the seventh over but she was unable to capitalise on her second chance when Kemp rearranged her stumps only a few balls later and Dean shortly dismissed Sune Luus for a duck.
South Africa began to rebuild through Nondumiso Shangase and Dercksen, who scored 36 before the former was dismissed by Sarah Glenn, but Dercksen continued to star in the final stages, scoring 26 runs alongside De Klerk’s quickfire 29 off 16 balls.
NSB doing NSB things💥#SAvENG | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/5d23jy2dkT
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 24, 2024
Chasing 143, England’s response got off to a rocky start when De Klerk struck early in the fourth over to bowl Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier soon followed her opening partner after Eliz-Mari Marx took out her leg stump.
Sophia Dunkley was the next to fall after her attempted ramp shot flicked behind to Sinalo Jafta before captain Heather Knight was bowled by Marx for one run.
Sciver-Brunt spearheaded England’s chase, sharing a 50-run partnership with Jones, who smashed 31 off 19 balls before being bowled by Shangase.
A tight finish saw Sciver-Brunt set England up for victory, hitting a brilliant 59 before being dismissed by Marx in the final over, but Kemp and Ecclestone got the visitors over the line in East London.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here