Centuries from Nat Sciver and Alice Davidson-Richards helped give England a 44-run first innings lead against the Momentum Proteas on day two of their once-off Test encounter at the County Ground in Taunton on Tuesday, with the hosts reaching stumps on 328 / 6.
Sciver walked to the crease with her side in slight trouble on 86 / 3, going on to withstand the pressure from the South African bowlers, including Anneke Bosch’s three wickets for 59, before smashing 15 fours on her way to an unbeaten 206-ball 118 in a stunning partnership worth 207 runs with Davidson-Richards, who recorded 107 off 194 balls (17 fours).
The start of the day’s play marked the commencement of the home side’s first innings reply to South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp-inspired 284 all out, as openers Tammy Beaumont (28) and Emma Lamb (38) brought up a half-century stand for the first wicket before Bosch made the all-important breakthrough.
The Senwes Dragons all-rounder removed both openers in quick succession shortly before lunch, trapping the dangerous Beaumont LBW prior to Lamb being clean bowled by a Jaffer of a delivery that went through the gate.
Shortly after the interval, England captain, Heather Knight (8) was the third wicket to fall as she attempted a quick single before Tumi Sekhukhune and wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta combined brilliantly to inflict a run-out.
With South Africa’s tail up in the field, Sciver, alongside Sophia Dunkley (18) did well to calm things down at the crease, despite Dunkley soon becoming Bosch’s third scalp of the day. Although Nonkululeko Mlaba (1 / 42) also managed to dismiss Amy Jones for a duck soon after, Sciver found another reliable ally in Davidson-Richardson as the pair steered the English outfit to tea on 176 / 5.
The pair then went from strength to strength out in the middle with Sciver taking the attack to the South African bowlers as both batters reached their respective fifties before the experienced all-rounder and the debutant brought up their maiden Test hundreds to help England go in front in the contest.
With Sciver and Davidson-Richards going at full tilt in the last hour of play, England passed the 300-run mark and looked to reach stumps with five wickets still in hand before Sekhukhune (1 / 67) claimed a confidence-boosting wicket on the last ball of the day to get rid of Davidson-Richards.
England will resume at the crease on day three on Wednesday, 29 June from 11h00 local time (12h00 SA time).
Once-off Test: England vs South Africa (County Ground, Taunton) – England lead by 44 runs
Day 2 Scores:
South Africa: 284 all out (M. Kapp 150 (213), A. Bosch 30 (58); K. Cross (4 / 63), L. Bell (2 / 47)
England: 328 / 6 after 99.5 overs (N. Sciver 119* (207), A. Davidson-Richards 107 (194); A. Bosch 3 / 59, N. Mlaba 1 / 42)
Audio and video featuring Momentum Proteas all-rounder, Anneke Bosch is located here.
Momentum Proteas Squad for England Tour – Test & ODIs:
Anneke Bosch (Senwes Dragons), Trisha Chetty (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal), Nadine de Klerk (Six Gun Grill Western Province), Lara Goodall (Six Gun Grill Western Province), Shabnim Ismail (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal),Sinalo Jafta (Six Gun Grill Western Province) Marizanne Kapp (Eastern Province), Ayabonga Khaka (Imperial Lions), Lizelle Lee (Senwes Dragons), Suné Luus (Titans Ladies),Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal), Tumi Sekhukhune (Imperial Lions),Andrie Steyn (Six Gun Grill Western Province), Chloé Tryon (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal),Laura Wolvaardt (Six Gun Grill Western Province)
Momentum Proteas Tour to England Itinerary:
Only Test –
Monday, 27 June – Thursday June 30 @ 11h00 local time – Once-off Test – England vs South Africa (Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton)
Warm-Up Matches –
Monday, 04 July @ 14h00 local time – T20 –South Africa vs England A (Cheltenham CC, Cheltenham)
Thursday, 07 July @ 11h00 local time – 50-over – South Africa vs England A (Cheltenham CC, Cheltenham)
One-Day International Series –
Monday, 11 July @ 14h00 local time – 1st ODI – England vs South Africa (The County Ground, Northampton)
Friday, 15 July @ 14h00 local time – 2nd ODI – England vs South Africa (Bristol County Ground, Bristol)
Monday, 18 July @ 14h00 local time – 3rd ODI – England vs South Africa (The Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester)
T20 Series –
Thursday, 21 July @ 19h00 local time – 1stT20 – England vs South Africa (The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford)
Saturday, 23 July @ 14h30 local time – 2ndT20 – England vs South Africa (Blackfinch New Road, Worcester)
Monday, 25 July @ 18h30 local time – 3rd T20 – England vs South Africa (The Incora County Ground, Derby)
Image: CSA/Getty
