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South Africa never recovered from a disastrous start, losing captain Laura Wolvaardt (5 off 5) and Tazmin Brits (5 off 7) within the first three overs. England’s bowlers hunted in pairs — Smith with the new ball and Sciver-Brunt with her control — to keep the batters under constant pressure. Sinalo Jafta stood tall with 22 runs off 36 deliveries, the highest of the innings, but lacked support as wickets kept tumbling around her.

For England, Amy Jones’ fluent 40* (50) and Beaumont’s patient 21* (35) ensured there were no hiccups in the modest chase.

Highlights from the match:

Linsey Smith – 4-2-7-3
Unsurprisingly, she was named the Player of the Match. Smith was unplayable in her spell, picking up Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, and Marizanne Kapp, to break the back of South Africa’s batting. Her left-arm spin choked runs, conceding just seven in four overs while striking thrice. Her three wickets left South Africa reeling at 19/4, setting the tone for England’s dominance.

 

Nat Sciver-Brunt – 3-1-5-2
The England skipper led from the front, using her seam-bowling nous to trap Anneke Bosch lbw before removing Chloe Tryon. With an economy of just 1.7, Sciver-Brunt’s control through her three overs ensured South Africa never had a chance to rebuild. Notably, this was her first time bowling in international cricket since the Ashes series earlier this year.

Sinalo Jafta – 22 (36)
The South African keeper-batter was the lone bright spark in a bleak batting card. Coming in with the side in deep trouble, she absorbed pressure and top-scored with 22, striking three boundaries. Her effort showed grit, but with little support, she became Charlie Dean’s victim, leaving the lower order exposed. Remarkably, apart from Jafta, no other South African batter managed to reach double figures.

Amy Jones – 40* (50)
Chasing a small target, Jones displayed maturity and composure. Her unbeaten 40 included six boundaries, and she anchored the chase alongside Beaumont with a steady 73-run opening stand. By rotating the strike and finding gaps, Jones ensured England crossed the line without losing a wicket.