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England started their multi-format tour of South Africa with a four wicket-win in the first T20 that even their captain, Heather Knight, admitted was “scrappy”, relying on a trademark calm-and-collected Nat Sciver-Brunt half-century to get over the line.
Chasing 143, England had struggled to 65 for four, and were left needing almost 10 an over from the final six, but a messy, 22-run over from young seamer Ayanda Hlubi – playing in her only her third T20 international – turned the match on its head, as Amy Jones cracked a four and a six from back-to-back no-balls to help Sciver-Brunt propel England towards their target.
Jones was bowled by Nondumiso Shangase in the next over, while Sciver-Brunt survived a close leg-before decision against Nonkululeko Mlaba, which was adjudged umpire’s call on impact. But the damage of the Hlubi over had already been done, and by the time Sciver-Brunt, who scored 59 off 54 balls, was caught at backward square leg, England required just one run from the final five balls – a mere formality .
Knight had vehemently defended her team on the eve of the series in the face of strong criticism following their early World Cup exit – adopting the slightly odd mantra that there was no need for England to “rip up trees” – but admitted that their win in Sunday’s match was far from perfect.
Knight said: “It was a little bit scrappy. It’s really pleasing to get a win, but there’s a few things we can sharpen up on. The smartness of Nat’s innings was brilliant, aided by that momentum-shift from Amy. That took the game back in our favour.”
England may have secured first blood, but their chaotic buildup to the series – epitomised by Alice Capsey going from “dropped” to “reserve wicketkeeper” in the space of six days, after a spate of England injuries culminated in Bess Heath being sent home with a fractured thumb – at times translated on to the pitch.
First, they let South Africa add 42 runs at the death after a sluggish middle-innings, allowing them to post a total far in excess of where they should have been. Then several of the England batters handed their wickets to South Africa on a plate: Maia Bouchier was bowled attempting the reverse, while Sophia Dunkley ramped into the hands of the keeper.
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When Knight was bowled by Eliz-Mari Marx the first ball after drinks, nerves abounded; had South Africa not been playing this series without their two best bowlers – Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka are being “rested” – the result might well have been different.