England off to Cricket World Cup flyer with 10-wicket demolition of South Africa

England romped home with a 10-wicket win in their World Cup opener on Friday, after dismissing opponents South Africa for 69 in 20.4 overs – the third lowest total in their history.

South Africa have been a force to be reckoned with in global women’s cricket of late, reaching the final of the T20 World Cup last year and featuring in the semi-finals of the last 50-over competition, so this was a baffling and embarrassing display. Only one batter, wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta, made it into double figures, and six of their batters were clean bowled on a good pitch which rarely behaved unpredictably.

In reply, England’s new-look opening partnership of Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones made short work of the chase, wrapping up the match with 215 balls remaining – their first World Cup win secured in just under three hours. Perhaps more importantly in what could be a tight round-robin competition, England’s net run rate is now a more-than-healthy 3.77.

After England won the toss and inserted South Africa, Linsey Smith’s opening spell set the tone, the left-arm spinner achieving a remarkable return of 4-2-7-3 in her first ever 50-over World Cup match. She took a smart return catch to see off South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt, before drifting the ball in to rattle the stumps of Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp.

Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt brought herself on as first-change and enjoyed a dream return to international bowling, trapping Anneke Bosch leg-before with her first ball since January’s Ashes series. In her next over, Chloe Tryon sent up a tame leading edge to Alice Capsey at mid-on, as South Africa sunk to 38 for six within the opening 11 overs.

Given Sciver-Brunt’s slow return to bowling fitness over the past nine months, there had been some debate as to how many overs she might manage in this match, with England opting to play both Capsey and Emma Lamb partly to ensure there were back-up bowling options.

But three overs were all that was required of Sciver-Brunt: a combination of Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean neatly finished off the South African tail. Heather Knight, returning after a lengthy battle with a hamstring injury, looked raring to go: she was not required with the bat on this occasion, but did hold onto a sharp shoulder-height catch at slip which put an end to Nadine de Klerk.

England’s fielding – so often under the spotlight these days – was barely tested here. Instead it was South Africa who fumbled the chance to run out Jones early on, while Masabata Klaas put down a straightforward return catch proffered up by Jones on 31 – South Africa’s best chance of taking a wicket. Instead, Jones continued to loft the ball down the ground, finishing unbeaten on 40. World Cup cricket has never been so easy.

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