Guwahati (Assam) [India], October 3 : England announced itself in the ongoing Women's World Cup with a statement 10-wicket win over South Africa on Friday at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
While facing England's spirited bowling attack, South Africa was skittled out on 69 after being put to bat in the first innings. Linsey Smith, in her first World Cup, was the standout with the ball, returning with figures of 3/7. Lauren Bell and Nat Sciver-Brunt stuck to the threatening lengths and combined to scythe three wickets.
In pursuit of a trivial 70-run target, England dismantled South Africa's bowling attack with Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones adopting a calm approach to kick off their campaign with a victory. Beaumont and Jones remained wary of the swinging deliveries and punished the loose ones. Beaumont and Jones gunned down the target in 14.1 overs, sealing a 10-wicket win and returning unbeaten with scores of 21(35) and 40(50), respectively.
Earlier in the short-lived contest, the England women's team blew away South Africa, rolling them for a paltry double-digit total of 69. South Africa lived a nightmare with 10 batters returning to the dugout with single-digit scores. They remained clueless about dealing with the ball's swing, and their reckless shot selection rubbed salt on their existing wounds.
Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith set the tone with her spinning deliveries while skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt stamped her authority by scything crucial wickets. The top five batters, comprising captain Laura Wolvaardt (5), Tazmin Brits (5), Sune Luus (2), Marizanne Kapp (4), and Anneke Bosch (6), returned to the dugout before crossing the 10-run mark.
Wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta offered some resistance with a sturdy 22(36), but found no support from the other end. She fought with grit but eventually succumbed to the pressure as Sophie Ecclestone rattled the stumps, punching her return ticket on 22. Charlie Dean wrapped up South Africa's dreadful outing on 69 in 20.4 overs, the third-lowest total in Women's ODIs.
Brief Scores: South Africa Women 69 (Sinalo Jafta 22; Linsey Smith 3-7, Charlie Dean 2-14) vs England 73/0 (Tammy Beaumont 21*, Amy Jones 40*).