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In a stunning beginning to their World Cup, England achieved a comprehensive 10-wicket victory on the opening day, subsequent to removing South Africa for a low 69 runs in only 20.4 overs – constituting the third lowest total in the South African record.

Unexpected Collapse from the Proteas

Even though the Proteas showing as a strong team in global women’s cricket recently, after reaching the championship match of the T20 World Cup last year and making the penultimate round of the most recent 50-over event, this performance was confusing and embarrassing. Solely one batter, wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta, reached double figures, and half a dozen of their hitters were clean bowled on a good pitch that rarely played erratically.

The English Dominant Reply

Answering, the English fresh opening pair of Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones made short work of the target, completing the game with 215 balls remaining – England's first World Cup win achieved in less than three hours. Maybe more importantly in what might be a competitive group stage competition, England’s net run rate is now a impressive 3.77.

Bowling Effort Establishes the Standard

Subsequent to England called correctly and inserted the opposition, Linsey Smith’s starting burst laid the foundation, the spin bowler achieving a outstanding performance of 4-2-7-3 in her first ever 50-over World Cup game. She took a clever self-taken catch to dismiss South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt, before turning the ball in to rattle the stumps Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp.

Leader’s Perfect Reappearance

Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt introduced herself as initial replacement and enjoyed a perfect reappearance to international bowling attack, catching Anneke Bosch leg-before with her initial delivery since January’s Ashes series. In her following over, Chloe Tryon sent up a weak leading edge to Alice Capsey at midwicket, as South Africa slumped to 38 for six within the opening 11 overs.

Given Sciver-Brunt’s measured recovery to bowling readiness over the past nine months, there had been discussion as to the number of overs she could bowl in this game, with the team choosing to play both Capsey and Emma Lamb in part to guarantee there were reserve bowling resources.

Clinical Finish

However three overs were enough of Sciver-Brunt: a combination of Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean effectively dispatched the South African remaining batters. Heather Knight, making a comeback after a extended battle with a leg problem, looked eager: she was unneeded with the batting on this instance, but did hold onto a quick chest-high chance at the slips which ended the innings to Nadine de Klerk.

Fielding Hardly Challenged

England’s fielding display – regularly scrutinized nowadays – was barely challenged here. Conversely it was the opposition who missed the chance to remove Jones early on, while Masabata Klaas put down a easy caught and bowled chance given by Jones on 31 – South Africa’s best chance of securing a wicket. Instead, Jones persisted to drive the ball straight, finishing remaining on 40. World Cup cricket has rarely been so easy.