England Proteas women

South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba celebrates taking the wicket of England’s Amy Jones during day two of the Women’s test match at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton. Picture date: Tuesday June 28, 2022.
Photo by David Davies/PA Wire/PA Images/BackpagePix

Proteas women toil on Day 2 as England pair smash centuries

Centuries from Nat Sciver and Alice Davidson-Richards gave England a handy lead against the Proteas women on Day 2 of their once-off Test.

England Proteas women

South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba celebrates taking the wicket of England’s Amy Jones during day two of the Women’s test match at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton. Picture date: Tuesday June 28, 2022.
Photo by David Davies/PA Wire/PA Images/BackpagePix

Centuries from Nat Sciver and Alice Davidson-Richards helped give England a 44-run first innings lead against the Proteas women on day two of their once-off Test at the County Ground in Taunton on Tuesday, with the hosts reaching stumps on 328/6.  

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Sciver walked to the crease with her side in trouble on 86/3, going on to withstand the pressure from the South African bowlers, including Anneke Bosch’s three wickets for 59, before smashing 15 fours on her way to an unbeaten 206-ball 119 in a partnership worth 207 runs with Davidson-Richards, who recorded 107 off 194 balls (17 fours).  

The start of the day’s play marked the commencement of the home side’s first innings reply to South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp-inspired 284 all out, as openers Tammy Beaumont (28) and Emma Lamb (38) brought up a half-century stand for the first wicket before Bosch made the all-important breakthrough. 

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The Senwes Dragons all-rounder removed both openers in quick succession shortly before lunch, trapping the dangerous Beaumont LBW prior to Lamb being clean bowled. 

Shortly after the interval, England captain, Heather Knight (8) was the third wicket to fall as she attempted a quick single before Tumi Sekhukhune and wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta combined brilliantly to inflict a run-out.  

With South Africa’s tail up in the field, Sciver, alongside Sophia Dunkley (18) did well to calm things down at the crease, despite Dunkley soon becoming Bosch’s third scalp of the day.

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Although Nonkululeko Mlaba (1-42) also managed to dismiss Amy Jones for a duck soon after, Sciver found an ally in Davidson-Richardson as the pair steered the English outfit to tea on 176/5.  

The duo then went from strength to strength out in the middle with Sciver taking the attack to the South African bowlers as both batters reached their respective fifties before the experienced all-rounder and the debutant brought up their maiden Test hundreds to help England take charge in the match.  

With Sciver and Davidson-Richards going at full tilt in the last hour of play, England passed the 300-run mark and looked set to reach stumps with five wickets still in hand before Sekhukhune (1-67) claimed a confidence-boosting wicket with the last ball of the day to get rid of Davidson-Richards.  

England will resume on day three on Wednesday, 29 June at 12:00 (SA time). 

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Once-off Test: England v South Africa:

Day 2 scores:  

South Africa: 284 all out (M. Kapp 150 (213), A. Bosch 30 (58); K. Cross (4-63), L. Bell (2-47) 

England: 328/6 after 99.5 overs (N. Sciver 119* (207), A. Davidson-Richards 107 (194); A. Bosch 3-59, N. Mlaba 1-42)  

NOTE: If the live scoring below does not display, click HERE