South Africa Women v England Women: 3rd ODI at Potchefstroom – First Innings Report
A complete batting failure prevented South Africa women from achieving a decent total against England women, as they could only manage to reach 181 for nine while batting first in the third One Day International (ODI) at Potchefstroom, on Tuesday, October
25, 2011.
A few ladies in the top and late-middle order took good starts but none of them was able to capitalise. However, the credit cannot be taken away from the English bowlers who maintained a flawless line and length throughout the innings.
With a strong bowling attack on a track that was expected to assist seam bowlers, it was a simple choice for the English captain, Charlotte Edwards, to field first after winning the toss.
She was slightly disappointment in the initial overs when her bowlers failed to restrict the South African top order. The two opening batters, Shandre Fritz and Trisha Chetty, provided their side a good start by sharing a 39-run-partnerhip.
While both players were batting well, Fritz suddenly lost her concentration after adding 16 runs to the total. Yet, that did not impose any pressure on the next batter, Alison Hodgkinson, who continued the good work with the opener.
The score was 78 after 17 overs when the second wicket fell. The wicket-keeper returned to the dressing room after hitting a steady knock of 30 runs. Hodgkinson kept on playing superbly but the pressure started mounting on her as wickets kept tumbling on
the other end.
The skipper, Mignon du Preez, and the succeeding batter, Marizanne Kapp, went back to the pavilion without reaching double figures. That inflicted even more pressure on the No. 3 position batter – who was batting responsibly before losing her wicket in the
27th over.
She became the top-scorer of the South African innings with her 34. After the departure of Hodgkinson, none of the following batters could make it big. Sunette Loubser and Dinesha Devnarain charmed 24 and 20 respectively, but their effort was not enough
to lift the side to the 200 mark. Consequently, the side was only able to gather 181 runs after 50 overs.
From the English bowling line-up, Arran Brindle and Heather Knight grabbed a couple of wickets each while Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn and Danni Hazell nabbed a scalp apiece.
The Poms needed 182 to win at an asking rate of 3.64 per-over.
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