England Crush South Africa with Dominant Test Victory
South Africa vs England, Women’s Test Match (Day Three) England 395-9 dec (Sciver-Brunt 128, Bouchier 126) & 236 (Knight 90; Mlaba 6-67) South Africa 281 (Wolvaardt 65; Bell 4-49) & 64 (Bell 4-27) England won by 286 runs
Scorecard
England stormed to a resounding 286-run victory against South Africa in Bloemfontein, marking their first Test win since 2014 and capping off an impressive tour ahead of January's Ashes.
Defending a mammoth target of 351, England’s bowlers dismantled the Proteas for just 64—their lowest total in women’s Test history. Lauren Bell delivered a stellar performance, taking 4-27, supported by Sophie Ecclestone’s 2-7.
Earlier, England resumed play with a 145-run lead, with captain Heather Knight anchoring their innings with a composed 90. Despite Nonkululeko Mlaba’s outstanding 6-67, which earned her 10 wickets in the match, England posted 236 before being bowled out.
South Africa’s chase faltered almost immediately. Bell struck early, dismissing Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch before tea. Controversy arose when Annerie Dercksen’s dismissal, initially not given out, was overturned after consultation with the third umpire despite the absence of DRS. The Proteas never recovered, losing seven wickets for just 42 runs.
Marizanne Kapp’s 21 was the only notable contribution as South Africa succumbed in under 20 overs, with injured tailender Masabata Klaas unable to bat.
DRS Controversy Overshadows Play
While England’s dominance was clear, the absence of the Decision Review System (DRS) sparked debate. Used during the preceding white-ball series, DRS was excluded from the Test due to cost concerns, despite Cricket South Africa’s reported profits of £35.9m last year.
Confusion arose when the umpires consulted the third umpire for Dercksen’s dismissal, even though DRS was unavailable. Slow-motion replays suggested an edge, but the lack of UltraEdge technology left questions over the decision-making process.
Proteas head coach Mandla Mashimbyi expressed frustration over the inconsistency, stating: “There was no clear communication. It’s bizarre.”
England’s Momentum Builds Ahead of Ashes
England’s commanding performance bodes well for their Ashes campaign in Australia. Knight’s return to form, alongside contributions from Nat Sciver-Brunt and Bell’s remarkable bowling, showcased the team’s depth and resilience.
Despite Mlaba’s historic feat as South Africa’s first bowler to claim 10 wickets in a women’s Test, the hosts struggled to match England’s clinical approach.
With a dominant series under their belt, England head to Australia brimming with confidence, while South Africa faces questions about their batting depth and decision-making in key moments.
