GUWAHATI: After bowling out of proteas for a gentle 69 of only 20.4 overs, England’s openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones made easy work of the hunt and gay home in 14.1 overs.
Choosing to bowl first, England rolled the dice early by throwing the new ball to turn, and a moving captain often stays away from the game of power. But the left arm Tweaker Linsey Smith turned out to be essed up in the sleeve and utilized a sticky surface that got South Africa fumbled in the dark.
“To get that start was very special. I first found out yesterday that I opened the bowling and I was excited about the challenge. The conditions fit me well,” Smith said.
It was just Smith’s fifth ODD, but the 30-year-old is no stranger to international cricket, after being part of England’s T20 page since 2018. Now a permanent fixture in the 50-over team could her willing to bowl in the danger zone of the power game a trump card for England in this campaign.
Smith hit each of his first three overs and was unlucky not to pose a fourth when a blunt chance for Sinalo Jafta begging. Jafta clung ugly in 22, the lonely South African to reach double in a dull story of collapse.
It was Proteas’ third lowest total in ODIs and their worst against England.
The hunt was a little more than a formality, though Jones survived a dismissal on 31 when Masabata Klaas spilled a return. She ended unbeaten at 40 with Beaumont of 21 not out.
“Not the way we wanted to start the tournament. We have shown resilience in the past, and we jump back,” insisted South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt when her fighters were abandoned and searched for answers.
England’s dominance was such that Heather Knight, which marked her 150. ODI performance, was not required to beat or cheers as her teammates were so dominant against South Africa. She only became the second player from England to play in 150 women’s ODDs.
The emphatic win vaulted England to the top of the point table with all eight teams that have now played a game each.
