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7th over: South Africa 37-2 (Bosch 16, Wolvaardt 20) Sarah Glenn, long ash-blond pony, trademark action with left arm horizonally scattering the grass seed. This is her first run-out in an England shirt this summer. South Africa push and run.
6th over: South Africa 31-2 (Bosch 11, Wolvaardt 14) Double change from Knight, as she summons Ecclestone. Wolvaardt isn’t nervous of taking on the world’s No. 1 spinner, takes a huge front stride and wellies her over long off for four.
5th over: South Africa 26-2 (Bosch 11, Wolvaardt 14) Wolvaardt on the charge again, picking eight off Sciver’s first over with a boundary and a couple of energetic prods. She’s been in such top form over the last few weeks.
4th over: South Africa 18-2 (Bosch 11, Wolvaardt 6) Wolvaardt manages to find the boundary even when she doesn’t time it, scruffing Wong to the midwicket rope.
3rd over: South Africa 13-2 (Bosch 11, Wolvaardt 1)A pretty disastrous start here for South Africa, whose tour is in danger of slipping into a sloppy mess.
To make things worse, Marizanne Kapp is not available for selection, after flying homve for “family reasons.”
Marizanne Kapp has returned home “to be close to her family during this trying time”.
Nothing to see here. Nothing at all. 👀👀
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) July 21, 2022 WICKET! Luus b Brunt 0 (South Africa 7-2)Brunt’s hundredth T20 wicket seams in, avoids Luus’s random wave of the bat, and clips the top of ’ off stump
2nd over: South Africa 2-1 (Bosch 2, Luus 0) An excellent opening over from Wong, who looks anything but overawed! Hitting the mid-70s and hitting the lengths!
1st over: South Africa 1-1 (Bosch 1, Luus 0) Fantastic start for Katherine Brunt who follows up the wicket that never was, with an indisputable seam-up castling.
WICKET! Goodall b Brunt 0 (South Africa 1-1)The very next ball Goodall has a dirty swipe and is bowled!
NOT OUT!Air between bat and ball
REVIEW! Goodall c Jones b Brunt 0 (South Africa 1-1)The players aren’t very interested but it is given out on the field..
The players and support staff take the knee, England in red trousers and blue trews, South Africa in banana custard tops and bright green trousers.
Can I just add what a joy it is to this old girl that three women are on TV talking with passion and knowledge – and without apology – about professional women cricketers. I know there’s a long way to go but it is such a massive change from when I was a little girl when the only women’s sport on telly was tennis – which was accompanied by knicker shots in the papers – and athletics. But enough, South Africa are helmeted up and we will soon have PLAY!
Lydia Greenway spoke to Sophia Dunkley about what she’d do IF she was bumped up the order. “I’ll play my natural game,” she says. “I want to make my impact in England T20s, I don’t think I’ve done that.”
Could be a good night!
Another debut for Issy Wong, this time in T20 cricket, and Sophia Dunkley moves up the order to open. For South Africa, Mignon du Preez is back, via a holiday in Greece.
TeamsEngland: Danni Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver, Heather Knight, Amy Jones, Maia Bouchier, Bryony Smith, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Issy Wong, Sarah Glenn
South Africa: Anneke Bosch, Lara Goodall, Sune Luus, Laura Wolvaardt, Mignon du Preez, Chloe Tryon, Delmi Tucker, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka
England win the toss and will bowl“Feels like Chelmsford under lights is easier to chase,” says Knight. “This will be really good preparation for the Commonwealths.”
While we wait for the toss, I was just reading about the random gifts Rishi Sunak gave Lobby journalists.
I think I can beat that. Today the FFP2 masks I ordered for our holiday arrived, along with the free gifts of a mini packet of love hearts and a pen that doubles up as a torch.
What is your most peculiar freebie?
PreambleHello! Here we are again, bang in the middle of a dizzying round of women’s cricket, still in white ball clothing, but this time the shortest format.
The recent T20 head-to-heat stats are close – with England just pipping it with three wins to South Africa’s two. Today, we’re at Chelmsford – where Simon Harmer took 13 wickets last week to spin Essex to victory. Different pitch tonight, and relief from the boiling heat of the third ODI, where South Africa rather shrivelled.
England can’t lose after winning the ODI series and drawing the Test, but lots for South Africa to fight for.
This is Women’s T20 international number 1168 – how many can you remember?