Commonwealth Games: England beat South Africa as Alice Capsey scores maiden international fifty
Alice Capsey, 17, hits 50 from 37 balls in just her fourth international appearance as England post 167-5 batting first, before South Africa come up well short on 141-4 in reply; England face New Zealand on Thursday in their final group game with both teams already in the semi-finals
Last Updated: 02/08/22 3:07pm
Alice Capsey scored a maiden international fifty as England beat South Africa by 26 runs to make it two wins from two in the group stage of the Commonwealth Games T20 tournament.
Capsey, 17, making just her fourth international appearance, struck seven boundaries and one six in her hugely-impressive 37-ball knock.
That being said, as Capsey fell immediately after bringing up her half century, and Maia Bouchier was run out for one a ball later, England looked in a spot of trouble at 94-5 after 13 overs.
But in came Amy Jones (36no off 23) and Katherine Brunt (38no off 23) to save the day and blast England up to a match-winning score of 167-5 courtesy of their unbroken 73-run stand.
In reply, South Africa's openers Anneke Bosch (32 off 28) and Tazmin Brits (38 off 37) got their chase off to a solid, if somewhat unspectacular, start as they put on 64 together in nine overs.
Sophie Ecclestone (1-21), the No 1-ranked T20 bowler in the world, ultimately broke the partnership, bowling Bosch, while Freya Kemp (1-24) picked up Brits a few overs later thanks to a smart stumping by Jones.
Laura Wolvaardt struck an unbeaten 41 from 33 balls for South Africa to keep them in contention, with 58 required from the final five overs for a famous victory.
But Ecclestone and Brunt (1-16) combined brilliantly to dry up the runs, with the latter adding the wicket of the dangerous Chloe Tryon (16 off 11) as England ultimately wrapped up a comfortable victory - South Africa finishing well short on 141-4.
New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 45 runs in Tuesday's evening match at Edgbaston which guaranteed England a place in the semi-finals on Saturday. The hosts now face the White Ferns in their final group game on Thursday at 6pm and the winner will top the group.
