England Women seal 3-0 IT20 series victory

England Women secured a dominant 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match T20 series against South Africa with a nine-wicket win in Centurion.

The tourists raced to their below-par target of 125 with 51 balls to spare, opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge finishing unbeaten on 53 and Sophia Dunkley making 24 not out.

Wyatt-Hodge faced just 31 balls for her second successive T20 half-century in a brutal assault on South Africa’s depleted bowling line-up, while the hosts also dropped five catches.

Maia Bouchier was England’s only wicket to fall, brilliantly caught by Nondumiso Shangase for 35 from 21 balls, after a ruthless opening stand of 56 in 5.4 overs.

The hosts, who were without captain Laura Wolvaardt because of illness, slumped to 45-5 before they were rescued by a stand of 52 between all-rounders Nadine de Klerk and Shangase.

They eventually scrambled to 124 from their 20 overs, off-spinner Charlie Dean leading England’s fine all-round effort with 3-26 and a run-out.

After England captain Heather Knight chose to bowl first, seamers Lauren Filer and Lauren Bell exposing a weakened South Africa line-up by removing openers Anneke Bosch and Faye Tunnicliffe in the first two overs.

The promising Annerie Dercksen and experienced Sune Luus both wasted promising starts before stand-in captain Chloe Tryon fell softly for just one, with Shangase and De Klerk saving their side from a complete collapse.

The series continues with three one-day internationals, starting on Wednesday in Kimberley.

Player of the Match, England spinner Dean said: “I am starting to come into my own and feeling more confident in the powerplay.

“If I can keep getting wickets and doing what I do best, it will help us get the win.”

Stand-in South Africa Captain Chloe Tryon:”We were outplayed. They have had an excellent series and we didn’t play our best.

“It is hard to find energy when you are two-nil down. We were disappointed with how we bowled but we will try to get some momentum in the ODI series.”

Knight added: “Really pleasing to have that dominant performance, bouncing back from the World Cup. We challenged the girls to be really free, and they’ve done that, particularly with the batting.

“We’ve taken the learnings and how we want to move forward with clarity. We’ve been really dominant and improved in each facet, which has been really pleasing.”