Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Taylor Struck Centuries as England Levels Back

Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Taylor smashed hundreds, as England Women registered a clinical 69-run win over South Africa in the second ODI at Hove to level the three-match series.

Facing the prospect a first one-day international series loss in England since 2000, the hosts were put in to bat against South Africa’s fearsome pace trio of Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka.

England’s openers Beaumont and Amy Jones enjoyed a fluent start to the innings. When Jones (29) tamely pulled Ismail to Laura Wolvaardt at midwicket, Taylor came to the middle. The 27-year old Beaumont made the most of the opportunity she got when she was in her 40s.

Beaumont made most of her luck driving and cutting the ball away with intent, as she reached her century off 107 balls – having hit 12 fours and a six.

The visitor’s bowlers struggled to make any inroads into the England batting. However, against the run of play, Dane van Niekerk took an impressive catch to dismiss Beaumont for 101. As a result, it brought to an end to the 156-run second-wicket stand.

Despite losing her partner, a hurried two saw Taylor bring up the seventh ODI hundred of her career. She now moves up to the sixth on the table of most ODI centuries. Heather Knight and Taylor (117) fell within six balls of each other, but Danni Wyatt powered 20 off 11 balls, as England propelled their way sixth highest-ever ODI score to close 331-6.

However, in reply, Lee and Wolvaardt struggled to get runs on the board, as Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt executed their plans brilliantly. Having managed 32 runs off the first ten, Lee finally started to break free.

Lee powered her way to her fifth ODI half-century in six innings before completing her century off only 91 balls, having smashed 11 fours and five sixes.

Meanwhile, the departure of Wolvaardt and Sune Luus slowed the scoring rate once more. Feeling the pressure, Lee smashed a short ball from Elwiss to Wyatt at backward point, as she fell for a superb 117.

Despite some late blows by Chloe Tryon (44 off 31), the Proteas fell short of 69 runs with teenage spinner Sophie Ecclestone taking 3-54.

The third and final ODI will be on June 15 (Friday) at the ST. Lawrance Ground, Canterbury.

Brief Score: England 331/6 (Taylor 118, Kapp 2/48) beat South Africa 262/9 ( Lee 117, Ecclestone 3/54) by 69 runs.

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