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Through a powerful beginning to their World Cup, England secured a decisive 10-wicket triumph on Friday, following bowling out South Africa for a low 69 runs in just 20.4 overs – representing the third lowest total in their annals.

Surprising Collapse from South Africa

Even though the Proteas being a formidable force in world women's cricket lately, after reaching the title decider of the short-format World Cup last year and appearing in the last four of the previous 50-over event, this performance was baffling and embarrassing. Solely one player, keeper Sinalo Jafta, attained double figures, and half a dozen of their batters were clean bowled on a decent pitch that seldom played erratically.

England’s Commanding Response

Answering, the English fresh opening pair of Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones wasted no time of the target, completing the contest with a huge number remaining – England's first World Cup win earned in less than three hours. Possibly more importantly in what could be a close round-robin tournament, England’s net run rate is now a more-than-healthy 3.77.

Attack Defines the Tone

Following England took the toss and chose to bowl South Africa, Linsey Smith’s opening spell set the tone, the left-arm spinner recording a remarkable return of 4-2-7-3 in her first ever 50-over World Cup game. She took a smart self-taken catch to dismiss the captain Laura Wolvaardt, before drifting the ball in to rattle the stumps Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp.

Captain’s Dream Return

Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt introduced herself as first-change and experienced a dream comeback to top-level bowling attack, trapping Anneke Bosch LBW with her opening ball since the Ashes series. In her subsequent over, Chloe Tryon offered a weak catch to Alice Capsey at mid-on, as South Africa fell to 38 for six within the first 11 overs.

In light of Sciver-Brunt’s slow recovery to bowling form over the last nine months, there had been some debate as to what quantity of overs she might manage in this match, with England choosing to play both Capsey and Emma Lamb partly to make sure there were reserve bowling cover.

Efficient Wrap-up

Yet a brief spell were sufficient of Sciver-Brunt: a partnership of Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean efficiently finished off the Proteas' lower order. Heather Knight, returning after a lengthy struggle with a hamstring injury, looked raring to go: she was not needed with the bat on this day, but grabbed a quick mid-level chance at slip which ended the innings to Nadine de Klerk.

Fielding Performance Hardly Challenged

The English fielding display – regularly under the spotlight currently – was hardly tested here. Instead it was the opposition who missed the chance to run out Jones in the early stages, while Masabata Klaas dropped a easy return catch offered by Jones on 31 – South Africa’s prime opportunity of claiming a breakthrough. Instead, Jones continued to hit the ball straight, concluding not out on 40. International play has never been this simple.