South Africa v England: Lauren Bell takes four wickets as Proteas collapse on day two
England took control of the one-off Test match against South Africa, with the hosts conceding their last seven first-innings wickets for 44 runs in a dramatic evening encounter.
The Proteas were 237-3 in Bloemfontein but a post-tea lightning delay changed the game.
England hammered away with the new ball under dark skies to beat South Africa for 281 and take a 114-run lead.
The lead extended to 145 after centurion Maia Bouchier fell in the first innings, with Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight leading England to 145 at the end. 31-1 lead.
South Africa looked to have tied the score earlier through Marizanne Kapp, who shot a flowing 57 before being bowled over by debutant Ryana MacDonald-Gay out, which sparked a collapse as a delay came after just five goals.
Macdonald-Guy struck again shortly after play resumed, with Nadine de Klerk being chased down and Lauren Filer finishing off Sune Luus. Resistance made 56, with Chloe Tryon tamely cutting Lauren Bell to mid-on for 20.
Bell finished with 4-49 after the sweep, with the collapse distracting from the South African top player’s disciplined efforts throughout the morning and afternoon session.
Opener Anneke Bosch fell in the second round of the day but a 92 draw between Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen That helped the home side rebuild until the latter slipped Filer off the last ball before lunch.
The omission of the Decision Review System (DRS) from the match had a huge impact on the home team, with captain Wolvaardt visibly frustrated by Sophie Ecclestone’s 65-run LBW, which suggested she hit Got the ball.
A 99-run partnership between Kapp and Luce ensued, but once broken it exposed a fragile lower-middle order and gave England hopes of a first Test victory since 2014.
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