England seal series victory with easy T20I win

Heather Knight's side knocked off a meagre target after Katherine Brunt claimed her career-best T20I figures with the ball

Chelmsford: South Africa 111-9, England 114-4 - England win by six wickets

Scorecard

England sealed victory over South Africa in the multiformat series by strolling past the tourists in the first of three T20Is.

Sophia Dunkley smashed 59 after Katherine Brunt had recorded career-best T20I figures of 4 for 15 as the hosts hammered Sune Luus' depleted side at Chelmsford.

South Africa were hindered by the absence of Marizanne Kapp, who has returned home for family reasons, and were never in the game after losing two of their top three for ducks after winning the toss and batting first.

Lara Goodall was bowled by a Brunt inswinger one delivery after surviving a caught-behind decision on review. Twelve balls later, captain Luus' miserable series continued when she became Brunt's second victim of the night and her 100th in T20Is.

Anneke Bosch smashed two of her first three balls to the boundary in a show of nominative determinism but slowed up thereafter and became Sarah Glenn's first international wicket since last September.

Mignon du Preez, offsetting Kapp's absence by adding much-needed experience, was returning to the fold having retired from 50-over cricket after the World Cup. But she hit Nat Sciver straight to Issy Wong to be caught at mid-on, while Chloe Tryon was plumb in front as she attempted to sweep Sophie Ecclestone.

Delmi Tucker, a late addition to the squad a week ago, gave Brunt her third wicket and Sinalo Jafta provided Ecclestone with her second, having slog-swept the left-arm spinner for six.

^{Katherine Brunt took her hundredth T20I wicket against South Africa (Julian Finney/Getty Images)}

Amid the carnage, Laura Wolvaardt played a lone hand, reaching a crucial half century with her usual array of classy strokes, batting at No.4 rather than at the top of the order. She couldn't give the Proteas the necessary big finish, however, picking out Sciver on the midwicket boundary as Brunt's final over featured just two singles, her wicket and a runout.

England made light work of the target in response, though offered a glimpse of the T20 side's new era, with Tammy Beaumont left out and Dunkley the new opening partner for Danni Wyatt.

Wyatt fell early, bowled as she looked to hack Ayabonga Khaka, and Bryony Smith – making her first T20I appearance for four years as a pinch-hitting No.3 – was similarly bowled after misreading the length of a delivery from Khaka and attempting to pull a ball that skidded through.

Khaka bowled Sciver for her third wicket, but by then England were well on their way to victory, with Dunkley past fifty for the first time in the shortest format. Her innings included a pair of sixes and a beautifully driven boundary through extra cover as Lisa Keightley's call to push her to the top of the innings was vindicated immediately.

She seemed certain to see England home until top-edging a Bosch full-toss to deep square leg, having deposited her previous ball well over long-on for six.

It was left to Heather Knight to put the finishing touches to another convincing display from her team, with the Commonwealth Games just over a week away.

Related Topics

• South Africa star Marizanne Kapp leaves England tour for family reasons