Proteas women crumble as England coast to victory in one-off Test

A record second-innings collapse saw the Proteas fall in a convincing 286-run defeat to England on day three of the one-off women’s Test in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

Set a target of 351 runs to win in their second innings, the home side were always going to struggle to secure a memorable victory, but their top order never even gave them a chance and the rest of the line-up fell apart.

“That was very disappointing. We played some good cricket for a lot of that Test match but let it slip in the last hour or two. All credit to England,” said Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt.

In the 13th over of their chase, the SA team were left stranded at 33/6, with an insurmountable challenge facing them in the final session of the penultimate day’s action.

All-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who made 21 runs, and tail-ender Nonkululeko Mlaba (14) were the only Proteas players to reach double figures, but their mild attempts to put up a fight were futile.

With Ayanda Hlubi unable to bat after picking up a hip flexor tear, the SA team were bundled out for just 64 runs.

It was the first time the Proteas women scored less than 70 runs in an innings in the 16 Tests the national team have played, with seam bowler Lauren Bell (4/49) spearheading England’s destructive attack.

England second innings

Earlier, after resuming their second innings at 31/1 in the morning session, England went on to reach 236 all out.

The tourists were anchored by captain Heather Knight who made a patient 90 runs off 191 balls after spending nearly four hours at the crease.

Despite the visiting team’s solid performance, however, the Proteas managed to contain England’s batters better than they did in their first innings.

Mlaba shines with the ball

South Africa’s bowling attack was led by left-arm spinner Mlaba, who took five wickets in an innings for the first time in her career.

After toiling for 26 overs, 24-year-old Mlaba took 6/67 for a career-best match return of 10/157.

“She (Mlaba) was wonderful throughout, the way she bounced back on day one, and then to take six today was incredible,” Wolvaardt said.

South Africa lost six of their seven matches against England on the month-long home tour, with the visitors winning the T20 series 3-0 and the ODI series 2-1 before their Test victory.