Trisha Chetty is on a roll, scoring 66 in the second ODI to help the Proteas women level the three-match series against England at 1-1.
Fresh from a lone stand of 90 in the first ODI, Chetty had excellent support from rookie Laura Wolfvaardt (55 from 94) as they worked hard for an opening stand of 113 in 28 overs, which provided the base from which to attack the England offering of 262.
It went a long way to mitigating a stutter in which the Proteas lost the two openers and their captain Mignon du Preeze (9) within five overs. Chetty had gone on to 66 off 84 balls, with just six fours when she was the first of two wickets in three balls for off-spinner Danielle Hazell.
But the Proteas’ charge was back on track as Marizanne Kapp (44 off 34 balls), honed by a successful run in the Women’s Big Bash League, and Lizelle Lee, hammering a superb 69 off 56 balls, with 12 fours, surged to 246 in the 47th over.
After putting on 112 for the fourth wicket, Kapp fell to Heather Knight’s medium pace, but Dane van Niekerk, another Big Basher, was unfazed by the pressure. The disappointment was that Lee did not get to cross the finish line, but it was their highest ever chase.
Shabnim Ismail led the way with ball in hand, taking 3-32 off her 10 overs, with support from Van Niekerk (2-43) and Sune Luus (2-33) to keep the Englishwomen honest.
They had to rebuild after losing three wickets for 16, but the middle order dug in, led by Heather Knight’s 61. Still, they were struggling at 221-9 after 47 overs, but Hazell’s 20 runs off 10 balls made the chase challenging.
Now it’s down to the decider at the Wanderers on Sunday.
Picture: Courtesy of Cricket SA
