Greenway and Brindle earn England win over South Africa
- Published
First women's one-day international, Potchefstroom: |
England 297-3 (50 overs) beat South Africa 235 (46.5 overs) by 62 runs |
Greenway hit 125 from 127 balls for her highest ODI score
A stand of 218 from Lydia Greenway and Arran Brindle set England up for an easy 62-run win over South Africa in the first of three one-day internationals in Potchefstroom.
Greenway and Brindle joined forces at 79-3 in the 18th over.
They made 125 and 107 respectively for their maiden ODI hundreds and the second-highest fourth wicket partnership in women's ODI cricket.
South Africa made a strong start but fell short of the target of 298.
After the match bowler Katherine Brunt was sent home from the tour after she suffered a back injury. She is replaced in the squad by 30-year-old all-rounder Beth Morgan.
South Africa's Trisha Chetty and Alison Hodgkinson put on 143 for the second wicket but Laura Marsh dismissed both, for 72 and 71 respectively, to leave the hosts on 166-4.
Marsh was one of three England bowlers to take two wickets, along with fellow off-spinners Danni Hazell and Danni Wyatt.
England recovered from the early loss of Charlotte Edwards on her 150th ODI appearance as Wyatt and Sarah Taylor steadied the ship.
Greenway joined Taylor in the middle after Wyatt was caught behind in the eighth over and the pair went on to build an innings, until Taylor was run out for 37 in the 18th over.
Greenway and Brindle then put on a spectacular performance and England maintained their momentum in the field as Isa Guha claimed an early wicket as Shandre Fritz hit straight to Greenway at point.
Chetty and Hodgkinson stood firm for South Africa for 28 overs until Marsh broke through trapping Chetty leg before wicket. This proved the key wicket as the England spinners took hold of the game and South Africa collapsed.
"We did quite a lot of running out there but it was great to come away with a win from our first game," said Greenway afterwards. "It's taken quite a long time to get my first ODI century so it's really nice to finally get it.
"South Africa played well today and we know we need to keep playing well to win again on Sunday."