Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

You've got to pride yourself on consistency as a spinner.

You could put a notepad on the floor and Ecclestone will hit it time and time again. We used to train together at Old Trafford and put a 50p on the floor. That's how small our target was. We wanted to be competitive.

Sophie Ecclestone wrestles an over back in England's favour as she attempts to reapply some pressure. Marizanne Kapp and Sune Luus diligently see off an over, with just a single off it.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

There's a little bit of turn and bounce in the pitch, a bit of variable bounce for the seamers. We've seen Lauren Filer bang a few in that haven't got above stump height.

The more this game goes on, the pitch will deteriorate. But it is pretty dead. It's not offering much. For the seamers yesterday, the most effective ball was the wobble ball. Today, it's been Filer's bouncer. For the spinners, the odd ball is turning. There's enough there if you use the facilities correctly, but you've got to be patient.

Charlie Dean moves her hair out of her eyes as the wind blows across the ground at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.

England are seemingly feeding Marizanne Kapp's strengths at the moment as she latches on a slightly full ball from Dean and whips it for four through the leg side.

Image source, Getty Images

This match is being played against the backdrop of a stadium which hosted England's Football World Cup defeat against Germany in 2010. You'll remember it - Frank Lampard's ghost goal, Fabio Capello's men being eliminated etc.

The Free State Stadium was built for and hosted matches in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The Cheetahs rugby side currently reside there.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Game will respect game. Kapp will respect Ecclestone and wait for that bad ball and then try and put it away. She's not going to take unnecessary risks.

Sophie Ecclestone purses her lips between deliveries to Marizanne Kapp. This is an intriguing battle.

Charlie Dean fumbles in the ring to allow Kapp to pick up a single, much to the England left-arm spinner's chagrin.

Spin from both ends as Charlie Dean is brought into the attack, but the runs are flowing a little easier for South Africa now.

A little too much turn from Dean's fourth delivery and Sune Luus with a tidy leg glance for four.

Ffion Wynne
BBC Sport cricket writer

You can already see Marizanne Kapp trying to be proactive against Sophie Ecclestone, getting back into her crease and manoeuvring the ball into different gaps. And because England have got this aggressive field, they've got three close fielders in, there are gaps for South Africa to score.

You can't just be a sitting duck for Sophie Ecclestone as Wolvaardt found out. She will just keep firing it in. It's good to see Kapp trying something different to make England think.

Sophie Ecclestone is smirking again, but there's more than a touch of frustration.

A rather filthy hack from Sune Luus flies over the slip cordon and races away for four through third.

Two balls later and Ecclestone is not quite so sanguine when Marizanne Kapp whips it off her legs for another boundary all along the carpet.

Kevin Howells
BBC Test Match Special commentator

England have kept it nice and tight, they haven't run away with things. They got the crucial wicket just before lunch, which should've been taken an hour and a half earlier. Filer should have been kept on. England made up for an error there.

In the afternoon session yesterday, England really got into it and got a lot of runs scored. It's not going that way for South Africa.

Ffion Wynne
BBC Sport cricket writer

I think Laura Wolvaardt's bat was close to the pad. It was very close. Umpires are human beings and that's what DRS is for. That's exactly why it's so frustrating.

Marizanne Kapp confidently plants her front foot and drives the first ball of Lauren Bell's ninth over for four.

A couple of balls later and Kapp rides the bounce and guides a short-ish delivery through point for four more.

There's not even a flicker of joy on Kapp's face for either shot. The cameras cut to Laura Wolvaardt watching on from the stands, rather glum. Clearly the South Africa captain is still rather annoyed by her dismissal.

Rufus Bullough
CricViz analyst

Typically miserly from Ecclestone going for just 13 runs in her first 10 overs. Only once in Test cricket has her economy been lower after 10 overs - against South Africa in Taunton (2022) where she conceded just 12.

Sophie Ecclestone wheels away, round the wicket, with that familiar action of hers.

Marizanne Kapp works her first delivery it into the leg side before Sune Luus blocks out the next five.

Ffion Wynne
BBC Sport cricket writer

A much-needed boundary for South Africa, their first for a while.

It takes the pressure off Sune Luus, who's been in for a while and needs to take that responsibility as Marizanne Kapp gets settled in.

Lauren Bell takes a breath, pontificating bowling strategies at the top of her run up, before skipping into her stride and bounding into the crease.

Plenty to think about between overs as she strays on to the legs of Sune Luus and she elegantly flicks off her heel for four through the leg side.

Ffion Wynne
BBC Sport cricket writer

This is a huge moment with Marizanne Kapp early in her innings. She's the glue for South Africa, her and Laura Wolvaardt.

England will be hoping to get rid of her early because a bit like Nat Sciver-Brunt, you have to get her early or it's difficult to get her at all.

England captain Heather Knight is grinning after a quip is delivered by a colleague.

Marizanne Kapp does not carry the air of someone willing to indulge in such light-hearted patter, though. She's made a diligent start to her innings against Sophie Ecclestone.