Summary

  • Second T20, Benoni

  • England win by 36 runs to seal series victory with match to spare

  • England 204-4: Wyatt-Hodge 78 (45), Sciver-Brunt 67* (43)

  • Tourists hit their joint third highest total in women's T20 internationals

  • SA 168-6: De Klerk 32* (21); Glenn 4-20

  • Third T20 in Centurion on Saturday (16:00 GMT)

Live Reporting

by Ffion Wynne & Tom Mallows

  1. England are slight favourites, according to WinViz.

    WinViz gives South Africa 2% chance of victory, England 98%CricViz

  2. SA 7-1

    A wide from Lauren Filer is even out of Amy Jones' reach and gifts South Africa five precious runs.

    But Filer is rapid and South Africa's inexperienced batters won't have faced much pace like this before. That just adds to the almighty challenge that they already have in front of them.

  3. Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    A first innings total of 200+ has been posted 58 times in women's T20I cricket - only once has it been successfully chased.

    That was by West Indies, who pulled off a chase of 212 against Australia in 2023 with Hayley Matthews scoring 132.

  4. SA 2-1

    Target 205

    The inexperienced Faye Tunnicliffe is in at three.

    It's been a nightmare start for South Africa, even with Laura Wolvaardt being gifted a second chance.

  5. wicket

    WICKET

    Brits c Dean b Sciver-Brunt 0 (SA 1-1)

    But England get the breakthrough two balls later.

    Tazmin Brits is usually the aggressor in the opening partnership and she tries to do just that. But she is cramped for room by a Sciver-Brunt short ball and plops the ball straight into Charlie Dean's hands at mid-wicket.

  6. dropped catch

    Wolvaardt dropped on 0

    Target 205

    Oh my word!

    England nearly get the perfect start as Laura Wolvaardt drives loosely off Nat Sciver-Brunt's second ball, but Sophia Dunkley drops a sitter at cover.

  7. Put simply, South Africa need a miracle and, based on their team selection tonight, it'll have to come from one of Laura Wolvaardt or Tazmin Brits.

    They are missing lots of middle order experience in Sune Luus and Anneke Bosch, who for some reason aren't playing, so the class of this opening partnership is even more important than usual.

  8. England batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge: "We're really happy with that score. It's a lovely pitch to bat on, very different to what we had in East London. It was good to make the most of it.

    "There was a lot more bounce and carry so any width, it was nice to back yourself to put your hands through it.

    "I love batting with Nat, she's so calm and cool as a cucumber. We don't chat too much, we know each other very well so we back each other and I usually trust how she's going to play.

    "When you play on wickets like this as a batter you've got to make it count, it suited our fearless and brave cricket."

  9. Cheers, Tom.

    My word, that was ruthless from England with Nat Sciver-Brunt finishing unbeaten on 67 from 43 balls and Danni Wyatt-Hodge smashing 78 from 45.

    They were brilliant on a flat pitch but that was a shocking performance from South Africa. Wyatt-Hodge was dropped on nine and 29, Sciver-Brunt was dropped on 25 and the bowling was all over the place.

    It's been a startling reminder of how much they struggle without Marizanne Kapp's star quality and they've got a lot of work to do in building a strong bowling attack for when she's no longer around.

  10. Time for me to take a break after all that carnage.

    Here to take you through South Africa's reply is Ffion Wynne.

  11. Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    England batted so well - the 78 off 45 from Danni Wyatt-Hodge was brilliant. But they capitalised on some loose bowling and South Africa will be disappointed with how they played.

    South Africa are slightly light on the batting front so it would be an unbelievable chase for them to reach this target.

  12. That was fun.

    England were utterly dominant, ruthlessly punishing some wayward South Africa bowling.

    A series victory is in sight for Heather Knight's side.

  13. Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    This is just the third time South Africa have conceded over 200 runs in T20I cricket and the second time against England. England have now reached the milestone four times in the format.

  14. Eng 204-4

    Amy Jones manages to squeeze a yorker away for two to end the innings.

    England end on 204-4, their joint third highest women's T20 international total.

  15. Eng 202-4

    And they get there! Amy Jones repeats the trick next ball to nudge England past 200 for just the fourth time in T20 cricket.

  16. Eng 198-4

    New batter Amy Jones does not need any time to get her eye in, playing a lovely controlled scoop shot to dispatch Eliz-Mari Marx away for four.

    England two away from 200.

  17. Eng 190-4

    That is so dismissive from Nat Sciver-Brunt.

    It isn't that bad a ball from Nadine de Klerk, full and into Sciver-Brunt's feet. But the England batter cracks it straight down the ground for four.

  18. Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    South Africa did well to cramp Heather Knight for room. She was unable to get enough power on it, but did well to carry on the form which Danni Wyatt-Hodge started.

    I really wanted to see Freya Kemp come out next for that right-hand, left-hand combination.

  19. wicket

    WICKET

    Knight c&b de Klerk 26 (Eng 181-4)

    Some rare brightness amongst the gloom for South Africa as Heather Knight is cramped for room and can only nudge the ball back to Nadine de Klerk for a routine caught and bowled chance.

  20. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Nonkululeko Mlaba has been expensive tonight. She is normally so consistent and reliable but the England batters have just taken her down.