Summary

  1. More cricket coming your way...published at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    England players celebrate victoryImage source, Getty Images

    That's just about your lot from today's coverage of the one-off Test between England and South Africa on what was a pulsating and controversial day of cricket.

    Ffion Wynne has tried to make sense of it all in her match report...

    Scroll down to read all of the reaction from England captain Heather Knight, South Africa counterpart Laura Wolvaardt and player of the match Lauren Bell.

    Plus analysis from the Test Match Special team.

    England are next in action early in 2025 when they head to Australia to contest the Women's Ashes.

    We will back in the early hours of Wednesday morning with coverage of day five of the third men's Test between Australia and India from Brisbane, including ball-by-ball commentary via ABC Grandstand.

    In the meantime here's some further reading for you:

  2. 'We really put in the graft'published at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    England captain Heather KnightImage source, Getty Images

    England captain Heather Knight: "There are only three of us in the squad who have been involved in a Test win before so we've had a lot of tough fought draws and a couple of losses as well.

    "Really pleasing, we really put the graft in the last couple of days. The way we batted on the first day, Maia and Nat - that partnership and the pace they scored allowed us to control the game, read the ebbs and flows.

    "Credit to the groundstaff as well, I thought it was a brilliant Test wicket. It allowed the batters to score runs, there was a little bit of turn on day one and it's important the bowlers can take wickets in a women's Test. Then we saw how it deteriorated at quite a quick pace in the end."

    On Ryana MacDonald-Gay: "So impressive. The way she was able to control her line and length was really impressive for a 20-year-old. Just her mentality to have the confidence to do what she does so well. It was quite simple plans, trying to hit the stumps and get bowled and lbws.

    "She is someone who is really exciting for the future. We missed Kate Cross, she's so important for us, particularly in Test cricket but nice to know there are a few coming through the ranks and knocking on the door."

    On Lauren Bell: "Brilliant. She's struggled a bit at times for consistency but that work has gone in to create moments like she had today and give her the skills to compete in different conditions.

    "I thought she read the wicket brilliantly and went to her wobble ball a lot. That paid off her her. That's the work to have those different tools in her tool box for different conditions.

    "She's still working on stuff and still growing, which is a great place to be. But a special moment to see her pick up those wickets."

    On her 90 in the second innings: "It was nice to spend some time in the middle. Probably wasn't my most fluent knock. The pitch got a little bit slow, the ball got softer and I felt we needed a few more runs to put the game out of reach of South Africa."

  3. Postpublished at 14:43 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Lydia Greenway
    Former England batter on BBC Test Match Special

    There have been 21 international matches in South Africa this year and this is the only one that hasn't had DRS.

    In a lot of articles it has been highlighted the profits that Cricket South Africa have benefitted from this year, over £40m, largely thanks to tours with India.

    When you look at that, you look at that, you think surely they could have used it to give their women's team the best chance of winning in a true fashion.

    Unfortunately for South Africa, the decisions that we didn't think were right on pitch went England's way.

  4. Postpublished at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    DRS, the lack there of, has been on our minds since the second ball of this game because Tammy Beaumont was struck in front. It looked for all money that she was out but no DRS and South Africa were fuming.

    Laura Wolvaardt on the second day was out lbw having inside edged it quite clearly, she was fuming to the extent that she's been reprimanded by the ICC.

    Today, Annerie Dercksen's dismissal, again going against South Africa. Whether it was the right decision, ultimately, it was the procedure and the protocol that was wrong in my view.

    It leaves a little bit of a sour taste.

  5. 'We let it slip in the last two hours'published at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt: "I guess very disappointing. I think we played a lot of good cricket in that Test match but let it slip in the last hour or two.

    "All credit goes to England, they played really good cricket and we weren't up to it for the last couple of hours."

    On middle session on day one: "That session hurt us quite a bit. We did well after that to bring it back and end the day with them not scoring too many. But when you look back, that session hurt us the most."

    On Nonkululeko Mlaba: "She was wonderful throughout. The way she bounced back on day one then to take six today was incredible. The turn she gets is really nice and was good to see today."

    On Test cricket: "I'd love to play more of it. When we get to play it, we absolutely love it and learn so much out in the middle.

    "The only way we can learn is by playing it. There is only so much you can learn in the nets beforehand. We'll learn from this experience and hopefully the next one will be better."

    On 2024: "Big year, busy year. It'll be a good time for us to reflect now and spend a bit of time at home."

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    I think judging by her teammates performances we can all say regardless of the correct or incorrect call of the Annerie Dercksen wicket, would it really have made a difference?

    Mark

  7. Postpublished at 14:32 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    England have won convincingly. It started off with a fantastic day one. Maia Bouchier, on debut, getting her maiden Test century, backed up by Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was fantastic.

    They could have got more than that mammoth 395, they could have got more but they had plenty on the board and it just get better and better for them.

    There was a bit of a fight for South Africa on day two but being bowled out for 281 wasn't going to be enough.

    Heather Knight got 90 today and 351 proved far too much for South Africa. The headline is England win but there are so many talking points.

  8. 'Performance like that gives me confidence'published at 14:27 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Lauren Bell celebratesImage source, Getty Images

    Player of the match, England bowler Lauren Bell, speaking on Sky Sports: "It's amazing, my first Test. As a team we've worked really hard the last three days so it's great.

    "A lot of it is learning as you go. Throughout the game, I learned what worked for me but it's always an honour to play Test cricket. Great fun.

    "The wind definitely wasn't easy but the pitch helped us out a lot. I just had to bowl the same ball again and again and the pitch helped me.

    "My game is a work in progress but a performance like that gives me confidence that I'm doing the right thing. I'm still young but it's really exciting.

    "I've got this trophy but the two other seamers and the spinners were fantastic. It was definitely a team effort."

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    The quality of the cricket has deserved a bigger investment from Cricket South Africa. No DRS, second-tier grounds with (in some instances) outfields worse than village cricket grounds. If this reflects Cricket SA's investment in their women's teams, they're going to struggle.

    Tim

  10. Postpublished at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Lauren Bell is named player of the match after she finished with figures of 4-49 and 4-27. We'll be hearing from her shortly, hopefully.

  11. Postpublished at 14:21 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    England haven't won a Test in a decade and now they've won by 286 runs! But I'm disappointed, to be honest. With a lot of things. South Africa, in particular.

    England gave them a sniff. We thought it was far too many and it has proven to be way too many.

    Were South Africa rattled by that Annerie Dercksen decision? I'm not sure.

  12. How's stat?!published at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    Largest defeats (by runs) in Women's Test cricket:

    • England - 347 runs v India, Mumbai (DYP), Dec 2023
    • Pakistan - 309 runs v Sri Lanka, Colombo, Apr 1998
    • South Africa - 286 runs v England, Bloemfontein, Dec 2024
    • South Africa - 188 runs v New Zealand, Durban, Mar 1972
  13. Postpublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    England's first victory in Tests since a 61-run win over Australia in January 2014.

  14. Postpublished at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Lydia Greenway
    Former England batter on BBC Test Match Special

    That run out just sums up what we've seen in the last hour.

    But I really feel for South Africa, they've been on the wrong end of the controversial things we've seen in this match.

    Hopefully it makes Cricket South Africa just think about the decision over DRS. But, for England, what a win - the first in 10 years.

  15. champagne moment

    ENGLAND WIN BY 286 RUNSpublished at 14:14 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    EnglandImage source, Getty Images

    Ayanda Hlubi will not bat because she's injured. England's players celebrate.

    An enthralling, controversial and chaotic session sees England romp to a emphatic victory by 286 runs at the Mangaung Oval.

    We'll have plenty of analysis and reaction to come. Stick with us.

  16. Postpublished at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    That is so, so poor from Mlaba.

    She's had a brilliant match but she's just been run out in the most dismal way.

  17. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 19.4 overs

    Mlaba run out (Bell) 14 (SA 64-9)

    An absolute capitulation by South Africa ends with a farcical run out.

    Nonkululeko Mlaba hits the ball to mid-off where it deflects off Lauren Bell on the shin.

    Bell gathers and throws down the stumps at the non-striker's end and Mlaba fails to ground her bat, and then jumps in the air as she crosses the line of the crease.

    She's out.

  18. Postpublished at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    She's gone! She leapt in the air. What's she done that for? Oh my goodness me.

    I do not believe what we've seen.

  19. Umpire reviewpublished at 19.5 overs

    Nonkululeko Mlaba might be run out here after not grounding her bat. The umpires want to take a look.

  20. Postpublished at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2024

    Lydia Greenway
    Former England batter on BBC Test Match Special

    The biggest standout for me is how England's bowling unit have pulled together and stood up without Kate Cross leading the attack.