When they last met, England thrashed South Africa by 10 wickets, scuttling them for 69 all out. But as both teams reach the semis, and the Proteas facing major hiccups losing to Australia badly after a resurgence, the first Women’s World Cup play-off looks intriguing with the tactics deployed.
In that first match, England debutant spinner Linsey Smith packed off Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, before taking the crucial wicket of Marizanne Kapp and her figures of 4-2-7-3 punctured the Proteas.
English star Tammy Beaumont told Sky Sports, “The bowling unit has done really well. Particularly opening the bowling with Linsey Smith has been brilliant innthat role. Later the way she defended against India too.”
England have not followed the Aussie or NZ template of leading with pacers, and delayed Nat Sciver-Brunt for after the Powerplay.
Attacking the stumps had been the key as England chose spin over pace to open the bowling, guided by coach Charlotte Edwards. Smith had said after the first win, “We knew that winning the toss and fielding first could help us, with the pitch likely to get better under lights. We kept it pretty simple today since we didn’t know how it would play. For me, it was just about keeping the stumps in play, which I always try to do. I think that paid off well today,” Smith added.
Since her entry into the England team in 2018, the left arm orthodox spinner, has worked mighty hard and is entrusted with the responsibility in the World Cup to open the bowling. Besides India, she also snared two quick wickets against Australia to get them into some trouble, but couldn’t drag England the distance.
But her opening the bowling is a breath of fresh air, a tactic the English have devised to shock in powerplays at this edition. Though she appeared shocked herself when she claimed Laura Wolvaardt wicket early in the piece, her celebrations have been iconic.
Smith, a Hampshire woman, who Shane Warne would’ve been proud of, held a unique record of grabbing 17 wickets in 17 consecutive Hundred games. After her star turn against South Africa she had said, “I found out yesterday (that i would open yhe bowling) which was nice — a bit of a heads up. I’ve done it before for my regional team back home, so it wasn’t too surprising. I think it suits my bowling well, and I do it a lot in T20s too, so I’m not a stranger to it. I enjoy the competition and the toughness of it, and I’m glad it came off today,” she had said in the post-match press conference.
Laura Wolvaardt’s side however have mounted a comeback, before they stumbled against Australia again.
Central to that resistance and turnaround was all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, the 25-year-old having taken 6 wickets and smacked 84 no off 54 balls to win against India.
However, England will wickedly try to exploit De Klerk’s weakness against spin, according to Sky Sports. They can avail of tweakers Linsey Smith, Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn to protract De Klerk’s vulnerability that saw her fall to spin thrice already – against England, she fell to Ecclestone, against Pakistan, to Sadia Iqbal; and against Australia to Alana King, Sky noted. But Smith’s key role will be to split Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits at top of the order. Brits has had 3 ducks against subcontinent teams, but slammed 101 against New Zealand. Wolvaardt’s highest score is 90 during the win against Pakistan.
England, however smug they feel, with all the advantages of form, etc in their favour, however need to be wary of South African spin that can sneak in through Nonkululeko Mlaba. A lwft arm spinner herself, Mlaba has 11 wickets so far, with her best figures being 4-40 against New Zealand.
ALSO READ | Who is Nonkululeko Mlaba, South Africa’s left arm slow rocket, lighting up the Proteas’ march into Women’s World Cup semis?
England themselves have struggled against spin and Mlaba went 0-9 in their opener.
Like all wonderful South African one-day teams, the side is stacked with all rounders, and prime amongst those is
Marizanne Kapp, effective with both bat and ball.
However this looks like a battling of wits of the two talented left arm spinners, Smith and Mlaba.
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