Beaumont ton sets up record-breaking win for England

England

A maiden T20 international century by Tammy Beaumont set up the largest victory margin by runs (121) in the format for England against South Africa in the second match of the T20 triangular series in Somerset on Wednesday.

That makes back-to-back losses for the Momentum Proteas as they completed a tough day of double-header cricket.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the hosts posted a mammoth 250/3 smashing 33 fours and nine sixes as they went while South Africa’s bowlers struggled to keep a lid on the imploding run rate. It was another record-breakingtotal against the tourists as England surpassed New Zealand’s earlier record total of 216/1, setting the highest team total in T20 internationals.

Stacey Lackay took her maiden international wicket, removing Danielle Wyatt for 56 (36 balls, 9x4s) and following up with the big one of Beaumont for a career-best 116 (52 balls, 18x4s, 4x6s) but that was the last of the good news for the tourists. Katherine Brunt returned an unbeaten 42 off 16 deliveries (3x4s, 3x6s) and Natalie Sciver added her own well-played 33 off 15 deliveries (3x4s, 2x6s) before Shabnim Ismail bowled her out with just one ball left in the innings.

The visitors’ reply did not get off to an ideal start, losing three wickets for 22 runs inside the first seven overs. Laura Wolvaardt was dismissed for two in the second over by Brunt (2/18), followed by Lizelle Lee (19 off 14 balls) to Danielle Hazell (2/35) and Tazmin Brits who got run out by Sophie Ecclestone for a single.

Captain, Dané van Niekerk and Mignon du Preez were once again left with the job of rebuilding the innings, this time, adding 76 runs for the fifth wicket before the latter’s dismissal for 25 when she was caught by Heather Knight off Ecclestone(1/28). The skipper battled on, racking up another hard-fought half-century during difficult circumstances and ending with 72 off 51 balls (8x4s, 3x6s) with just 10 deliveries left in the match.

England cruised to victory, securing the top spot in the tri-series log.

South Africa’s next match will be against the hosts this Saturday at 13:00 local time

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