England women overcame a shaky start to post 262 for nine in their second one-day international against South Africa.
Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp reduced the tourist to 16 for three during an impressive opening spell before Charlotte Edwards and Heather Knight steadied the ship.
Danni Wyatt then helped the tail provide some late impetus to improve England’s chances of taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, following a seven-wicket Duckworth-Lewis victory in Mark Robinson’s first competitive game as Head Coach.
Kapp had Lauren Winfield caught behind in the second over and opening partner Amy Jones soon followed to Ismail, also edging to wicketkeeper Trisha Chetty for seven.
Sarah Taylor, playing her 100th ODI, could not mark the occasion despite being dropped by Chetty first ball: Ismail responded to the spilt chance by clean bowling the wicketkeeper-batter.
Edwards and Knight rebuilt with a stand of 78 before the England skipper was well held by leg-spinner Sune Luus for 45, who took a diving caught-and-bowled chance.
Knight smashed the first six of the innings after reaching her half-century but was soon out for 61 to Dane van Niekerk.
At 136 for five and with just 16 overs remaining, England were still struggling to reach a par score on the same Centurion wicket that produced in excess of 600 runs when the two country’s men’s sides played on it on Tuesday.
Lydia Greenway added 23 before becoming van Niekerk’s second scalp, but Wyatt upped the ante with a six and six fours in her 27-ball 40.
Wyatt’s innings was ended by a stunning catch at backward point from 16-year-old Laura Wolfvaardt off Luus’ bowling, but Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole and Dani Wyatt all scored at better than a run a ball as more than 94 runs came from the last 10 overs.
Source: ECB