In England’s first outing since their disastrous T20 World Cup group-stage exit in October, they performed with a extra reserved fashion than the ultra-aggression that head coach Jon Lewis has tried to encourage.
However wins are the simplest type of forex in silencing critics and so they managed that comfortably – beginning with a strong, if not spectacular, all-round bowling efficiency.
Their solely specialist seamer Lauren Bell did battle, conceding 46 from her 4 overs, and leg-spinner Sarah Glenn additionally had problem to find rhythm however Ecclestone and Dean have been again to their finest after tough particular person World Cup campaigns.
Dean claimed the large breakthrough of South Africa skipper Wolvaardt, deceiving the opener with a well-executed faster ball, after which had skilled all-rounder Luus caught at mid-off.
Ecclestone’s sole wicket was of opener Brits, who was stumped, however she conceded simply 18 from her 4 overs and her swagger of confidence had returned – a sight that may definitely please England followers.
At 64-4 and with most of their senior batters again within the dugout, South Africa appeared destined to break down however the spirited Dercksen ran brilliantly between the wickets to build up very important runs in a stand of 36 with Nondumiso Shangase, earlier than De Klerk gave the Proteas an honest whole with 4 fours in her entertaining cameo.
There have been nonetheless a couple of fumbles within the subject, and Sciver-Brunt dropped a easy catch off Bosch on 13 – it in the end solely price an additional 5 runs, however these are the small errors that England will probably be hoping to place proper all through this multi-format sequence and earlier than the Girls’s Ashes begin in January.