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With an emphatic start to their tournament, the English side secured a decisive 10-wicket victory on Friday, following bowling out their opponents for a low 69 runs in only 20.4 overs – marking the third poorest total in their history.

Shocking Display from South Africa

Although the Proteas having been a formidable force in international women's cricket of late, having reached the championship match of the T20 tournament last year and making the penultimate round of the previous 50-over competition, this display was baffling and embarrassing. Solely one player, wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta, managed double figures, and six of their hitters were clean bowled on a good pitch that seldom behaved unpredictably.

England’s Overpowering Response

Answering, the English revamped starting duo of Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones quickly finished of the target, completing the game with 215 balls left – England's opening World Cup success earned in barely three hours. Maybe of greater significance in what might be a close preliminary tournament, England’s net run rate is now a impressive 3.77.

Attack Defines the Pace

After England called correctly and chose to bowl the opposition, Linsey Smith’s opening spell set the tone, the slow left-armer achieving a outstanding figures of 4-2-7-3 in her debut 50-over World Cup game. She took a sharp caught and bowled to see off the captain Laura Wolvaardt, before floating the ball in to rattle the stumps Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp.

Captain’s Perfect Return

Leader Nat Sciver-Brunt came on as first bowling change and had a ideal return to elite bowling, trapping Anneke Bosch LBW with her first ball since January’s Ashes series. In her following over, Chloe Tryon offered a soft chance to Alice Capsey at midwicket, as South Africa slumped to 38 for six within the first 11 overs.

In light of Sciver-Brunt’s measured return to bowling fitness over the last nine months, there had been questions as to what quantity of overs she might manage in this fixture, with the team opting to play both Capsey and Emma Lamb to some extent to guarantee there were reserve bowling resources.

Clinical Wrap-up

But three overs were sufficient of Sciver-Brunt: a duo of Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean effectively dispatched the South African tail. Heather Knight, returning after a lengthy struggle with a muscle issue, looked raring to go: she was not required with the batting on this occasion, but grabbed a quick mid-level chance at first slip which brought an end to Nadine de Klerk.

Fielding Hardly Examined

England’s fielding – frequently scrutinized currently – was barely examined here. Conversely it was South Africa who fumbled the chance to dismiss Jones in the early stages, while Masabata Klaas dropped a simple self-taken opportunity proffered up by Jones on 31 – South Africa’s best chance of securing a wicket. Instead, Jones persisted to hit the ball down the ground, concluding not out on 40. International play has never been this simple.