England began their 2025 World Cup campaign in emphatic style, crushing South Africa by 10 wickets in Guwahati on Friday (October 3). A superb all-round bowling effort, highlighted by Linsey Smith’s early breakthroughs, dismissed South Africa for just 69 — their third-lowest total in ODIs — which England chased down comfortably within 14.1 overs.
Linsey Smith shatters South Africa's batting order
Asked to bat first, South Africa began positively with openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits hitting a boundary each off Lauren Bell’s opening over. However, Linsey Smith’s left-arm spin from the opposite end soon turned the tide in England’s favour. She struck twice in quick succession, removing both openers in consecutive overs to jolt South Africa early.
Wolvaardt was the first to fall in the second over, offering a leading edge straight back to Smith on a delivery that bounced awkwardly. Soon after, Brits was deceived by one that sneaked through the gap and crashed into her stumps. Following them, Marizanne Kapp also perished while attempting to play away from her body, leaving the visitors in deep trouble.
Lauren Bell, who had an erratic start, soon found her rhythm and began troubling the South African batters with her movement off the seam. She delivered a peach to knock over Sune Luus’s off stump, further denting their innings. Sinola Jafta attempted to provide some resistance, surviving a missed stumping chance from Amy Jones, but wickets continued to tumble at the other end.
Despite Jafta’s efforts, England maintained complete control. The small 12-run partnerships that she shared with Anneke Bosch and Masataba Klaas were the highest of the innings, underlining South Africa’s struggles. Once Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, and Charlie Dean joined the act with two wickets each, South Africa’s innings was wrapped up in just 21 overs for a mere 69 runs.
England chase the target in a jiffy
Chasing a modest target, England’s openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones ensured there were no hiccups. They began cautiously, especially against Marizanne Kapp, who managed to extract some early movement. However, once they settled, both batters capitalized on loose deliveries and kept the scoreboard ticking comfortably.
South Africa turned to the spin of Chloe Tryon in hopes of breaking the opening stand, but it had little impact. Beaumont and Jones played risk-free cricket, rotating the strike smartly and punishing anything wayward. Without a single moment of pressure, England cruised to victory in just 85 balls, sealing an emphatic 10-wicket win to open their World Cup campaign.
Brief Scores: South Africa 69 in 20.4 overs (Sinola Jafta 22; Linsey Smith 3-7, Nat Sciver-Brunt 2-5) lost to England 70 for no loss in 14.1 overs (Amy Jones 40*, Tammy Beaumont 21*) by 10 wickets