England’s Linsey Smith celebrates after taking a wicket throughout their Ladies’s World Cup 2025 recreation in opposition to South Africa in Guwahati, India, October 3, 2025. — ICC
GUWAHATI: After bowling out the Proteas for a paltry 69 in simply 20.4 overs, England’s openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones made mild work of the chase, cantering residence in 14.1 overs.
Electing to bowl first, England rolled the cube early by tossing the brand new ball to spin, a transfer captains usually shrink back from within the energy play. However left-arm tweaker Linsey Smith turned out to be the ace up their sleeve, exploiting a cheesy floor that had South Africa groping at midnight.
“To get that start was very special. I only found out yesterday that I was opening the bowling and I was excited for the challenge. The conditions suited me well,” stated Smith.
It was simply Smith’s fifth ODI, however the 30-year-old is not any stranger to worldwide cricket, having been a part of England’s T20 aspect since 2018. Now a everlasting fixture within the 50-over group, her willingness to bowl within the hazard zone of the ability play might be a trump card for England going ahead on this marketing campaign.
Smith struck in every of her first three overs and was unfortunate to not bag a fourth when a stumping likelihood off Sinalo Jafta went begging. Jafta clung on grimly for 22, the lone South African to succeed in double figures in a sorry story of collapse.
It was the Proteas’ third lowest whole in ODIs and their worst in opposition to England.
The chase was little greater than a formality, although Jones survived a let-off on 31 when Masabata Klaas spilled a return catch. She completed unbeaten on 40 with Beaumont on 21 not out.
“Not the way we wanted to start the tournament. We’ve shown resilience in the past and we’ll bounce back,” South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt insisted as her batters had been left trying to find solutions.
England’s dominance was such that Heather Knight, marking her one hundred and fiftieth ODI look was not required to bat or bowl as her team-mates had been so dominant in opposition to South Africa. She grew to become solely the second participant from England to function in 150 ladies’s ODIs.
The emphatic win vaulted England to the highest of the factors desk with all eight groups now having performed one recreation every.
