Crucial run-outs cause South Africa's women to disappoint again at Shenley

The South African women’s cricket team lost the fourth ODI against world-beaters England at Shenley on Thursday 14th August by a margin of 6 wickets, and now are 4-0 down in the series. The win by England continued the fine run that has seen them beat the West Indies and New Zealand in one-day internationals following the retention of the Ashes Down Under last winter. However, if it were not for a couple of run-outs of key batsmen Alicia Smith and Shandre Fritz, the South African team might have put England under severe pressure.

The England team, showing three changes from the previous match, approached the encounter brimming with confidence after overwhelming South Africa by 121 runs in the first international, 225 runs in the second and 77 runs in the third.

Charlotte Edwards of England won the toss and invited South Africa to bat first on a pitch still slightly damp as a result of overnight rain. Daleen Terblanche and Alicia Smith opened the innings for SA but lost Terblanche lbw for five with the score on 10. Cri-Zelda Brits came in to join Smith and the score advanced slowly to 50 in the 15th over.

Brits was then out lbw with her score on nine and the total 52-2, and Analie Minny came in to join Smith, who was on 29. The Free State duo of Minny and Susanna Benade then went cheaply for zero and four respectively. Trisha Chetty joined Smith, who went to her 50 out of a total of 88 in the 27th over. Chetty was then out for five with the total still on 88. Fritz and Smith then put together an excellent partnership of 51, but Smith was the next to go, run out by a superb throw from the boundary by Jenny Gunn for 68 at 139-6.

Charlize van der Westhuizen was then bowled for zero and Sunette Loubser joined Fritz who was run out for 31. Ashlyn Kilowan joined Loubser and the 150 came up in the 46th over, but Kilowan was soon out for two with the score on 152-9. Marcia Letsoalo then fell for three making the final score 158 in 47.3 overs. Loubser was not out on 8.

For England, Linsey Askew took 2-19, Isa Guha 2-20, Laura Marsh 2-26 and Jenny Gunn and Anya Shrubsole one wicket each. The two best South African batsmen were both run out.

England opened their innings with Gunn and Beth Morgan, who put on a brisk 40 off nine overs for the first wicket. Morgan was then lbw to Benade for 11. Ebony Rainford-Brent joined Morgan and was soon into her stride but Gunn was out one run later, caught off Kilowan for 26. Laura Marsh was then out for zero off Kilowan, with the score on 53 and Claire Taylor joined Rainford-Brent, who was immediately caught off Kilowan for 17 making the score 58-4.

Charlotte Edwards joined Sarah Taylor and the top England duo slowly ground out a win for the home side, adding an undefeated 101 for the fifth wicket. England ended with 159-4 from 45 overs, with captain Edwards 58 not out and Taylor 37 not out.

The most successful South African bowler was Ashlyn Kilowan who took 3-19 off her 10 overs. Benade took the other wicket. Alicia Smith was named player of the match for her innings of 68.

Commenting on his side’s performance, South Africa coach Noor Rhode said: “I am happy with our team’s progress. We are slowly closing the gap between the two teams. Although we have lost the series, our main objective in coming here has been achieved as we now know that we have to improve in every department to be competitive at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup next March.”

South Africa meets England in a fifth and final NatWest Series ODI on Monday at Chesterfield.

Teams:

South Africa: Cri-Zelda Brits (captain), Susanna Benade, Trisha Chetty, Shandre Fritz, Ashlyn Kilowan, Marcia Letsoalo, Sunette Loubser, Analie Minny, Alicia Smith, Magdalena Terblanche, Charlize van der Westhuizen.

England from: Charlotte Edwards (captain), Linsey Askew, Lydia Greenway, Isa Guha, Jenny Gunn, Laura Marsh, Beth Morgan, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Anya Shrubsole, Claire Taylor, Sarah Taylor (wk).