Only 34.3 overs were possible tonight, despite the presence of competition heavyweights England and South Africa. Rain? Not so much. What South Africa served up was a display of bungling incompetence which left their captain Volvaardt white of face, tight of lip, and unable to see any humour whatever in the situation. England had chosen a triple-spin attack of Smith, Ecclestone and Dean, with Capsey in reserve if required; plus Bell and Sciver-Brunt for seam. Smith opened the bowling and was taken off after four overs. Her figures of 3/7 earned her a Player of the Match trophy. She caught the captain from a teasing drifter, and bowled Brits and Kapp, the Proteas’ three gun batsmen.
The rest, dismayed, subsided meekly save for the keeper Jafta, ninth out for 22. Nobody else managed double figures. You would think this had been a raging turner. As in Colombo last night, it really wasn’t, as shown by the ease with which Jones and Beaumont knocked off the runs. Rarely has an ODI been so one-sided, or finished so early. Asked afterwards what her secret might be, Smith’s response said it all. ‘Attack the stumps’. Cricket can be a simple game. England bowled exceptionally well on a pitch which offered only the most modest of help. And South Africa lost their way in a calamitous fashion. One imagines that Annerie Dercksen – inexplicably omitted tonight – will return to the side. The rest: back to the nets and practise waiting for the ball to come to you.
This column opined, after the disastrous Test series against Australia, that it was time for a female coach for England. Charlotte Edwards is now at the helm, and the team looks refreshed and ready for anything.