Proteas women lose warm-up game to England A

Undefeated half-centuries from Lauren Winfield-Hill and Bryony Smith helped England A claim a seven-wicket victory over the Proteas Women in their 50-over warm-up match in Leicester on Thursday.

Winfield-Hill recorded an outstanding 95* off 66 balls (13 fours, 2 sixes), while Smith scored 66* off 58 deliveries (7 fours) as the home side successfully chased down the SA women's total of 264/7 which was inspired by Laura Wolvaardt's 72 off 89 (8 fours) and Marizanne Kapp's 51 off 51 (5 fours, 1 six).  

South Africa won the toss and chose to set a score as openers Wolvaardt and Andrie Steyn (22) got off to an ideal start, putting up a 50-run stand for the first wicket before the latter was trapped lbw by Danelle Gibson (1/42).  

Wolvaardt then continued the momentum out in the middle alongside Lara Goodall (45) as the pair put on a notable century partnership to help take the visitors to 152/1, with Wolvaardt reaching a deserved half-century. This was before disaster struck for the away side, as the England outfit picked up four quick wickets for only nine runs to leave the Proteas Women 161/5 with Goodall, Wolvaardt, Luus (0), Anneke Bosch (2) dismissed.  

With South Africa on the backfoot, the experienced duo of Kapp and Chloe Tryon (43) then combined brilliantly to help rebuild the innings for their side with a vital 72-run stand, as Tryon smashed the ball to all parts of the ground, while Kapp’s measured knock helped anchor the final stages of the batting effort.  

Despite losing her partner Tryon in the 47th over, along with Nadine de Klerk (2) six ball later through a run out, Kapp went onto reach a run-a-ball fifty as South Africa ended on 264 / 7 after 50 overs.  

Sarah Glenn (2/27) and Mady Villiers (2/40) were the pick