Tammy Beaumont scores record-equalling ninth ODI century for England in win over South Africa

Tammy Beaumont scored a record-equalling century for England against South Africa on Monday.

The Dover-born 31-year-old scored her ninth ODI century to go level with Charlotte Edwards on the list of England Women’s top ODI centurions and guide her team to a clean-sweep in the Royal London Series.

She’s now scored 10 tons for England, including one in the T20 format, after hitting 119 from just 107 balls, hitting 19 fours and one six.

Beaumont put on 149 with Emma Lamb inside 23 overs, before half-centuries from Sophia Dunkley (51), Heather Knight (63) and a late cameo from Danni Wyatt powered England to 371, their fifth-highest ODI total.

“It felt really good,” said Beaumont, who went to Sir Roger Manwood's School in Sandwich. "I always enjoy coming to Leicester, it’s a good batting wicket once we got in, even though it was hot and not fun to run a lot of twos, we had to focus as much as possible.

“We wanted to bat first and get the opposition out in the heat but it did a little bit more in the first 10 overs.”

England’s relatively inexperienced bowlers combined nicely on a baking hot day. Charlie Dean (3-42) was the pick of the attack, but Emma Lamb and Alice Davidson-Richards also impressed, taking 3-42 and 3-35 respectively for their first ODI wickets.

The 109-run victory means England win the Royal London Series 3-0, and take an unassailable 8-2 lead in the multi-format series.

The two teams now move to Chelmsford for the Vitality IT20 series, which starts on Thursday.

For Beaumont, it was the perfect response after being overlooked for England’s Commonwealth Games squad.

She admitted: “I was pretty gutted about a week ago when I found out but it’s a case of getting myself in the best head space to play the last