Records Fall As England Smash South Africa By 225 Runs
Caroline Atkins and Sarah Taylor celebrate their record breaking partnership.
©Action Images / Paul Harding Livepic
Records Fall As England Smash South Africa By 225 Runs
Katherine Brunt celebrates one of her five wickets.
©Action Images / Paul Harding Livepic
Records Fall As England Smash South Africa By 225 Runs
Caroline Atkins poses with her man of the match award.
©Action Images / Paul Harding Livepic
England posted 310 for three before bowling South Africa out for just 85.
Atkins hit 145 and Taylor hit 129 after England won the toss and chose to bat, finishing on a score which ranks as their third best in One Day Internationals, being only the fifth time they passed 300 and the second time they have managed it against South Africa.
The pair passed the previous mark of 258 set by Indian openers Reshma Gandhi and Mithali Raj against Ireland in 1999 as the South African bowling attack was hit to all parts by an England side looking to go 2-0 up in the five-match series after their 121-run win in the first match at Canterbury.
Taylor, who scored 56 in the first match, completed her second ODI century, finishing on a new personal best score of 129, while Atkins more than doubled her previous best effort of 69 not out and ensured that her maiden century was a big one.
Atkins' score is the third best by an English player in ODIs, beaten only by team-mates Charlotte Edwards' 173 not out against Ireland in India in 1997 and Claire Taylor's 156 not out against India at Lord's two years ago.
Atkins faced 155 balls, hitting 12 fours before she was bowled by Susanna Bernarde. Her score was also her best in any form of cricket and her first century in any form of the game.
Today, Claire Taylor assumed a different role, hitting 17 from 12 balls coming in at the death while Edwards didn't get to bat, Lydia Greenway, in her 50th ODI, unbeaten on one when Sarah Taylor fell to the last ball of the innings, caught behind by Trisha Shetty off of Ashlyn Kilowan, who finished with two for 51 from seven overs.
Katherine Brunt then attempted to steal the show with the ball by picking up five for 25 in ten overs as South Africa never remotely threatened to challenge England's total.
It took just eight minutes for England to strike, Alicia Smith trapped in front by Brunt for seven.
Claire Terblanche was sent back first ball, trapped in front by Brunt for a golden duck before Isa Guha had captain Cri-Zelda Brits caught by Jenny Gunn for ten.
Brunt and Guha proved a devastating pairing, Guha conceding just 18 runs from her seven overs.
Holly Colvin delivered ten overs of spin taking one for 16, while Nicola Shaw celebrated her 50th One Day International with a brilliantly economical spell of nought for seven from five overs, four of which were maidens.
Edwards wrapped things up with two for ten, leaving Charlize van der Westhuizen unbeaten on 15 and South Africa 2-0 down in the series having been bowled out in 39 overs.
If England thought a 121-run win at Canterbury was impressive, they will struggle to build on a 225-run winning margin at the home of cricket as their World Cup preparations continue to go from strength to strength.
The third match takes place in Shenley on August 11th.
© Cricket World 2008
