da marjack bet： South Africa pair hold out as weather curtails final day’s play
da dobrowin： Valkerie Baynes30-Jun-2022England were frustrated as South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp and Tumi Sekhukhune maintained their resistance in the small windows of play the rain allowed on the final day of their Test in Taunton, but the weather had the final say as the match ended in a draw.Having taken two wickets in the morning session, England were left to rue a couple of missed opportunities, not to mention the rain which returned shortly before a scheduled late tea and set in long enough for captains Heather Knight and Sune Luus to shake hands with no prospect of a result.Credit must go to Kapp, following up her first-innings 150 to end 43 not out, and to a greater extent Sekhukhune, who had come in as nightwatcher with her side 45 for 3 on the penultimate evening and proved to be a veritable wall as England’s bowlers tried in vain to prise her out.Playing her first Test after 48 white-ball appearances for South Africa, Sekhukhune faced 134 balls for her unbeaten 33 with her side 181 for 5 in their second innings, a lead of 48 when play ended.The hosts had declared on the third morning 133 runs in front after Nat Sciver’s brilliant 169 not out and a century on Test debut for Alice Davidson-Richards.Sciver and Kate Cross combined to remove South Africa opener Andrie Steyn cheaply, then Issy Wong, the 20-year-old quick playing her first match for England, came steaming in under lights to remove Lara Goodall and Laura Wolvaardt, the latter for the second time in the match.England made an encouraging start to the last day as South Africa resumed still 78 runs in arrears, with Cross and Sophie Ecclestone removing the dangerous Luus and Lizelle Lee. But Sekhukhune was resolute and the indomitable Kapp took South Africa into the lead with a booming cover drive for four off Ecclestone.Cross came on for the seventh over of the day and struck with her seventh ball, trapping Luus lbw with a length ball that came back in as the South Africa captain stepped across her stumps and tried to work it square.England thought Ecclestone had Lee lbw when she was struck on the pad by one that spun back past the bat and the hosts reviewed, but Sue Redfern’s not-out decision was upheld on umpire’s call on impact.But they should have had Lee out in the next over when Wong was brought back into the attack. Lee slashed at a length ball just outside off and edged behind but the ball popped out of wicketkeeper Amy Jones’ glove as she leapt to her right to take a regulation chance.Rain interrupted play on the final day•Getty Images
Sekhukhune turned the next ball, off Ecclestone, firmly towards Tammy Beaumont at short leg, but she had very little time to react with the ball striking her on the shoulder. Then Lee chipped Ecclestone narrowly over Lauren Bell who was back pedalling from mid-on.Lee brought up South Africa’s 100 with consecutive fours off Wong, clearing cover and pulling through deep fine leg. But she gifted her wicket to Ecclestone who drew her in with a ball floated up well outside off stump and Lee’s eyes lit up as she lofted it towards wide mid-off where Cross had what seemed like an eternity to run back before holding a tumbling catch.An extended rain delay kept the players off the field for two hours and 45 minutes, including the lunch break. When play resumed, they managed 10.4 overs during which time Sekhukhune edged Wong to second slip where Ecclestone shelled a regulation chance.The rain returned heavier than it had been all match and the players ran from the field yet again, this time for good.
