TAUNTON: Night-watcher, Tumi Sekhukhune played a pivotal role with an unbeaten 33 off 134 balls in three hours at the crease as the Momentum Proteas secured a tenacious draw against England in the final day of the only Test match at the County Ground in Taunton.
Following multiple rain delays, the two teams shared the four points on offer to kick off the multi-format tour.
With the help of important knocks from Marizanne Kapp’s 43 off 58 deliveries and Lizelle Lee’s 36 off 51 balls, Sekhukhune played the ideal anchoring role to help South Africa survive the onslaught from the English bowlers before rain interruptions lead the game to finish in a stalemate.
RESULT | MATCH DRAWN 🚨
Tumi Sekhukhune personified the #MomentumProteas fighting spirit as she frustrated the England Women bowlers on the final day, facing 134 balls for her unbeaten 33 runs, having come to the crease late on Day 3.
#ENGvSA #AlwaysRising #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/eyhuqk8PZo— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) June 30, 2022
South Africa resumed the final day of the Test on 55 / 3, still 78 runs behind the home side with captain Suné Luus and Sekhukhune out in the middle after the visitors lost late wickets in the final hour of play on day three.
Spoils shared 🏆#ENGvSA #AlwaysRising #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/BJ94hBSuq3
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) June 30, 2022
Despite holding their guard well early on, the experienced Kate Cross (2 / 56) found a way through Luus’ defence to trap her LBW for 10 to bring Lee to the crease. The hard-hitting batter combined exceptionally well with Sekhukhune, finding the balance between attack and patience to record a crucial 54-run partnership before Lee was caught at mid-off after attempting another over the top shot.
Captain Sune Luus has given Tumi Sekhukhune a new role in the #MomentumProteas 😂
Watch the full post-Test reaction here 👉https://t.co/kp6IjrvRbZ#ENGvSA #AlwaysRising #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/JqkwMAWXwG
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) July 1, 2022
Shortly after taking a second innings lead with Sekhukhune still going strong alongside Kapp, both sets of players had to go off the field due to rain. Similarly to yesterday’s stoppages, the delay lasted more than two hours, with an early lunch also taken.
After the rain finally stopped, the two batters continued where they left off, adding important runs to the scoreboard on their way to a 63-run, sixth-wicket stand to take South Africa to a 48-run lead on 181 / 5 before the showers returned.
With time running out in the day and the inclement weather hanging around, both captains eventually shook hands and the team settled on a draw. The Player of the Match award went to England’s Nat Sciver for her 169 not out and a first-innings wicket.
The two sides turn their attention to the limited-overs leg of the tour, with three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) getting underway from 11 – 18 July.
Once-off Test: England vs South Africa (County Ground, Taunton) – Match Drawn
Day 4 Scores:
South Africa: 284 all out (M. Kapp 150 (213), A. Bosch 30 (58); K. Cross (4 / 63), L. Bell (2 / 47)
England: 417 / 8 dec after 120 overs (N. Sciver 169* (263), A. Davidson-Richards 107 (194); A. Bosch 3 / 77, N. Mlaba (2 / 74)
South Africa: 181 / 5 after 68.1 overs (M. Kapp 43* (58), L. Lee 36 (51), T. Sekhukhune 33* (134); I. Wong 2 / 46, K. Cross 2 / 56)
