Beaumont century guides England to series win
Friday 15th June 2018
Kent captain Tammy Beaumont hit her fifth one-day international century as England won the Royal London series against South Africa at The Spitfire Ground.
The 27-year-old Dover-born opener struck 14 fours on home turf as the world champions chased 229 after county colleague Laura Marsh took 2/43 as the tourists were dismissed for 228 in front of almost 2,000 supporters at Canterbury.
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The Proteas won the toss and opted to bat first under cloudy skies with a century stand between opener Laura Wolvaardt (64) and skipper Dane van Niekerk (95).
A superb leg-side stumping by Sarah Taylor triggered a South African collapse as they lost 6-16 in the final 21 balls as Yorkshire’s Katherine Brunt claimed three wickets and Pembury-born spinner Marsh grabbed two.
In reply, Amy Jones departed for a watchful 24 as England negotiated the opening powerplay unscathed before Beaumont and Heather Knight (80*) put the hosts in sight of a superb series win after losing the first of three hard-fought matches.
England sealed the win with 35 balls to spare to the delight of the Kent crowd.