Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a half-century as England completed a four-wicket victory over South Africa in their opening T20 match.
After winning the toss and electing to field, all England spinners took wickets with Freya Kemp, but a late surge saw South Africa add valuable runs as Annerie Dercksen and Nadine de Klerk put up an unbeaten 42-run partnership to help them finish. 142 for five.
Although England lost four wickets just after halfway into their reply, Sciver-Brunt starred with the bat alongside Amy Jones as the pair made 50 runs before Sophie Ecclestone struck the winning run.
England were dealt a major blow ahead of the match after keeper-batsman Bess Heath was withdrawn from the squad with a broken thumb.
Laura Wolvaardt scored 22 before Charlie Dean sent the South African skipper’s stumps flying and the visitors struck again when Tazmin Brits was stumped on an Ecclestone delivery.
Anneke Bosch was dropped in the seventh over, but she was unable to capitalize on her second chance when Kemp rearranged her stumps a few balls later and Dean quickly dismissed Sune Luus for a duck.
South Africa began to rebuild through Nondumiso Shangase and Dercksen, who scored 36 before the former was dismissed by Sarah Glenn, but Dercksen continued to star in the closing stages, scoring 26 points alongside the De Klerk’s quick shot 29 from 16 balls.
Chasing 143, England’s response got off to a rocky start when De Klerk struck early in the fourth to beat Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier quickly followed her opening partner after Eliz-Mari Marx had retired the leg stump.
Sophia Dunkley was next to go down after her attempted ramp shot was sent back to Sinalo Jafta before captain Heather Knight was brought down by Marx for a point.
Sciver-Brunt spearheaded England’s chase, sharing a 50-run partnership with Jones, who smashed 31 off 19 balls before being bowled by Shangase.
A tight finish saw Sciver-Brunt set England up for victory, hitting a brilliant 59 before being dismissed by Marx in the final over, but Kemp and Ecclestone got the visitors over the line in the East London.