England level ODI series after chaotic SA collapse

England levelled the one-day international series against South Africa with a clinical six-wicket win after the hosts’ chaotic middle-order collapse in Durban.

The Proteas were in control at 72-2 after 16 overs before calamitously losing five wickets for four runs in the space of 12 balls, with England spinner Charlie Dean taking a hat-trick split across two overs.

Dean finished with 4-45 as the hosts were bowled out for 135 in 31.3 overs, while fellow spinner Sophie Ecclestone and seamer Lauren Filer took three wickets each.

Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier added 69 for the first wicket in England’s positive reply, before Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s unbeaten 25 steered them over the line in the 24th over.

The drama of South Africa’s innings was preceded by a patient stand of 58 between Annerie Dercksen and captain Laura Wolvaardt, after Filer’s eye-catching opening burst saw the Proteas reduced to 14-2 inside the first four overs.

The dismissal of Dercksen triggered the collapse as she fell to Dean for 29 in the 17th over, before star all-rounder Marizanne Kapp uncharacteristically chipped to mid-off for a duck three balls later.

Ecclestone claimed the prized wicket of Laura Wolvaardt for 35 in the following over, before Dean completed her hat-trick with Nadine de Klerk caught at slip and Sinalo Jafta pinned lbw to leave South Africa’s innings in tatters on 76-7.

Chloe Tryon’s counter-attacking 45 from 49 rescued the Proteas from total capitulation but, with so few runs to defend, their bowlers struggled to build pressure and England made light work of a modest chase.

The series decider takes place at Potchefstroom on Wednesday.