England Women Under-19s completed a 3-0 one-day whitewash of an Emerging South Africa XI with a thrilling, one-run victory at Potchefstroom.
The tourists responded to a 2-1 Twenty20 loss by winning the first two 50-over games before rain forced an abandonment in the same format versus the senior South Africa Women on Monday.
The tour ended on a high today when Georgia Hennessy dismissed the well-set Zizipo Mdebuka for 31 from as many balls with the first delivery of the 50th over. The winning wicket gave Hennessy figures of 3-37.
England’s sturdy 238 for seven was built on fairly even scores throughout the batting order, although the chief contributor was 50 extras including 30 wides.
After captain Jess Watson, who won the toss, and Georgia Adams registered twenties at the top of the order, Aylish Cranstone and Sophie Luff added 109 with 45 and 40 respectively.
Hennessy and Marie Kelly made a modest impact with the bat, but Carla Rudd chipped in with 15 and Fi Morris 28 not out.
Grace Gibbs ousted Robyn Searle for a duck in the reply’s first over and Cait O’Keefe had Searle’s opening partner Robyn Appels lbw soon after.
Lydia Harris, whose 10 overs cost 2-25, broke a dangerous stand between Chene Bester and Lara Goodall by bowling the latter for 14, although Nonkhulueko Thabethe picked up the mantle.
Harris trapped Bester in front for 41 shortly before captain Maryka Kirchoff was run out. But Tabethe and Elriesa Theunissen then added 80 for the sixth wicket.
That was until Hennessy bowled Theunissen for 51 and had Yolani Fourie caught behind in the 40th over. In the next Cranstone snared Thabethe for 45 to leave the hosts 190 for eight.
Mdebuka and Stacy Lackay, who was caught and bowled for 14 by Gibbs, kept the game alive until Hennessy struck decisively.