1st women's one-day international, Port Elizabeth: South Africa 153-9 beat England 151-9 by one wicket Johmari Logtenberg hit 67 as South Africa narrowly beat England in the first women's one-day international.
Logtenberg, aged 15, was the hero as the home side reached their target of 152 off the last ball of the match with a single wicket to spare.
For England, Charlotte Edwards hit 55 in a 50-over total of 151-9.
Captain Clare Connor then led England's bowlers with 4-25 as the game headed to an exciting conclusion but Logtenberg held her nerve well.
England won the toss and chose to bat first but they got off to a poor start and were soon in trouble at 43-3.
Connor, Laura Newton and Claire Taylor were all dismissed cheaply before Edwards and Lydia Greenway (18) added 44 for the fourth wicket.
The late middle order provided little resistance, however, and three wickets fell with score on 111, including that of Edwards herself.
 Edwards did well but crucially lacked support in the middle order |
From 121-9, it needed some free hitting from number 11 Lucy Pearson (22 not out off 25 balls) to take the tourists up to a competitive total.
Cri-Zelda Brits and Shandre Fritz each took three wickets for South Africa while wicket-keeper Shafeeqa Pillay, on debut, took five catches - an all-time record in women's one-day internationals.
But the home side also found it difficult to build up any momentum when they batted. And at 68-5 with more than half the overs gone, South Africa looked underdogs.
Josie Barnard and Charlize van der Westhuizen, however, both provided dogged support for Logtenberg.
Slow left-armer Connor did well by proving economical in her early overs and penetrative towards the end of her spell.
But Logtenberg, though she was out shortly before the end, struck five fours and the game's only six in a brilliant 99-ball innings to put the hosts 1-0 up in the five-match series.
MMIX
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