Beaumont and Taylor light up World Cup
Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Taylor shared England’s highest one-day international partnership as the Women’s World Cup hosts took a step nearer the semi-finals with a 68-run victory over South Africa at Bristol yesterday.
In a high-scoring contest in which bat dominated ball, Beaumont and Taylor put on 275 for the second wicket, also the highest partnership in the tournament’s history, as England amassed 373 for five.
Beaumont’s 148 was welcome after some frustrating dismissals in England’s first few games while Taylor continued her comeback to international cricket with 147.
“It’s definitely up there with one of my best knocks for England,” said Beaumont. “I am going to be one of those people and say, ‘I don’t believe in form’. Maybe I hadn’t got the scores I wanted but in the nets I have still been striking the ball exactly how I wanted to, I just haven’t got in yet.”
England racked up 377 against Pakistan last week, though this was arguably a more complete batting performance against a South African attack fresh from skittling the West Indies out for 48.
Beaumont and Taylor got their runs all around the wicket, almost toying with a South African side whose captain Dane Van Niekerk admitted were “too slow to react”. Beaumont got her innings going with a pair of textbook cover drives, before she and Taylor moved through the gears.
Taylor has returned to the international fold after a self-imposed exile to deal with a stress-related illness, and Beaumont punched the air in delight when her partner brought up her third one-day international century.
South Africa were always well behind the run rate, but recorded the highest second innings in women’s ODI history by reaching 305 for nine. The highlight of their response was a 24-ball 54 from Chloe Tryon, and reaching 300 should give them confidence ahead of their next game against India.
England need another victory to all but assure themselves of progression to the semi-finals.
Scoreboard: P19