England women v South Africa women – 2nd Twenty20 International, Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
South Africa women won the toss and elected to field
England women – 156-6 (Sarah Taylor 66, Sune Luus 2-26)
20 overs
South Africa women – 145-3 (Dane van Niekerk 63, Mignon du Preez 47*)
17.2 overs
South Africa women won by 7 wickets (D/L)
Sarah Taylor’s second successive half-century proved in vain as South Africa set up a Twenty20 international series decider with England on Sunday courtesy of a 17-run Duckworth-Lewis victory at Newlands.
The wicketkeeper-batter followed yesterday’s unbeaten 74 with a brilliant 66 from 52 deliveries to lift the tourists to 156 for six after the Proteas opted to bowl in overcast conditions.
But Dane Van Niekerk’s second fifty in as many days laid a platform that Mignon du Preez built on with an unbeaten 47 to ensure South Africa, on 145 for three, were ahead of the rate with 12 runs needed from 16 balls when the rain arrived for a second time.
The hosts’ victory, their first over England in the sprint format, squares the three-match series at 1-1 and makes Sunday’s clash at the Wanderers in Johannesburg a winner-takes-all.
Number three Taylor’s 12th T20I fifty, compiled from 43 balls, included a series of innovative sweeps and she hit eight of her side’s 18 fours.
The 26-year-old was fortunate to stay at the crease on two occasions, though, seeing the bails fail to dislodge when diverting a reverse-sweep back onto her stumps before she was dropped on 36.
Taylor and skipper Charlotte Edwards overcame the early dismissal of Tammy Beaumont, caught at second slip driving Moseline Daniels, with a high-quality stand of 61 in 42 balls.
Taylor found the boundary three times in five balls and Edwards drove three consecutive full deliveries from the expensive Masabata Klaas to the rope as runs flowed freely in the six-over powerplay.
She made fifty off just 34 balls and shared a second-wicket stand of 68 with skipper Du Preez.
However, Van Niekerk walked past a flighted Rebecca Grundy ball and was stumped by Taylor for 63 off 43 balls to give England a chance.
Du Preez and Marizanne Kapp, dropped by Jones on 11, allied fears of another collapse like yesterday by sharing a third-wicket stand of 46, either side of the first stoppage for rain, to take the Proteas to the brink.
Georgia Elwiss removed Kapp lbw for 21 before the elements returned with the Proteas in a winning position on the D/L method.
England women’s tour to South Africa 2016 schedule in full:
| Date | Format | Venue | Result |
| 7.2.16 | 1st ODI * | Sahara Willowmoore Park, Benoni | England women won by 7 wickets (D/L) |
| 12.2.16 | 2nd ODI * | SuperSport Park, Centurion | South Africa women won by 5 wickets |
| 14.2.16 | 3rd ODI * | Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg | England women won by 5 wickets |
| 18.2.16 | 1st T20I | Boland Park, Paarl | England women won by 15 runs |
| 19.2.16 | 2nd T20I + | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town | South Africa women won by 7 wickets (D/L) |
| 21.2.16 | 3rd T20I + | Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
* ICC Women’s Championship fixture
+ Double-header with men’s T20I (South Africa v England)
Report courtesy of the ECB
