Bosch’s twin strikes remove England openers before lunch

South Africa

Lunch England 86 for 2 (Knight 8*, Sciver 8*, Bosch 2-18) trail South Africa 284 (Kapp 150, Cross 4-63) by 198 runs

Anneke Bosch kept England in check on day two of the Test in Taunton as South Africa looked to defend a first-innings total built on Marizanne Kapp’s wonderful 150 on the opening day.

By lunch, Bosch had removed both openers, Tammy Beaumont and Emma Lamb to send the hosts to the break at 86 for 2, still 198 runs behind.

Lamb carried on the theme of England’s Test debutants stepping up with an accomplished innings of 38, which was curtailed by a beautiful Bosch delivery that nipped back in off the seam and through the gate to uproot off stump.

Earlier, Lamb had shared a 65-run opening stand with Beaumont, who became Bosch’s first breakthrough when she fell lbw for 28 playing round one that swung away late and struck her on the toe in line with middle and leg stump.

Lamb, playing her first Test after three white-ball appearances for England within the past year, unfurled some stunning drives and cut with authority as she kept pace with Beaumont, striking five boundaries to enthusiastic cheers from hoards of schoolchildren watching on from the stands.

Lamb’s fellow Test debutants for England contributed with the ball the previous day, with Lauren Bell claiming two wickets and Issy Wong one as both made their maiden international appearances while Alice Davidson-Richards took her first Test wicket.

That added to the sense of anticipation around her innings and she appeared to embrace the occasion, batting in a position that opened up following Lauren Winfield-Hill’s dip in form during England’s winter tour of Australia followed by the World Cup in New Zealand.

Lamb’s dismissal united Heather Knight and Nat Sciver, England’s experienced captain and her deputy, in the middle.

Kapp, who had walked off with the team physio after her initial six-over opening spell following her near four-and-a-half-hour innings which rescued South Africa from dire straits at 45 for 4 the previous day, returned to the attack and should have had Knight caught on just 8. But Sinalo Jafta dived across first slip from behind the stumps and a catch that looked sure to land in Sune Luus’ hands went down. Kapp bowled well, conceding just 18 runs from her 10 overs to the lunch break.

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