SA vs. ENG [W] 2024/25, SA-W vs ENG-W first T20I match report, Nov 24, 2024

England chose bowl v South Africa

South Africa came into bat in east London in their first match since losing the T20 World Cup final last month. They have three changes from the XI that played in that match, with Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka rested from this series and Chloe Tryon ruled out following her return from the WBBL. Tryon will be available for the next two games.

The absence of the senior trio provided an opportunity for seamer Ayanda Hlubi, who was part of the T20 World Cup squad but could not play, ahead of the injured Tumi Sekhukhune. The closer suffered a thigh injury and is expected to recover next week. Offspinner Nondumiso Shangase and medium pacer Eliz-Mari Marx return to the XI after last playing in December 2023 and July this year respectively.

England have also been the best for injuries. All-rounder Paige Scholfield returned home with an ankle injury. Batsman Bess Heath has been ruled out of the entire tour after fracturing her thumb in training. They welcomed Sophia Dunkley in at No.3, ahead of Alice Capsey, who was initially left out of the squad, and fielded eight of the XI that beat South Africa in Sharjah last month. Freya Kemp and Sarah Glenn are the two players, apart from Dunkley, who did not play against South Africa in the T20 World Cup. They replaced Charlie Dean and Linsey Smith in that match.

South Africa: 1 Laura Wolvaardt (captain), 2 Tazmin Brits, 3 Anneke Bosch, 4 Sune Luus, 5 Annerie Dercksen, 6 Nondumiso Shangase, 7 Nadine de Klerk, 8 Sinalo Jafta (week) 9 Eliz-Mari Marx, 10 Nonkululekho Mlaba, 11 Ayanda Hlubi

England: 1 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 2 Maia Bouchier, 3 Sophia Dunkley, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 5 Heather Knight (captain), 6 Amy Jones (week), 7 Freya Kemp, 8 Sophie Ecclestone, 9 Charlie Dean, 10 Sarah Glenn, 11 Lauren Bell