New world record leaves South Africa on level terms
Helen Wardlaw picked up three wickets, including the vital scalp of Charlize van der Westhuizen for 83 shortly before the close, as England's women finished the first day of their Test series against South Africa on equal terms
Wisden CricInfo staff
07-Aug-2003
Helen Wardlaw picked up three wickets, including the vital scalp of Charlize van der Westhuizen for 83 shortly before the close, as England's women finished the first day of their Test series against South Africa on equal terms.
It was an attritional day's cricket at Shenley. For much of the day, England appeared to be in complete control, as South Africa lost four early wickets and eked out their total at barely more than one run per over. Wardlaw came on as first-change, and picked up two wickets in her first spell - Claire Cowan for 6 and Magdalena Terblanche for 4.
When Claire Connor and Lucy Pearson struck in consecutive overs, South Africa had slumped 57 for 4. But Johmari Logtenberg, who is just 14 years old, and van der Westhuizen changed the course of the innings, adding 138 for the fifth wicket - a new world record for women's internationals. But Wardlaw struck late in the day to redress the balance and set up a fascinating second day.