South Africa were bundled out for 64 by England at Bloemfontein today (December 17), allowing the tourists to claim their first Test victory for 10 years before the end of day three.
Having been set an unlikely 351 to get after Nonkululeko Mlaba took six wickets in England's second innings, South Africa capitulated to their lowest-ever all out score in a women's Test. Laura Wolvaardt was trapped on the back pad by Lauren Bell in the third over of the innings, before Anneke Bosch was also pinned in front by Lauren Filer, her dismissal triggering the Tea interval with South Africa 12-2.
Annerie Dercksen was caught off an inside edge onto her pad from a ball from Bell which popped up to Tammy Beaumont at short leg, the umpires referring the decision upstairs before giving her out. Sune Luus became Bell's next wicket of the innings within her first six overs, hitting the stumps with a good length ball through the gate.
Sophie Ecclestone was brought into the action in the following over, with Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones teaming up for a run out off her third ball. Nadine de Klerk was unable to make her ground before Jones broke the stumps, and was out for a duck which completed a pair in the match. Ecclestone struck in her following over, hitting Chloe Tryon in line with no shot offered, before Bell pinned Sinalo Jafta seven balls later.
Marizanne Kapp was the last of South Africa's recognised batters to go, Beaumont taking a stunning grab at silly point, before Mlaba was the last wicket to fall run out by Bell after crossing the crease in mid air as the ball hit the stumps. With Ayanda Hlubi unable to bat after picking up an injury, that wicket gave England their first win in a women's Test since 2014 when they beat Australia at the WACA.
64 all out is South Africa's lowest total ever in a women's Test. It's also the second-lowest total any side has been bowled out for in the fourth innings of a women's Test, the third-lowest in any innings this century, and the shortest-ever innings a side has been bowled out for in the format (19.4 overs).
Lowest all-out totals in women's Test matches
| Team | Score | Opposition | Innings | Ground | Year |
| England | 35 | Australia | 2 | Melbourne | 1958 |
| Australia | 38 | England | 1 | Melbourne | 1958 |
| New Zealand | 44 | England | 1 | Christchurch | 1935 |
| Australia | 47 | England | 1 | Brisbane | 1934 |
| Netherlands | 50 | South Africa | 4 | Rotterdam | 2007 |
| Pakistan | 53 | Ireland | 1 | Dublin | 2000 |
| New Zealand | 61 | England | 2 | Auckland | 1949 |
| New Zealand | 63 | England | 2 | Worcester | 1954 |
| South Africa | 64 | England | 4 | Bloemfontein | 2024 |
| India | 65 | West Indies | 3 | Jammu | 1976 |
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