England crush South Africa for T20 series sweep

Third T20, Centurion

South Africa 124 (20 overs): Shangase 31 (35); Dean 3-26

England 128-1 (11.3 overs): Wyatt-Hodge 53* (31)

England win by nine wickets; win series 3-0

Scorecard

England secured a dominant clean sweep in the three-match T20 series against South Africa with a nine-wicket win in Centurion.

The tourists raced to their below-par target of 125 in 10.5 overs, with opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge finishing unbeaten on 53 and Sophia Dunkley making 24 not out.

Wyatt-Hodge faced just 31 balls for her second successive T20 half-century in a brutal assault on South Africa's depleted bowling line-up, while the hosts also dropped five catches.

Maia Bouchier was England's only wicket to fall, brilliantly caught by Nondumiso Shangase for 35 from 21 balls, after a ruthless opening stand of 56 in 5.4 overs.

The hosts, who were without captain Laura Wolvaardt because of illness, slumped to 45-5 before they were rescued by a stand of 52 between all-rounders Nadine de Klerk and Nondumiso Shangase.

They eventually scrambled to 124 from their 20 overs, off-spinner Charlie Dean leading England's fine all-round effort with 3-26 and a run out.

After England captain Heather Knight chose to bowl first, seamers Lauren Filer and Lauren Bell exposing a weakened South Africa line-up by removing openers Anneke Bosch and Faye Tunnicliffe in the first two overs.

The promising Annerie Dercksen and experienced Sune Luus both wasted promising starts before stand-in captain Chloe Tryon fell softly for just one.

Shangase started slowly to absorb pressure and rode her luck, including a missed stumping chance on 21 but battled admirably with De Klerk, who made 19, in the face of England's superiority and saved their side from a complete collapse.

The series continues with three one-day internationals, starting on Wednesday, 4 December in Kimberley.