Stumps has been called on Day 1 of the historic one-off Test between hosts Proteas Women and England, and there are many reasons for the hosts to feel proud of their performance with the ball, after England won the toss and batted first at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, with scheduled play from Sunday 15 to Wednesday, 18 December, 2024.
England’s Maia Bouchier and Nat Sciver-Brunt struck remarkable centuries, but Nonkululeko Mlaba spearheaded the Proteas Women’s fightback to end Day 1 on a positive note for the hosts.


On her Test debut, Bouchier smashed 22 fours and two sixes in a stunning knock of 126 off 154 balls. Sciver-Brunt followed with an aggressive 128 off 145 deliveries, featuring 18 boundaries.
However, Mlaba stole the spotlight with a career-best Test haul of 4/90, as England declared their innings on 395/9. South Africa then navigated the final six overs of the day unscathed, reaching 17/0 and trailing by 378 runs.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, England’s openers, Tammy Beaumont (21) and Bouchier, laid a solid foundation with a 50-run partnership. The breakthrough came when Ayanda Hlubi (2/40) claimed her maiden Test wicket, dismissing Beaumont.
Undeterred, Bouchier built another half-century stand with skipper Heather Knight (20), pushing England’s score to 103/1. Tumi Sekhukhune (1/37) then struck, trapping Knight lbw to bring the dangerous Sciver-Brunt to the crease.


Sciver-Brunt and Bouchier dominated the South African attack with a commanding 174-run partnership for the third wicket. Both batters reached their centuries, but Mlaba struck just before the tea break to dismiss Bouchier.
After the interval, Mlaba continued her brilliant spell, supported by Suné Luus (0/78), who bowled tirelessly. Mlaba removed Danni Wyatt-Hodge (12) and executed a run out of Sciver-Brunt at the non-striker’s end, reducing England to 357/5 in the 79th over.
With England’s centurions back in the pavilion, Mlaba claimed two more wickets, while Hlubi and Marizanne Kapp (1/20) chipped in to restrict the visitors. England declared their innings at 395/9 after 92 overs.
In response, South African openers Laura Wolvaardt (8*) and Anneke Bosch (6*) safely negotiated a tricky six-over spell before stumps. They closed the day at 17/0, with the Proteas trailing by 378 runs in the first innings.
Play in the 4-day one-off Test between South Africa and visitors England start daily at 10am at the Mangaung Oval Bloemfontein, in the Free State, and is broadcast live on SuperSport.
Proteas Women vs England in Only Test at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, the Free State, from Sunday 15 to Wednesday 18 December, 2024
Sunday, 15 December: Day 1 Wrap: England 395/9d; SA 17/0
Fixtures and Results for the Proteas Women’s Inbound Tour against England from 24 November to 15 December, 2024
T20I Series
Sunday, 24 November: South Africa lost to England by 4 wickets (4 balls rem., Buffalo Park Stadium, East London)
Wednesday, 27 November: South Africa lost to England by 36 runs (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Saturday, 30 November: South Africa lost to England by 9 wickets (With 51 balls rem., at SuperSport Park, Centurion)
IWC ODI Series
Wednesday, 4 December: South Africa beat England by 6 wickets (70 balls rem., at Kimberley Oval, Kimberley)
Sunday, 8 December: South Africa lost to England by 6 wickets (156 balls rem., Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban)
Wednesday, 11 December: South Africa lost to England by 6 wickets (24 balls rem., JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom)
South Africa Playing X1
1. Laura Wolvaardt (capt)
2. Anneke Bosch
3. Annerie Dercksen
4. Sune Luus
5. Marizanne Kapp
6. Nadine de Klerk
7. Chloe Tryon
8. Sinalo Jafta (wk)
9. Tumi Sekhukhune
10. Nonkululeko Mlaba
11. Ayanda Hlubi
England Playing X1
1. Tammy Beaumont
2. Maia Bouchier
3. Heather Knight (capt)
4. Nat Sciver-Brunt
5. Danni Wyatt-Hodge
6. Amy Jones (wk)
7. Charlie Dean
8. Sophie Ecclestone
9. Ryana MacDonald-Gay
10. Lauren Filer
11. Lauren Bell
Original Copy: Cricket South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Stumps on Day 1 of the historic one-off Test between hosts Proteas Women and England, and SA can be proud of their performance with the ball, after England won the toss and batted first at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Sunday, 15 December. All Photos: Cricket SA
Photo 2 Caption: The star of the Proteas Women bowling on Day 1 of this historic Test was Nonkulukelo Mlaba, picking up four for 90 in her 20 overs, was unlucky to not get a 5-fer.
Photo 3 Caption: SA all-rounder Suné Luus sent down 24 overs costing just 78 runs of her off- and leg break slow bowling, and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket in her disciplined spell.
Photo 4 Caption: England opener Maia Bouchier became the fourth English woman to make a century on test debut, doing it with the fastest Test century by an English woman.
Photo 5 Caption: Nat Sciver-Brunt rang up her second century in a 174-run partnership with Bouchier, the stand-out innings of England’s batting on Day 1 in Bloemfontein.