Ryan Rickelton's maiden century sparks victory hopes for South Africa against Sri Lanka
- England leveled the ODI series against South Africa with a decisive six-wicket win in Durban.
- Charlie Dean achieved a hat-trick, marking the third time an English woman has done so in ODI history.
- This performance demonstrates England's strong response after their defeat in the previous match.
In early December 2024, the England women's cricket team played against South Africa in a one-day international match held at Kingsmead, Durban. After suffering a defeat in the first match of the ODI series, England's players showed resilience by winning the second game decisively, levelling the series at 1-1. England won the toss and elected to field, which proved to be an excellent decision as they delivered a strong bowling performance to restrict South Africa's total to just 135 runs. Charlie Dean, the standout performer for England, claimed a remarkable hat-trick, achieving figures of four wickets for 45 runs. This was particularly notable as her hat-trick was the third recorded in women's ODIs for England and the first since Clare Connor's hat-trick in 1999. The South African batting lineup struggled significantly, facing a dramatic collapse that saw them lose five wickets for just four runs, ultimately leading to a total of 135 all out in 32 overs. The England team, supported by a disciplined bowling attack that included Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Filer, made light work of the run chase. With openers Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier contributing with solid performances, the team reached their target of 137 runs for the loss of four wickets, winning the match with 26 overs to spare. Dean's exceptional achievement significantly contributed to England's dominance in this match and highlighted her potential as a key player for the future. In another noteworthy event, on the same day, South Africa played their second Test against Sri Lanka at St George’s Park, where Ryan Rickelton scored his maiden century. He played a crucial role in stabilizing South Africa’s innings against a challenging Sri Lankan bowling attack. These contrasting performances underscore the varied fortunes of English and South African cricket teams during this period, setting the stage for future matchups and competitions within international women's cricket.