… Beaumont, Taylor hit masterly centuries; Australia, India record fourth victories

A RECORD 275-run second-wicket partnership between Tamsin Beaumont (148) and Sarah Taylor (147) guided England to an impressive 68-run victory over South Africa in a high-scoring ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 match in Bristol yesterday.
Beaumont slapped 22 fours and a six in her 145-ball innings while Taylor clubbed 24 fours in a 104-ball knock as they piloted England to an imposing 373 for five in 50 overs.
In turn, South Africa put up a gallant run chase and finished at 305 for nine as a world record 678 runs were scored in the day, beating the previous best of 577 runs between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney in December 2012 by 101 runs.

The 275-run partnership between Beaumont and Taylor was the highest-ever for England for any wicket and second best overall in women’s ODIs after India’s Deepti Sharma and Punam Raut had put on 320 runs for the first wicket against Ireland in Potchefstroom in May 2017.
It was also a record second-wicket partnership, beating the 262-run stand between New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and Haidee Tiffen against Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 in Sydney.

Beaumont and Taylor had joined hands in the 12th over at the score of 59 and the association ended in the 47th over at the total of 334 after Taylor fell to Shabnim Ismail.
Beaumont was the fourth batter to be dismissed, becoming one of three Marizanne Kapp victims but not before putting her side in a position from where they could dictate terms.
This was England’s third victory in four matches, while it was South Africa’s first defeat in as many matches to go with one abandoned game against New Zealand.

Elsewhere, defending champions Australia and India maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament when they defeated Pakistan and Sri Lanka, respectively, in contrasting styles.
The defeats mean the two Asian sides now only have a mathematical chance of reaching the July 18 and 20 semi-finals as it was their fourth successive losses with three group-stage matches remaining.
In Leicester, Australia routed Pakistan by 159 runs following excellent half-centuries by Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy and Elyse Villani, whereas India held their nerves to overcome Sri Lanka by 16 runs after Deepti Sharma and Mithali Raj had put on 118 runs for the third wicket, which lifted India to 230 for seven.

Scores in brief:
England beat South Africa by 68 runs in Bristol.
England 373-5, 50 overs (Tamsin Beaumont 148, Sarah Taylor 147, Lauren Winfield 24, Heather Knight; Marizanne Kapp 3-77)
South Africa 305-9, 50 overs (Lizelle Lee 72, Laura Wolfvaardt 67, Chloe Tryon 54, Mignon du Preez 43; Danielle Hazell 3-70, Heather Knight 2-52)
Player-of-the-match – Sarah Taylor (England)

Australia beat Pakistan by 159 runs in Leicester.
Australia 290-8, 50 overs (Ellyse Perry 66, Alyssa Healy 63 not out, Elyse Villani 59, Rachael Haynes 28, Alex Blackwell 23; Sana Mir 3-49, Sadiq Yousuf 2-66)
Pakistan 131 all out, 50 overs (Sana Mir 45, Iram Javed 21; Kristen Beams 3-23, Ashleigh Gardner 3-28, Sarah Aley 2-29)

Player-of-the-match – Elyse Villani (Australia)
India beat Sri Lanka by 16 runs in Derby.
India 230-7, 50 overs (Deepti Sharma 78, Mithali Raj 53, Veda Krishnamurthy 29, Harmanpreet Kaur 20; Sripali Weerakkody 3-28, Inoka Ranaweera 2-55)
Sri Lanka 216-7, 50 overs (Dilani Manodara 61, Shashikala Siriwardena 37, Nipuni Hansika 29, Chamari Athapaththu 25, Poonam Yadav 2-23, Jhulan Goswami 2-26)
Player-of-the-match – Deepti Sharma (India)
Today’s fixture: New Zealand v West Indies, Taunton