CENTURIES from Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Taylor helped England Women beat South Africa by 69 runs and level the three-match series at 1-1.
Opener Beaumont made 101 and wicketkeeper Taylor struck 118 as the hosts posted 331-6 at Hove.

Only Lizelle Lee, who made 117 from 107 deliveries, was able to put England’s bowlers under sustained pressure.

(Scores: England 331-6 (50 overs): Taylor 118, Beaumont 101, Kapp 2-48
South Africa 262-9 (50 overs): Lee 117, Tryon 44, Ecclestone 3-54
Despite a quick-fire 44 from Chloe Tryon, South Africa could not build partnerships and slipped to defeat.

It was a much improved batting performance by the hosts, who lost the opening game of the three-match series by seven wickets.
Taylor’s 156-run stand with Beaumont, who brought up her fourth one-day century with three successive fours, helped England to a decent total.

However, Lee showed some superb power-hitting, striking 13 fours and five sixes to become the first South African woman to make a century against England.
The rest of the visitors batting faltered, with players struggling to find the boundary, and wickets fell regularly following Lee’s dismissal.

The final match of the series takes place on Friday at Canterbury from 14:00 BST.