On Sunday, England, enjoyed a massive second session with the bat to help them to a big first innings score of 395/9d on Day 1. This was thanks to aggressive batting by the centurions, Maia Bouchier, and Nat Sciver-Brunt who scored 126 and 128 respectively.

Laura Wolvaardt. Photo: Morgan Piek

Once these two players were out, the South Africans breezed through the remainder of the English batters.

South Africa had to safely navigate a tricky six overs in the late afternoon with Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch taking South Africa to 17/0 when stumps was called.

The key was South Africa will be to go through to lunch on day two with the aforementioned players still.

The allrounder, Annerie Dercksen, who has been good with the bat this summer for South Africa, will also have a key role to play, and although she is young and inexperienced, patience will be key.

The Proteas will also bank on the experience of the seasoned campaigners Suné Luus and Marizanne Kapp lower down the order. Kapp batted against England in the previous Test between the two teams in Taunton in 2022 she scored 150 and 43*.

Annerie Dercksen. Photo: Morgan Piek

In South Africa's last Test against India in Chennai, Luus, in turn, scored 65 and 109 during the ten wicket defeat.

Play at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein resumes at 10:00 on Tuesday (17/12).

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg