“I managed to put those thoughts to bed when the warm-up started. I’m just so excited and proud of what I’ve been able to do.” While England had not skipped a beat in Sciver-Brunt’s absence, her value was obvious after a sticky start, the hosts reduced to 23/3 in the fourth over by opening bowlers Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail.

Alongside her predecessor as captain, Heather Knight, Sciver-Brunt showed all her experience to see off that threat and then go after the remaining South African bowlers. She took just 47 balls to reach 75, putting on 133 with Knight (58) in a partnership that swung the game England’s way.

They started strongly in reply, Tazmin Brits and Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt putting on 43 runs in the powerplay.
But it was the wicket of Wolvaardt, the South African skipper who almost singlehandedly knocked England out of the last ODI World Cup at the semi-final stage, that put the hosts in charge.

One ball after lifting Linsey Smith for four over mid-on, she tried to repeat the trick and was acrobatically caught by Sophie Ecclestone.