England 297 for 3 (Greenway 125*, Brindle 107*) beat South Africa 235 (Chetty 72, Hodgkinson 71, Wyatt 2-15) by 62 runs
Scorecard
A pair of maiden one-day international hundreds from Lydia Greenway and Arran Brindle helped England get their South African tour off to a winning start with a 62-run victory over the hosts in the first ODI in Potchefstroom. Greenway and Brindle shared in an unbroken stand of 218 for the fourth wicket - a new English record - as England reached an imposing 297 for 3 before restricting South Africa's response to 235.
England had been in some trouble early on after being put in by South Africa, losing captain Charlotte Edwards in the first over and being pegged back by the dismissals of Danni Wyatt (21) and Sarah Taylor (33) inside the first 20 overs. That was the South African bowlers' last joy, however, as Greenway and Brindle set about laying a solid platform before going on the charge in the latter stages of the innings.
Greenway reached her century from 111 balls, a rate which was bettered by Brindle, who reached the mark from just 96 deliveries. Together they hit 27 boundaries, with no South African bowler escaping punishment.
South Africa's batters put up a better show, Trisha Chetty and Alison Hodgkinson keeping the chase on track as both passed fifty and shared in a 143-run stand for the second wicket. Once they were parted the rest of the line-up folded, however, South Africa slipping from 155 for 1 to 235 all out in the space of just under 15 overs.
Greenway and Brindle were both predictably pleased with their centuries. "We did quite a lot of running out there but it was great to come away with a win from out first game. It's taken quite a long time to get my ODI century so it's really nice to finally get it," Greenway said after the match. "South Africa played well today and we know we need to keep playing well to win again on Sunday."
"It was really nice to get out in the middle and get some runs under my belt. It's a great feeling scoring a hundred at any time, but to do it in an international is fantastic," Brindle said. "We want to hit our straps every time we go out there."