England took control of the one-off Test against South Africa as the hosts lost their last seven wickets in the first innings for 44 runs in a dramatic evening session.
The top-flight Proteas were struggling to reach 237-3 in Bloemfontein before a lightning break after tea coincided with a change in the course of the game.
The English sailors charged with the new ball under darkening skies, bowling out South Africa for 281 runs to take a 114-run lead.
That lead extended to 145 when Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight took England to 31-1 at the end after first-innings centurion Maia Bouchier fell victim to a duck.
Earlier, South Africa seemed well on their way to parity thanks to Marizanne Kapp, who scored a fluent 57 before she was bowled by debutant Ryana MacDonald-Gay, leading to the collapse when the delay came just five balls later.
MacDonald-Gay struck again soon after the restart and Nadine de Klerk was caught for a duck, Lauren Filer overcame Sune Luus’ resistance with a powerful knock of 56 and Chloe Tryon calmly took Lauren Bell to mid-off for 20.
Bell finished 4-49 after suffering a tail wipe, with the fall distracting from the disciplined efforts of South Africa’s top-class competitors in the morning and afternoon sessions.
Opener Anneke Bosch collapsed in the second half of the day, but a 92-run difference between Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen helped the hosts recover until the latter was caught slipping Filer off the last ball before lunch.
The omission of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the match had a huge impact on the hosts as captain Wolvaardt was visibly frustrated when Sophie Ecclestone sent him off for £65, which suggested she had hit the ball.
There was a hopeless partnership of 99 between Kapp and Luus, but the break-up exposed a fragile middle and lower order, giving England hope of a first Test win since 2014.
More to follow.
