Hours after New Zealand women’s team smashed the highest score (216/1) in T20 cricket during first match of the tri-series against South Africa, the Heather Knight-led England side went on to better the total, posting a mammoth 250/3 runs in the designated 20 overs against the same opponents.
Tammy Beaumont played a stupendous 52-ball 116 runs knock before the bowlers restricted South Africa to 129/6 in 20 overs to seal a 121-run win.
Smashing the second fastest hundred in T20 cricket, Beaumont equalled the record of 22 boundaries in a T20 innings, set by Australia’s Meg Lanning.
Beaumont stitched a sensational 147-run stand for the first wicket with Danielle Wyatt. Wyatt, on the other hand, scored 56 runs.
Beaumont said the team had ignored advice from England women’s coach Mark Robinson.
“We saw the Kiwi girls broke it, Robbo told us in the pre-match chat not to try and break it, but I think a few of the girls got a bit of a challenge on,” Beaumont told Sky Sports during the mid-innings break of England’s match.
The South African women’s team conceded 476 runs in 40 overs in one day.
England men’s highest T20 total is 230/8
Brief scores: England Women 250/3 in 20 overs (Danielle Wyatt 56, Tammy Beaumont 116, Natalie Sciver 33, Katherine Brunt 42*; Stacey Lackay 2-59) beat South Africa Women 129/6 in 20 overs (Dane van Niekerk 72, Mignon du Preez 25; Katherine Brunt 2-18, Danielle Hazell 2-35) by 121 runs.