ENG-W vs SA-W | 1st ODI Review | Emma Lamb's maiden ton helps England take a lead of 1-0

As a part of their multi-format tour, the South African women locked horns with their English counterparts in the first ODI of the three-match series at Northampton on Monday.

South Africa suffered a massive setback ahead of the series as their explosive opening batter, Lizelle Lee, retired from international cricket. 

On the other hand, Katherine Brunt's comeback into England's white-ball setup boosted the hosts' strength. 

South African skipper Sune Luus won the toss and elected to bat first. Andrie Steyn accompanied Laura Wolvaardt in opening the innings. 

Katherine Brunt came hard at the South African openers and bowled in tight lines, not allowing them to free their arms in the powerplay.

Just when the opening partnership was about to be established, in the 7th over, Brunt bowled a full-length delivery to Steyn and got her LBW. Then, in the ninth over, Brunt got the prized scalp of Lara Goodall, pushing the visitors to backfoot. 

Thus, an excellent spell by the Barnsley-born restricted South Africa to 39 runs at the loss of 2 wickets in the powerplay.

South Africa needed a partnership to bounce back in the game. Wolvaardt stayed in the middle and scored runs at a decent rate but didn't get any support from skipper Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp.   

However, a 35-run partnership between Wolvaardt and Tryon helped South Africa regain momentum. Then, just when Wolvaardt was about to change gears, spinner Charlie Dean got her trapped in front of the stumps in the 30th over.

However, Chloe Tryon continued taking on the English bowlers at one end. Nadine de Klerk supported her superbly from the other end as the duo stitched a partnership of 97 runs and helped South Africa reach a respectable total. 

In the 46th over, Tryon miscued a pull shot and lost her wicket to Natalie Sciver. Her terrific knock of 88 runs, including 13 boundaries, helped South Africa put a decent total of 218 runs on the board. 

England all-rounder Sciver started a bit expensive but emerged as their most successful bowler with four wickets. Katherine Brunt was the most economical bowler and grabbed three crucial wickets.

In reply, England suffered an early blow as Marizzane Kapp rattled Tammy Beaumont's stumps in the third over. 

However, the other opener Emma Lamb continued playing attacking cricket in the powerplay. 

Sophia Dunkley amazed the spectators with her glorious strokeplay from the other end. The duo formed a match-winning stand of 78 runs which helped England breach the 80-run mark in just fourteen overs. 

In the 15th over, Dunkley was trapped in front by de Klerk at an individual score of 22. However, Lamb remained composed in the middle and helped England score runs faster than the required rate. The Preston-born batter stole the show as she slammed her maiden ton from mere 97 deliveries, including 15 boundaries.

Nat Sciver, in superb form, continued from where she left in the test match and smashed a 36-ball-55. An 89-run partnership between Lamb and Sciver swung the game entirely into England's favour.

There were a couple of hiccups at the end for England as they lost Lamb, Sciver and Knight in quick succession. 

However, with few runs left, Danielle Wyatt finished the chase comfortably with 107 balls to spare.

Lamb was adjudged the player of the match for her outstanding century. 

England took a lead of 1-0 in the three-match series with this dominating victory over the visitors. 

Brief scores:

South Africa 218-10 (47.4 overs; C Tryon 88, L Wolvaardt 43; N Sciver 4-59, Katherine Brunt 3-18)

England 219- 5 (32.1 overs; E Lamb 102, N Sciver 55; N Klerk 2-44, Ayabonga Khaka 1-41)

England won by five wickets.