Proteas secure first IWC ODI win against England

All-rounder Nadine de Klerk says their win was an opportunity to display their best cricket at Diamond Oval, and help the team to recover from the 3-0 T20 whitewash against the English team.

Speaking at a post match presser, De Klerk believes they will manage to maintain the winning momentum in the second ODI.

"Yeah, I think that's why we play cricket, it's to win games of cricket and it was a really disappointing series in the T20s but obviously we gave a few opportunities and we knew we didn't play our best cricket,” de Klerk said.

“So, to come out against the same opposition and to get a convincing victory is a great start of the series and hopefully that gives us a bit of momentum going into the next couple of games as well."

Captain Laura Wolvaardt scored a half-century with the team chasing the target of 186 with 12 overs remaining, and secured four fours in her 59 runs.

De Klerk praised her for being the anchor of the team.

"I think, you know what, Wolvie probably played the innings we needed for our side and that's her role within our side. She's the anchor of our team and our leading run scorer so that was her role and I think my role is very different to hers and when I came in they had a lot of fielders inside the circle, trying to put pressure on the incoming batters and today was just one of those days you know, really backing myself and trying to find those gaps and today really paid off,” she added.

“All credit has to go to that top four that really built the platform for myself and probably Kappie as well to come in and just play our natural games towards the backend of that innings."

The second of the three ODIs will take place at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.

De Klerk unpacks their plan as they look into securing a second win.

"It's a great opportunity for us to seal the series in the next game and I think today if we probably looked at the game, having them five down within the first 20 overs and then them getting to 180 was probably a bit disappointing,” she explained.

“I think we let ourselves down a little bit towards that back end. So, going into the next game you don't wanna give these good teams a sniff, you wanna kill it as quick as possible and we probably didn't do that today but I think we were clinical with the bat.

“You know chasing that score in a tricky wicket and 35 overs or whatever it was a serious performance from this team and hopefully we take a lot of confidence from this into the next game."