Pace bowler Lauren Filer hopes England can complete another win but said it is important they do not underestimate South Africa as the ODI leg hangs in the balance.
Filer has taken five wickets in the series so far, including three in England’s six-wicket win in the second ODI, and the 23-year-old will be hoping her talent gets her selected for the 2025 Ashes as well as the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
South Africa beat England in the opening ODI after losing 3-0 in the T20 but Charlie Deane’s historic hat-trick inspired the tourists to level the 50-over format and take the decider live in Potchefstroom on Wednesday. Sky Sports.
Live Women’s International One Day Cricket
Wednesday, December 11 at 11:40 a.m
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Filer is in the mood for South Africa as he dismissed Tazmin Britts and Sune Luus early on
“Since I came into this team, my role has been ‘run fast and don’t worry about runs, we want you to take wickets’, that’s what I want to do and hopefully long may it go on,” Filer said.
“I really enjoyed it and some of the pitches here made me look a lot faster with the jumps.
“Hopefully we can continue our performance and our win on Wednesday will be important.
“But we are not underestimating our opponent because we are on the wrong side of the result (in this series).
“I always get asked about targets and how fast I want to bowl. I’ve hit 77 (mph) and about 78 in the last two games, so I want to try and do that more consistently.
“It’s hard to put a number on it but I just want to bowl as fast as I can and hopefully over the next year I can do that.
“(Bowling around) 80 mph would be great, but that’s not what I’m looking at right now.”
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of the second ODI between South Africa and England in Durban
With the Women’s Ashes on the horizon, the fast and punchy pitches in Australia will suit Filler’s bowling.
Somerset made his England debut in the 2023 edition, where he took four wickets, and will be looking to repeat that success.
“I think it’s obviously in the back of my mind that the Ashes are coming up and I’m very excited to get out there,” Filler added.
“I’ve never been there or played there before, so it will be interesting to see how I do on those pitches if I get picked.”
Filer is one of eight England players shortlisted for the 2025 WPL auction, which will be held in Bengaluru on December 15, the same day England’s one-off Test against South Africa begins.
Heather Knight, Lauren Bell, Maya Bouchier, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Sophia Dunkley and Paige Schofield are the other England players who could feature in one of the most lucrative franchises in women’s cricket.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
England player Charlie Deane took a hat-trick against South Africa in the second ODI, dismissing Marizan Kapp, Nadine de Klerk and Sinalo Yafta.
“It’s not at the forefront of my mind, we’ve got international cricket now and the Ashes is coming up too,” Filer said.
“It would be amazing to be promoted, it’s one of the biggest competitions in women’s cricket and to be recognized as one of the fast bowlers to pick would be great.
“I think the auction will cause a little bit of anxiety for a few players.
“Concentrating on the Test game and playing for England is the main point so far, but it will be nice to get us back.”
Looking ahead to Wednesday, Filer wants England to follow up their six-wicket success in Durban on Sunday.
“As a team I think we did brilliantly, the spinners were world class and took seven wickets between them,” he said.
“Bashie and Tammy (Beaumont) set the pace with the kick and that’s how we want to play as a team and how dominant we want to be.
“Hopefully we can finish the streak.”
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
England make light work of the Proteas’ middle-order as they take a quick five-wicket haul in Durban
England v South Africa – full schedule
All-time Great Britain & Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports
T20 series
ODI series
Test match
- One-time test. December 15-18 (08:00, Bloemfontein)
Who decides the ODI series?Watch the women’s third and final ODI between South Africa and England live from 11.40am on Sky Sports Cricket (kick-off 12pm). Stream cricket and more sports with NOW.
