By Jasper Bruce
Australia have sealed victory in the best-of-three one-day international series against South Africa, avenging their upset loss in match two with a rain-affected 110-run triumph at North Sydney Oval.
After winning the toss on Saturday, captain Alyssa Healy (60) laid the groundwork for the hosts’ 9-277 before slow-starting Beth Mooney fired to 82 not out.
Alana King bats during game three of the women’s One Day International series against South Africa. Credit:
The pair’s efforts left the Proteas requiring their largest-ever successful run chase to repeat Wednesday’s surprise victory and seal a fairytale series win.
South Africa had slumped to 4-63 when rain stopped play after 14 overs, and they were left to chase a revised total of 238 from 31 overs when the match resumed more than 90 minutes later.
Legspinner Alana King (4-26) wreaked havoc after the restart with career-best ODI figures as the visitors lost 4-0 in the tail.
After dispatching Sinalo Jafta and Masabata Klaas, each without scoring, King came within inches of a hat-trick, but the ball bounced just wide of off-stump and spared Ayanda Hlubi.
Hlubi couldn’t survive Kim Garth (3-14), though, and the Proteas were all out for 127 in the 25th over.
“It’s been a really good six games of cricket, it certainly challenged us,” Australia coach Shelley Nitschke said reflecting on the Twenty20 and ODI series.
“I’ve been really proud of the way we’ve bounced back after being 1-1 in the two mini-series.”
Prior to the rain delay, Tahlia McGrath (3-23) was important with the ball, enticing Tazmin Brits (31) into holing out to deep mid-wicket where she was caught.
McGrath then gave Marizanne Kapp the same treatment, the architect of Wednesday’s upset win going for a fourth-ball duck after finding Darcie Brown in the deep.
“We bowled pretty good lengths and fielding was decent as well, we just lost our way with the bat a bit,” Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt said.
The win puts Australia back in control of the multi-format series ahead of next week’s one-off Test in Perth. To draw the series on points aggregate South Africa need to win that match.
Healy rode her luck after being dropped on 31 at deep backward square leg by Anneke Bosch, who had two other possible catches fall at her feet on a day of mixed fielding for the tourists.
Healy notched her 17th ODI half-century with back-to-back fours straight down the ground off Nadine de Klerk, before being caught at much the same place Bosch dropped her.
When Healy went, McGrath (44) reignited the hosts by hitting young quick Hlubi (0-41) for five consecutive fours but misplayed Chloe Tryon the next over and lost her middle stump.
Healy notched her 17th ODI half-century.Credit:
With a single to mid-wicket in the 43rd over, slow-and-steady Mooney brought up her 16th half-century before a patient knock began to switch gears.
After belting quick Masabata Klaas for consecutive sixes, King (17) kept the strike late and Mooney’s ton eluded her.
Australia finished with a much heftier total than the 149 they managed in Wednesday’s loss.
“From a batting perspective, we just didn’t adapt to the conditions quick enough (in the second ODI),” Nitschke said.
“(Today) we left some runs out there still but we certainly were a bit more measured.”
AP
