Image Credit- CA
Australia’s talented and adaptable attack defeated a
determined South Africa team that was putting up a late fight to win the Test
match handily late on day three at the WACA.
After being pushed in close T20I and ODI series wins, Australia proved their
mettle in red-ball cricket as they won the first-ever multi-series between the
two sides, 12-4.
Australia’s bowling depth was on display as six bowlers claimed wickets in
South Africa’s second innings of 215 runs, despite their attack being forced to
grind against grittier batting on a pitch that became flatter as the game
progressed.
Eight bowlers, including all-rounder Annabel
Sutherland, who finished with five wickets for the match in addition to her
unprecedented double century, prompted captain Alyssa Healy to unleash her deep
attack.
With maiden Test half-centuries from debutantes Delmi Tucker and Chloe Tryon,
South Africa salvaged some respectability following a disastrous opening to
Test cricket against Australia.
Tryon, Tucker, and Tazmin Brits, who was making her debut, all faced more than
100 deliveries as South Africa managed to survive 97.2 overs, a significant
improvement over their paltry 31.2 overs in the first innings.
After defeating Australia late in the second day with
a half-century stand, South Africa resumed their second innings at 67 for 3,
with the Brits and Tucker looking to continue their counterattack.
British seamen appeared hesitant in the warm weather as they went after a
hazardous stretch outside off-stump. The Brits edged just in front of second
slip, and Darcie Brown was unlucky not to grab a wicket with her extra pace.
Additionally, Tucker top-edged over wicketkeeper Healy, but the batters found
little movement on a sun-baked surface. In contrast to early in the game, they
were unfazed by short deliveries that came off the wicket very slowly, and they
successfully stopped a few unusual loose deliveries.
Healy eventually went back to spin, and Tryon once
more made Australia wait as he repeatedly hammered through the off-side with a
combination of force and skill.
It nearly paid off right away when, just before lunch, Healy missed a difficult
opportunity when Sophie Molineux, playing her first international since late
2021, had Tryon inside edging onto her pad.
Following lunch, Ashleigh Gardner and King bowled effectively together and
found turn and bounce. King, who came on the attack in the 42nd over of the
day’s play, was warmly greeted on her home ground. Runs crawled to a stop as
they handcuffed Tryon with four fielders around the bat.
Tucker felt the strain mounting, and when she chipped
a return catch that Gardner skillfully made, she was undone by the extra
bounce. Despite her disappointment, she walked off the pitch to a standing
ovation from the spectators after scoring 64 runs off 180 balls in just four
hours at the crease.
Mooney’s simple catch at slip saved King from taking the first wicket of the
game, and Tryon quickly took advantage of the opportunity to reach her
half-century.
To mark Test cricket’s return to the WACA, Sutherland clean bowled Tryon to cap
off a thrilling encounter, and home town hero King took the final wicket. But
an Australia victory was always certain.