Top-order batter Beth Mooney showcased her talents with the willow to record an undefeated half-century to help Australia earn victory in the first T20 International (T20I) against South Africa in Canberra on Saturday, with the hosts picking up the first two points on offer in the multi-format tour.
Player of the Match Mooney amassed 72* runs off 57 balls, including 11 fours and one six, as Australia triumphantly pursued South Africa’s first innings score of 147/6 after 20 overs which featured a leading knock worth 59* off 54 deliveries (6 fours, 2 sixes) from Tazmin Brits.
South Africa was put into bat after the host nation won the toss and elected to field. The visitors made a steady start with opener Laura Wolvaardt playing the role of the protagonist before finding a fielder at point off the bowling of Darcie Brown (2/20) to depart for 16, which included three fours.
The visitors lost another wicket in the final over of the powerplay, with Marizanne Kapp (1) becoming Brown’s second scalp of the day to leave the Proteas 33/2 after six overs.
Although the innings began patiently for Brits, the imposing opening batter started to find her rhythm out in the middle as she recorded crucial boundaries alongside Suné Luus (19) to help take South Africa to 65/2 after 10 overs.
With the tourists enjoying a positive spell at the crease, Australia’s Georgia Wareham (1/33) made the all-important breakthrough as she found the slightest brush off Luus’ gloves with Healy completing the catch behind the stumps to see South Africa three down for 73.
The introduction of all-rounder Anneke Bosch (14) brought forward South Africa’s most dominant period of the innings as Bosch and Brits found boundaries with relative ease before the former was caught in the deep off an Ellyse Perry (2/13) ball.
With the Proteas Women on 100/4 after 14 overs, Brits and new batter Chloé Tryon (12) added a further 27 runs on the board as Brits reached her ninth T20I fifty before Tryon mistimed one of Perry’s varied pace deliveries to fielder Ashleigh Gardner in the deep.
Despite disciplined death bowling from the Aussies, Brits and Nadine de Klerk (10) edged South Africa’s score closer to the 150-run mark before a run out of de Klerk saw the away side end on 147/6 after their allotted 20 overs.
Needing 148 runs for victory, Australia’s opening pair of Alyssa Healy and Mooney began their innings as they meant to go on as the duo raced to 49/0 at the end of the powerplay before bringing up their 50-run stand with some aggressive strokeplay in the seventh over.
All-rounder de Klerk (1/25) finally broke the deadlock for South Africa, picking up the dangerous Aussie captain Healy for a well-played 46 off 28 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) with Luus taking a smart catch on the boundary.
Despite losing her captain, Mooney teamed up with Tahlia McGrath (24) in fine fashion as the pair carried the home side to 84/1 at the drinks break before taking Australia into triple figures in the 13th over.
The experienced duo combined for a significant 65-run partnership for the second wicket to lead their team towards victory and although Kapp (1/25) and the South African bowlers refused to roll over for Australia by picking up the late wicket of McGrath and taking the match into the final over, the Aussies comfortably got over the line with five balls remaining
The battle between South Africa and Australia continues in the second T20I on Sunday, 28 January from 10h45 local time (01h45 SAST) at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Women’s CommBank T20I Series v South Africa
Warm Up
24 Jan: Governor-General’s XI beat SA XI by 4 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)
T20I Series
27 Jan: Australia win first T20I 8 wickets (5 balls rem.) (Manuka Oval, Canberra)
28 Jan: Manuka Oval, Canberra 10.45am
30 Jan: Blundstone Arena, Hobart 7.05pm
3 Feb: Adelaide Oval, 2.10pm
ODI Series
7 Feb: North Sydney Oval, 2.40pm
10 Feb: North Sydney Oval, 2.40pm
Only Test
15-18 Feb: WACA Ground, Perth 11.00am
Proteas Women Squad (T20I & ODI) – Multi-format Tour to Australia
Laura Wolvaardt (c)
Anneke Bosch
Tazmin Brits
Nadine de Klerk
Mieke de Ridder
Ayanda Hlubi
Sinalo Jafta
Marizanne Kapp
Ayabonga Khaka
Masabata Klaas
Suné Luus
Eliz-Mari Marx
Nonkululeko Mlaba
Chloé Tryon
Delmi Tucker
Australia Squad for the T20I and ODI Series
Alyssa Healy (c)
Darcie Brown
Heather Graham
Ashleigh Gardner
Kim Garth
Grace Harris*
Jess Jonassen
Alana King**
Phoebe Litchfield
Tahlia McGrath
Beth Mooney
Ellyse Perry
Megan Schutt
Annabel Sutherland
Georgia Wareham
*T20s only | **ODIs only
Original Copy: Cricket South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Top-order batter Beth Mooney showcased her talents with the willow to record an undefeated half-century to take Australia to victory in the first T20 International (T20I) against South Africa at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Saturday, 27 January, 2024. Photo: Cricket Australia on X
Photo 2 Caption: South African opener Tazmin Brits carried her bat for an unbeaten 59 (54* balls) to help set Australia a target of 147/6 in their first T20 International (T20I) against Australia. Photo: Proteas Women on X
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