Catch up on more about Australia’s resounding victory over South Africa with our report following day three of the one-off women’s Test in Perth:
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This is the moment the game was won:
Alana King finally got that well-deserved wicket - and it was the final one of the game! #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/HuFut4r63Y
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 17, 2024
And that’s the end of an interesting series, with South Africa snatching wins in the ODI and T20 games. A different story in the Test – but with exposure comes experience and, in time, more competitiveness.
Here’s Megan Maurice mulling over that very thing before the Test began:
Now the players head off to the WPL, which starts on February 23, where they will face each other again/join forces in a different costume. More names to make, more breaks to take.
That’s it from me, thanks for your company. Bye!
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Beth Mooney is the player of the series.
Now a shy Laura Wolvaardt is called to the stage. “All credit goes to Australia, we were pretty much outplayed in all facets but a great experience for us. Being able to play at this iconic venue was great . I personally would love to play more Test cricket, it was a great challenge.”
Alyssa Healy now, who is a cracking interviewee. She talks way too quickly for me but she has a word of warning for the rest of the world. “I’ve never seen this group more hungry to play cricket or to challenge themselves.”
Lots of streamers and a plate trophy is handed over.
One T20 and one ODI win for South Africa in this multi-format series, but Australia take the trophy 12-4.
Ah, we’ve already rolled along to the presentation ceremony. The player of the match is, wait for it, Annabel Sutherland. “There’s not much to it other than I love batting and there’s no better place to be than with my mates up the other end. The white ball series, South Africa really challenged us, then to come here and start the way we did with ball was great. There will be celebrations tonight.”
(fabulous white dress incidentally from the woman doing the interviews).
Annabel Sutherland is the first woman to take five wickets and score a double century in a Test!
Thanks to Hypocaust for this:
Annabel Sutherland is the first woman, and fourth player in the history of Test cricket, to both score double century and take five or more wickets in the same match.
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) February 17, 2024
Denis Atkinson WI
Ted Dexter ENG
Mushtaq Mohammad PAK
Annabel Sutherland AUS#AUSvSAhttps://t.co/NsOcbgbnI1
A pretty good effort by South Africa there in the second innings, few would have thought that they would last past tea at the start of the day. Kudos to Tucker and Tryon who stuck it out, and to Klass who played an up and at em cameo at the end. But Australia – wow – they are a super side and the young talent keeps rolling on through.
The commentators are swarming over the players on the pitch. Here’s Ash Gardner: “It was huge, we never take these opportunities for granted to play at the WACA. We were able to watch the Annabel show and wrap up the series today. ITs actually quite scary to see – a credit to Darcie who has never taken a five-fer in any cricket before today. Annabel is a super star. “
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WICKET! Hlubi c and b King o (South Africa 215 all out) Australia beat South Africa by an innings and 284 runs!
WICKET! And that’s the lot! Hlubi drives at a floater, straight back into the hands of the waiting bowler.
97th over: South Africa 214-9 (Klaas 1, Hlubi) What a match for Sutherland! Now five wickets in the match to go with her double century. Not a bad dally down to the office.
WICKET! Klaas c Healy b Sutherland 15 (South Africa 214-9)
Klass swings one time too many with an attempted uppercut, and edges through to the gloves of Healy.
96th over: South Africa 214-8- (Klaas 1, Mlaba 15) A flighted maiden.
95th over: South Africa 213-7- (Klaas 1, Mlaba 15) Huge applause for Sutherland at the end of that over, and many a hand slap in the field. Australia nearly there now. Tryon’s wicket came with a beauty that nipped in and bamboozled.
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WICKET! Tryon b Sutherland 64 (South Africa 213-8)
Hook, line and sinker! Stumps a kimbo!
94th over: South Africa 213-7- (Tryon 64, Mlaba 15) Mlaba plonks her front foot forward and defends to King. Tries to attack the final ball, and misses.
93rd over: South Africa 213-7- (Tryon 64, Mlaba 15) And a double change, with Sutherland coming on at the other end. Pings Tryon on the thigh, who roars in pain. Swings and misses at the next ball.
In other news, at Rajkot, England’s men have been having a difficult day.
92nd over: South Africa 211-7- (Tryon 62, Mlaba 15) Leg spin after tea (or coffee in my case) with King.
We’re back!
Tea: South Africa 210-7 are 289 runs behind Australia
91st over: South Africa 210-7- (Tryon 61, Mlaba 15) Garth with last over before tea. This partnership now an irritating 30 for Australia, who would like to polish the match off. Garth nearly gets the breakthrough with a well-disguised slower delivery as the last ball before tea. Mlaba swings – and misses! The ball just passes over the stumps. Time for me to put the coffee on – back shortly!
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90th over: South Africa 204-7- (Tryon 55, Mlaba 15) Some gorgeous footage of kids playing cricket outside the main arena, commandeering a pathway with grass either side. Love these grounds with space for children to play. Anyway, Tryon’s turn for a boundary as she tucks into a rare wideish ball from Brown and sends it flying through the covers. One over till tea.
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89th over: South Africa 200-7- (Tryon 51, Mlaba 15) Mlaba is a woman on a mission, slams Garth, like a woman wheeling a frying pan, down the ground. And another! Slightly more orthodox this time. A third hit and hope follows but just a single.
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88th over: South Africa 190-7- (Tryon 50, Mlaba 6) Fabulous carry from Brown, Healy gathering the ball on the rise behind the sticks, followed by a threatening inswinger last ball.
Maiden Test fifty for Tryon!
87th over: South Africa 189-7- (Tryon 50, Mlaba 5) A maiden Test fifty for the powerful Tryon – dropped by Mooney on 38 – who gets there with a single down to long leg off Garth. She and Mlaba punch gloves.
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86th over: South Africa 185-7- (Tryon 47, Mlaba 4) Mlaba thumps her first ball with gusto through the covers for four! But the plaudits go to Brown – who is having a Test to remember. A beautiful inswinger to rip out Jafta’s stumps.
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WICKET! Jafta b Brown 9 (South Africa 181-7)
Gorgeous! A full ball clips outside edge and slices into the stumps! The end of a 41 minute vigil.
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85th over: South Africa 178-6 (Tryon 45, Jafta 9) It’s 33 degrees at the WACA, the flags billowing with the afternoon visitation of the Freemantle Doctor. Nicely done by Tryon, who shows the second ball a determined face and it races through the covers for four. A tricky over, ending with a beauty that leaves Jafta beautifully.
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84th over: South Africa 173-6 (Tryon 41, Jafta 9) Brown, so fresh faced, long, accelerating approach. Causing all sorts of indecision, a maiden.
83rd over: South Africa 173-6 (Tryon 41, Jafta 9) A small delay while they took drinks on a hot, hot day. All sorts happening in Garth’s over, first a sweet off drive by Jaffa down the ground. Then, three beauties in a row, beating the outside edge, including Tryon edging just short of slip.
82nd over: South Africa 168-6 (Tryon 41, Jafta 4) Darcie Brown has the new ball at the other end, bowling towards the building site end of the ground. Two huge inswingers to start with, two big lbw appeals, Tryon all at sea. Then she swings and is beaten on the outside edge. Super maiden. Is there anyone out there who is at the WACA/been to the WACA recently? How is the old girld doing?
81st over: South Africa 168-6 (Tryon 41, Jafta 4). Garth stands at the end of her mark, pounding the ground – well, almost. Waiting, four slips and a gully. Speeds of 105-108kph (in the mid sixties mph). Jaffa determinedly leaves every ball.
80th over: South Africa 168-6 (Tryon 41, Jafta 4) King, shades, long sleeves collar up at the corner, bowling with bounce in her trainers. Jafta goes to cut, edges, and the ball flies off the leg of Healy. Ah – here comes the new ball.
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79th over: South Africa 166-6 (Tryon 40, Jafta 3) Lovely to see the WACA on television, towering old style floodlights and all. One off Gardner’s over, reeling in from around the wicket
78th over: South Africa 165-6 (Tryon 39, Jafta 3) Thanks Jim! Morning all, apologies got my times in a muddle this morning. We’ve missed an over in the handover but just to say that Tryon was dropped on 38 at slip by Mooney.
77th over: South Africa 164-6 (Tryon 38, Jafta 3) Ash Gardner with another probing over. With that, I’m outta here. Tanya Aldred is here to call the impending Aussie victory. Goodbye!
76th over: South Africa 163-6 (Tryon 37, Jafta 3) Jafta pushes a full ball off her toes to pick up two through midwicket.
75th over: South Africa 161-6 (Tryon 37, Jafta 1) Sinalo Jafta is the new batter, she clips off the hip to get off the mark. Australia buzz about between overs.
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WICKET! Nadine de Klerk c Sutherland b Gardner 0 (South Africa 160-6)
One brings two! Australia on a roll now after plenty of hard yakka. Gardner gets the edge of new batter de Klerk and golden girl Sutherland hangs on at slip.
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74th over: South Africa 160-5 (Tryon 37, de Klerk 0) King loops up a big leggie but Tryon is equal to it, down the pitch and driving away for four runs!
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WICKET! Delmi Tucker c & b Gardner 64 (South Africa 156-5)
Ash Gardner gets the breakthrough! Tucker’s vigil comes to an end in tame fashion as she pats back a length ball and Gardner grabs it in her follow through.
73rd over: South Africa 156-5 (Tryon 32, de Klerk 0) Nadine de Klerk joins Chloe Tryon in the middle.
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72nd over: South Africa 153-4 (Tucker 62, Tryon 32) King continues after a quick drink. There are nine overs to go until the new ball can be taken. Close! King fizzes a length ball past Tryon’s edge and Healy whips off the bails in a flash. NOT OUT. Once again the back foot is grounded and behind the line.
71st over: South Africa 153-4 (Tucker 62, Tryon 32) Ash Gardner continues. She’s sporting some seriously edge shades. Red in colour and Judge Dredd in style. Guess what – it’s a maiden! Time for a drink.
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70th over: South Africa 153-4 (Tucker 62, Tryon 32) King gives it a rip and finds flight and dip from the off. South Africa becalmed, more maidens than a Jane Austen novel post lunch.
69th over: South Africa 153-4 (Tucker 62, Tryon 32) It’s all gone very quiet. Just a single off Molineux’s latest. Right, here comes Alana King – can she spice things up a little?
68th over: South Africa 152-4 (Tucker 61, Tryon 32) Healy brings in a catcher at short cover to go with the slip and short leg. Tucker sweeps to add one more to the score.
67th over: South Africa 151-4 (Tucker 60, Tryon 32) Anything you can do… Gardner keeps Tryon tied down. Another maiden. Would like to see a few more fielders around the bat to try and make this pressure count, Healy has plenty of runs to play with.
You’ve got a monster lead & the field is still spread. Bring in a leg slip, bat pad on each side, another slip… #AUSvSA
— Julian (@JulianStevens95) February 17, 2024
66th over: South Africa 151-4 (Tucker 60, Tryon 32) A Molineux maiden. Rapid and frugal stuff from Australia since lunch.
65th over: South Africa 151-4 (Tucker 60, Tryon 32) Gardner is around the wicket too, sliding the ball across Tryon. Close! An edge flies wide of the solitary slip and away for a couple.
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64th over: South Africa 149-4 (Tucker 60, Tryon 30) Molineux goes over the wicket to Tucker. A fine sweep sees a couple chipped off the giant iceberg of a lead.
63rd over: South Africa 147-4 (Tucker 58, Tryon 30) Healy gathers a slippery ball from Gardner and whips off the bails, she seems certain that this stumping could be out? Nope. Replays show Tucker had her heel firmly planted behind the line.
62nd over: South Africa 146-4 (Tucker 57, Tryon 30) Dot follows dot follows dot... Another maiden, this time to Sophie Molineux who goes very full, almost trying to sneak one under Tryon’s bat.
61st over: South Africa 146-4 (Tucker 57, Tryon 30) Gardner hurtles through another maiden. Barely time to type. Won’t someone think of the poor OBO scribe?
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60th over: South Africa 146-4 (Tucker 57, Tryon 30) Molineux darts one in and goes up for an LBW shout to Tucker… the batter managed to get a tickle on it which saves her. Australia peeling off the overs at warp speed post lunch.
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59th over: South Africa 145-4 (Tucker 55, Tryon 30) Ash Gardner rattles through another maiden and nearly has Tryon snaffled at short leg! Inside edge onto pad but the catch falls short of Litchfield under the lid.
58th over: South Africa 145-4 (Tucker 55, Tryon 30) Sophie Molineux from the other end. She beats the edge of Tucker’s forward poke with one that slides on. Well bowled – Molineux then tosses a few above the eyeline to try and tempt Tucker into something expansive but Tucker is content to block out a maiden.
57th over: South Africa 145-4 (Tucker 55, Tryon 30) Ash Gardner is going to start with the ball first up after the break. She has a slip and a short leg in place. Bosh! Tryon gets on the front foot and drives powerfully through the off side for four runs.
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Here come the players, Australia need six more wickets to wrap up the win. South Africa? Well, just a simple case of racking up 359 more runs to make Australia bat again.
Righto, afternoon session incoming.
.@copes9 catches up with Phoebe Litchfield to discuss that catch and everything from the first session of the day #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/0GzECETiTD
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 17, 2024
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73 runs and 1 wicket mean that for the first time in the match, it's South Africa's session, though at 140/4 (56.0) they still trail by 359 runs.#AUSvSA https://t.co/NsOcbgbVxz
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) February 17, 2024
Lunch: South Africa 140-4 (Trail by 359 runs)
Sophie Molineux with the final over of the session. Is that a drop from Healy? Yes. A very tough chance but a chance nonetheless – Tryon gets an inside edge onto the top of her pad but Healy can’t cling onto the catch. The batter survives and South Africa end a hard fought session, a decent effort from the visitors. Just the one wicket for Australia this morning. Time for a bite to eat.
56th over: South Africa 140-4 (Tucker 55, Tryon 26)
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55th over: South Africa 140-4 (Tucker 55, Tryon 26) Kim Garth sends down a rare poor ball – short and wide – Tryon cuts away for four. Appeal! Garth nips one back into Tryon’s front pad and the Aussies go up en masse. The umpire says no on the field but Healy wants a second look at this… NOT OUT. Tryon smashed the cover off it. A drive down the ground sees Tryon collect a couple more and a sprightly single brings Tucker on strike for the final ball. Garth goes short but Tucker is quick on her feet and pulls away for a brace. One more over to go before the break.
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54th over: South Africa 131-4 (Tucker 53, Tryon 19) Molineux drags one down and Tryon doesn’t miss out, rocking back and pulling powerfully through midwicket for four.
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53rd over: South Africa 125-4 (Tucker 52, Tryon 14) Close! Kim Garth comes on for a pre luncheon burst and very nearly gets Tryon – a huge leading edge flies over the infield and lands safe, the batter had no idea where it had gone but gets away with it.
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52nd over: South Africa 122-4 (Tucker 51, Tryon 12) Molineux into her second over. Tucker works off her pads for a single and Tryon is happy to block out the next five. We’ve got ten minutes til lunch, can the Aussies pick up another before the break?
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51st over: South Africa 121-4 (Tucker 50, Tryon 12) Chloe Tryon has come out firing in Perth. Perry serves up a half volley that Tryon leans on and neatly threads the gap at cover. And again! A carbon copy by bowler and batter sees the second boundary of the over.
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50th over: South Africa 113-4 (Tucker 50, Tryon 4) Time for spin, but it isn’t Alana King or Ash Gardner… Sophie Molineux is given the nod by Healy. Delmi Tucker is watchful and pats out a maiden.
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49th over: South Africa 113-4 (Tucker 50, Tryon 4) Chloe Tryon is the new batter. Perry beats her with the first ball but Tryon is straight into her work with a glorious extra cover drive for four!
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WICKET! Tazmin Brits c Litchfield b Perry 31 (South Africa 109-3)
The breakthrough! Ellyse Perry gets Brits to fend at a good length ball and Phoebe Litchfield holds on to a very sharp low chance. The catch is deemed a good one by the third umpire and I think that is the correct call – it looked like she got the fingers underneath the ball. Australia have their fourth wicket.
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48th over: South Africa 109-3 (Tucker 50, Brits 31) Sutherland sends down a tidy maiden. Meanwhile, it is less quiet in Rajkot as India have taken two quick English wickets in the first half an hour. Daniel Gallan is on the tools for that one:
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47th over: South Africa 109-3 (Tucker 50, Brits 31) Delmi Tucker nudges a single to fine leg to bring up a hard fought fifty. Well played and bonus points for scrapping away after bagging a first baller in the 1st innings too.
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46th over: South Africa 108-3 (Tucker 49, Brits 31) Shot! Brits opens the face and runs the ball wide of gully to pick up four runs. The partnership approaches a hundred, it’s been gritty stuff from Brits and Tucker after a day of hard toil in the field and three early wickets falling yesterday.
45th over: South Africa 104-3 (Tucker 49, Brits 27) Plenty happening this over. Perry scuds one into Tucker’s pads and the Aussies go up for the LBW. The umpire says no but Healy goes upstairs. NOT OUT – the ball was comfortably going over the stumps. Tucker spoons a top edge off the very next ball, Alana King runs backwards and dives for the catch but the ball just evades her and falls to the turf.
44th over: South Africa 101-3 (Tucker 47, Brits 26) Sutherland begins after the drinks break, Tucker is watchful and faces out a maiden. This pair have put on 88 and counting, a top effort given the circumstances.
43rd over: South Africa 101-3 (Tucker 47, Brits 26) Perry is probing, full and at the stumps. A full ball finds the edge of Brits’ blade but falls short of the cordon. That’s the second time the edge has failed to carry this morning. First hour done and South Africa make it through to drinks unscathed.
A quality first hour from Tucker and Brits 👏
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 17, 2024
15 overs without loss and 34 runs added #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/rOjoQqWLjU
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42nd over: South Africa 100-3 (Tucker 46, Brits 26) Shot! Sutherland is pulled with aplomb behind square by Tucker and a leg bye sees the 100 come up for the visitors. Ellyse Perry is summoned by Healy, she’s had a quiet game and wasn’t quite at the races with the ball yesterday afternoon. All of which is to say she’s due…
41st over: South Africa 95-3 (Tucker 42, Brits 26) Darcie Brown continues, I wonder how long before Healy turns to Alana King and a bit of spin? Tucker and Brits are looking largely unfazed. Brits steers a short ball behind square for a couple.
40th over: South Africa 93-3 (Tucker 42, Brits 24) Sutherland replaces Kim Garth and starts with a maiden, spearing the ball down at an awkward box height at a decent pace. Still no breakthrough for Australia, South Africa making them work for the win – they’ve had a stoic first hour this morning.
39th over: South Africa 93-3 (Tucker 42, Brits 24) Brown has a short leg in place and is around the wicket to Brits, whanging the ball into the guts of the WACA pitch. Brits was hit in the ribs yesterday and has looked slightly jittery against the shorter ball. An uncomfortable over but Brits survives.
Trust the mcg to still have the cricket on at the Taylor concert #mcg #MelbourneTSTheErasTour pic.twitter.com/nttoWUxgZh
— HNLL(Z) 🇦🇺 (@HNLL_2) February 16, 2024
38th over: South Africa 92-3 (Tucker 42, Brits 24) Garth chugs in for another, ponytail bobbing as she approaches the crease. Ah. A rare loose ball, a full toss, is slammed through point by Tucker. This partnership is proving an obdurate one, Australia have bowled well but Brits and Tucker have dug in nicely.
37th over: South Africa 88-3 (Tucker 38, Brits 24) Brown throws in a loose ball, a full toss that Brits slams through the cover for four. South Africa have been patient this morning and are just creaking into life. Brown tests out the middle of the pitch with some short stuff, Brits is hopping about a tad but manages to negotiate the over.
36th over: South Africa 83-3 (Tucker 37, Brits 20) Garth goes short to Tucker and is pulled through midwicket for three runs. Brits is then beaten on the outside edge and decides enough is enough. Next ball the batter goes for a huge swipe at a good length ball but connects only with fresh Perth air. Three dots to follow before Garth gets a yorker wrong and the ball slides past Healy and away for four byes.
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35th over: South Africa 76-3 (Tucker 34, Brits 20) Darcie Brown runs in with the breeze at her back. Close! A short ball is gloved by Tucker and it loops high and wide of Healy and away for the first boundary of the day.
34th over: South Africa 71-3 (Tucker 28, Brits 18) Garth stitches together her third maiden on the reel. She slips in a mid over bouncer that gives Brits the hurry up and then follows up with a fuller ball that glides past the edge. Lovely bowling.
33rd over: South Africa 71-3 (Tucker 28, Brits 18) Brown takes the edge of Brits’ blade but the ball just falls short of the cordon, the batters scamper a single as the ball is gathered. Tucker mistimes a pull into the leg side and Brits pokes to point for the third run of the over.
32nd over: South Africa 68-3 (Tucker 28, Brits 18) Close! Kim Garth has Delmi Tucker well and truly tied down at the start of day three – five dots sees Tucker line up a loose swipe to the sixth ball and the edge very nearly taken. Another maiden for Garth.
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31st over: South Africa 68-3 (Tucker 28, Brits 18) Tucker nurdles a ball into the leg side to get a single and South Africa’s first run of the day.
30th over: South Africa 67-3 (Tucker 27, Brits 18) Kim Garth from the Lillee-Marsh stand end. A light breeze rippling the trousers. Garth stitches together six balls on a good length and beats Brits’ edge with one that shapes away. Another maiden. Frugal start from the Aussies.
29th over: South Africa 66-3 (Tucker 27, Brits 18) Darcie Brown starts with the ball for Australia under cloudy blue skies. Three slips and a gully. Brown is right on the money, pitching up and zoning in on Delmi Tucker’s front pad. Tucker is watchful. A maiden to start the day.
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The players are readying in Perth, not long til day three is underway at the WACA.
After her stunning double century yesterday, there's plenty to chat to Annabel Sutherland about.
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 17, 2024
She talks to @copes9 and Justin Langer about how the innings progressed #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/MV9aqhGE9f
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As well as Annabel Sutherland, day two was all about Australia building an incredible 499-run first innings lead over South Africa then picking up three quick wickets.
Tazmin Brits and Delmi Tucker dug in late to see the visitors through to stumps on 67-3.
Catch up on more from day two of the women’s Test:
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to day three of Australia v South Africa at the WACA. Alyssa Healy’s side currently lead by a towering 432 runs and need to take seven more South African wickets in order to claim the spoils in this one off Test match.
Yesterday belonged to Annabel Sutherland. The 22 year old all-rounder made 210 runs off just 256 balls to join an elite club in women’s cricket. She eventually fell just three short of the Australian woman’s highest ever score in the format – teammate Ellyse Perry’s 213* - but as her parents watched on proudly from the Perth bleachers, Sutherland had no regrets after the close of play. Nothing of the sort.
“I’m very happy for her (Perry) to keep that record, she deserves it… I’ve definitely picked her brains along the way.”
Sutherland added: ‘It’s pretty special and probably hasn’t quite sunk in yet what exactly it means to me… it was so nice just to spend the day out there and soak up what a great place it is to bat on the WACA.”
It was quite some knock by Sutherland. One for the ages. South Africa showed plenty of guts and heart before the close but realistically it is a case of when rather than if on this third day.
