Australia have made an absolute mockery of the competition at this tournament. On the weekend, after that World Cup-record chase of 277 against India, Alyssa Healy said her side could win from any position. This match has confirmed her words.
There were a couple of jittery moments early in Australia’s innings, when Healy fell in the third over and another two walked before the 20th was out. But even then, and even without Perry at No 4, there came a point when it was never in doubt. Lanning will go down as one of the greats of the game of any gender, as highlighted by the below match report, which I leave with you. Thanks for joining us and we’ll see you for the next one.
And so, that’s that. South Africa did not play badly. Apart from their fielding mishaps it was quite the contrary. They played well, and were still outplayed. They are capable and anything can happen in the knockout stages.
Up next for the Proteas are India on Saturday while Australia face Bangladesh on Thursday.
Unsurprisingly, Lanning is player of the match with her 135 off 130 balls. In her career she now has 10 centuries while chasing from 53 matches. Her innings in this one was close to perfect.
“It was nice to contribute,” she says. “We speak of the top four batting through and playing those match-winning innings. I thought Kapp and Ismail bowled really well. I felt I left more balls than I ever have. It was important ... I knew I had to be the one to bat through today. Mooney and Tahlia took the pressure off me as well.”
Australia beat South Africa by five wickets!
Sutherland does it on the second ball of the over. She flicks Khaka to fine leg to seal Australia’s sixth win on the hop at this tournament. They are undefeated and they are the undisputed favourites.
45th over: Australia 271-5 (Meg Lanning 135, Annabel Sutherland 21) They are more than halfway there already thanks to Sutherland, who puts away a pile-driver for six of Sune Luus. She leant forward and hit that so cleanly. Scores are level now. One run will do the trick.
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44th over: Australia 261-5 (Meg Lanning 133, Annabel Sutherland 13) Right on cue, here is South Africa’s seventh drop of the innings. Khaka to Lanning, delivery is full, not crazy quick, but Lanning smacks it back to Khaka’s right-hand side. She takes a dive but her hands don’t do their job. Australia need 11 runs.
43rd over: Australia 258-5 (Meg Lanning 132, Annabel Sutherland 11) Sune Luus takes her turn to draw a four from Sutherland. South Africa’s fielding has slipped considerably over the past few overs. That may be a mental thing as Australia take the ascendancy, but it is loose and it makes a difference.
42nd over: Australia 252-5 (Meg Lanning 131, Annabel Sutherland 6) Only a matter of time now. Khaka has a crack at Sutherland. Successfully at first, but then she gifts her a nice and full one and watches as the ball barrels past mid-off for a boundary.
41st over: Australia 246-5 (Meg Lanning 130, Annabel Sutherland 1) Lanning is still plugging away out there. Her timing is out as she hits Sune Luus on the full but still takes two for her troubles, before wrapping up with a single. Australia need 26 runs.
Wicket! Gardner 22 Gardner c Sekhukhune b Tryon,
40th over: Australia 243-5 (Meg Lanning 127, Annabel Sutherland 1) Tryon is back in the attack and she has Gardner leaning backwards for a shot that she doesn’t hit cleanly and delivers on a platter to Sekhukhune over mid-off. Annabel Sutherland walks out to the crease and opens her innings with a single to deep square.
39th over: Australia 241-4 (Meg Lanning 126, Ashleigh Gardner 22) No risks taken and seven runs to show for it. Gardner opens with a drive over cover to the boundary and Lanning closes with a drive for a comfortable two runs.
38th over: Australia 234-4 (Meg Lanning 124, Ashleigh Gardner 17) Kapp limits the partnership to two singles to continue her miserly shift. Just quietly, it is Meg Lanning’s 30th birthday in three days. Australia will be playing Bangladesh in Wellingon. She has a successful tournament to celebrate thus far.
37th over: Australia 232-4 (Meg Lanning 123, Ashleigh Gardner 16) Lanning takes three runs off Sekhukhune. Gardner utilises some width for a four and then adds a single and Lanning finishes with a single to sweeper cover. Australia need 40 runs from 78 balls.
36th over: Australia 223-4 (Meg Lanning 119, Ashleigh Gardner 11) Kapp is en route to a maiden but her party is crashed by a Gardner drives which elicits a quick couple.
35th over: Australia 221-4 (Meg Lanning 119, Ashleigh Gardner 9) Can’t stop thinking about how Lee must be feeling. She was given immediate reassurance from teammates but it’s still rough.
Well the attention is briefly away from her at least because there is another drop and it ain’t Lee. A full Sekhukhune delivery heads to Lanning’s pads and she pumps it straight to mid-wicket, where Goodall reaches above her head. The ball slips straight through the hands of the fielder, whose head goes straight down as she bends over with hands on knees as the ball rolls over the boundary for four. We all know what she is thinking. The sun might not have helped her there, but that is the third drop in the last five overs.
34th over: Australia 209-4 (Meg Lanning 108, Ashleigh Gardner 8) These missed chances are hurting the Proteas. Take them and this is a game played against the middle-to-lower order (though that does not always mean much when talking about Australia’s batting line-up).
South Africa submit a review for a strangle. Turns out Khaka bowled a wide to Lanning. Not out. Two balls later she bowls wide again but the rest of the over is dot balls bar an early Lanning single.
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Wicket! McGrath 32 c Kapp b Ismail, Australia 206-4
33rd over: Australia 206-4 (Meg Lanning 107, Ashleigh Gardner 8) Is there a wicket coming soon? A couple of chances have gone begging but there have been chances for South Africa. Ismail has helped her country’s cause and she’s back here now. Oh and McGrath is caught! I swear I didn’t already know before writing this, I’ll claim the superb timing though. A short ball into McGrath’s body offers no room to move and she mishits to Kapp at midwicket.
Ash Gardner is in now and on her VERY FIRST BALL she is DROPPED! Poor Lee is the culprit again and it saves Gardner’s blushes and gives her a boundary. Gardner takes another boundary to finish an eventful over.
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32nd over: Australia 197-3 (Meg Lanning 106, Tahlia McGrath 32) Is this a six from McGrath? She has enthusiastically pumped a too-full effort from Khaka back in her direction and beyond. It lands in that snug cranny between the boundary and the ground and the question is which it made contact with first. Doesn’t help that that section of the field is in the shade. After some contemplation the umpire gives it.
31st over: Australia 189-3 (Meg Lanning 105, Tahlia McGrath 25) Bouncer here we come. It’s from Ismail and this is the first real moment of indecision from Lanning as she swipes at the ball but clean misses it. She gets lucky when it lobs safely over the keeper. It’s leg byes though as the ball makes what appears to be heavy contact with Lanning’s head. She appears to be fine and is smiling as she redoes her hair but umpires call drinks anyway while she is checked out.
A couple of minutes later the skipper is back out there with McGrath and swings but misses another delivery. McGrath is on strike now and she is dropped! She cuts it – more like slashes it – straight to the fielder backward point and is so lucky Lee can’t take it above her head.
30th over: Australia 183-3 (Meg Lanning 104, Tahlia McGrath 24) Based on this current score Australia can make 366, according to the statisticians, which is just wild. Right now they need only 89 runs from 120 balls. This game!
Lanning scores a century!
She does it. Last match she was disappointed to come so, so close. This time there is no question. She pulls a full delivery deep to mid-wicket for four. This is her 10th ODI ton while chasing. Lanning’s highest score, by the way, is 152 against Sri Lanka in the 2017 World Cup. In a run chase, no doubt. Not out of the question at this rate.
29th over: Australia 176-3 (Meg Lanning 99, Tahlia McGrath 22) Lanning moves onto 99. Surely she’ll get to raise her bat now. Not before McGrath unleashes a glorious cover drive to the boundary, though. What a shot. The Australian goes again but this time Sekhukhune outfoxes her with a bit of movement and the the ball is well-taken behind the stumps by Chetty. Lanning will now face Khaka, with her ton tantalisingly close.
28th over: Australia 169-3 (Meg Lanning 96, Tahlia McGrath 18) Lanning cracks Kapp’s first ball of this over through point for a single before McGrath follows with a late cut for another single. A punch to the mid-on boundary (Lanning), another cut (McGrath) and a very late cut to third man (Lanning) completes an over of five singles.
27th over: Australia 164-3 (Meg Lanning 93, Tahlia McGrath 16) Sekhukhune is back in too for another spell and she bowls full to Lanning’s stumps and cedes a single before angling one into McGrath for another. The batters are putting them everywhere. Cover. Square leg. Third man. Backward point. There is not one unfruitful ball in this over and Sekhukhune bowls a wide between it all.
26th over: Australia 156-3 (Meg Lanning 90, Tahlia McGrath 12) Kapp steps back into the attack. Can she shake things up a bit? She bowls short and into Lanning’s body, which the batter sends to fine leg for a single. A down-leg delivery to McGrath yields another single. And then another Lanning four! This is a bread-and-butter pull to her leg side. Makes it look so bloody easy. Kapp changes it up with a slower ball, then tries it again and bowls wide.
25th over: Australia 146-3 (Meg Lanning 84, Tahlia McGrath 10) I know there is still a lot play out in this innings but if we are going on gut feelings (which I am) Australia might have this in hand. South Africa’s bowlers, as formidable as they can be, do not seem to be troubling their opponents. Unless a couple of wickets drop soonish I can’t see it changing. We are halfway through the innings with 126 needed for tournament favourites Australia to stay top of the table and undefeated.
24th over: Australia 140-3 (Meg Lanning 81, Tahlia McGrath 7) Lanning is managing this run chase so smartly. She is going for those peaches when they present themselves but is staying tight when needed. Here she does the former with yet another two fours before stealing a single. McGrath taps her own single through midwicket.
23rd over: Australia 130-3 (Meg Lanning 72, Tahlia McGrath 6) Dropped! Sune Luus bowls full to McGrath, who punches it back in her direction. But it’s high and a little to her right. She leaps and has hands on it before letting it through her fingers, then knocks over Lanning in the process.
22nd over: Australia 127-3 (Meg Lanning 69, Tahlia McGrath 6) Lanning and McGrath seem to embarked on something of a war of attrition. They are accruing runs in sets of one and two and do so again this over off some full, easily managed deliveries from Tryon. The run rate is under control now and Australia have settled in for the long haul.
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21st over: Australia 121-3 (Meg Lanning 64, Tahlia McGrath 5) Sune Luus enters the fray, and she’s sending up full tosses that invite some big runs. They are lucky it does not happen. But they still trade singles and doubles. So where are we now? Australia need 151 to win.
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Wicket! Mooney 20 run out (Sekhukhune), Australia 114-3
20th over: Australia 114-3 (Meg Lanning 61, Tahlia McGrath 1) Mooney is out! And it’s Sekhukhune, who has atoned for that troublesome over with a direct hit. Mooney had swept the ball to square leg off Tryon and goes for a single but is sent back. She’s sprinting and stretching but Sekhukhune has her eye in. Tahlia McGrath and gets off the mark on the first ball she faces. But she is overshadowed by Lanning, who finishes the over with two fours! She now has nine (9).
19th over: Australia 104-2 (Meg Lanning 52, Beth Mooney 21) Sekhukhune overcooks a delivery to Mooney, who sends the ball back the bowler’s way and then straight past her for a four. Sekhukhune bowls a wide down the leg side, then makes it three. On the very next ball she does another. Something is awry for the diminutive seamer. She makes the next one, which Mooney cuts to third man for a single. Lanning capitalises another straightforward full delivery for four and her fifty! A lot of runs there by South Africa.
18th over: Australia 88-2 (Meg Lanning 47, Beth Mooney 14) Lanning is crowded by a Tryon delivery that forces her to block. She tries to cut the next but doesn’t get away with it. That is usually Lanning’s happy place. She doesn’t connect with the next and the half-century evades her ... for now.
17th over: Australia 87-2 (Meg Lanning 47, Beth Mooney 13) A little bit of news concerning Ellyse Perry, who has a sore back. Cricket Australia says she is fit to bat but will not be able to come in any higher than seven due to the amount of time she spent off the field.
On the field, Tumi Sekhukhune is in the attack and cops two boundaries, one apiece for the batters. Lanning pulls the first to square leg before Mooney expertly pounces on a loose delivery and flicks her own away, much to the chagrin of the fielder who tries in vain to stop it.
16th over: Australia 77-2 (Meg Lanning 42, Beth Mooney 9) This match is such a test for both sides. Two teams unbeaten this tournament and at the top of the standings. South Africa’s innings of 271 was superb. They squeezed out every run possible to make life difficult for Australia. But the latter are edging a wee bit ahead here. This chase is not impossible for this batting line-up. Drinks break!
15th over: Australia 72-2 (Meg Lanning 41, Beth Mooney 5) South Africa’s bowling is a bit off-colour by their standards. A few wides. Tryon delivers on now. She bowls short and Lanning cuts away her fifth four.
Meanwhile, Nina emails in and is convinced I have underplayed that du Preez catch.
“It was two handed but she was also flying through the air with both her feet off the ground – one to rival Gardner’s from the first innings,” she writes. :More than that, could be an absolutely vital bonus wicket considering that it wasn’t the best ball and SA have had only 1 other wicket fall to spin the whole tournament!”
Nina, you are right. It was a worldie. Here is said catch:
#CWC22 #AUSvSAhttps://t.co/yahDxrBVWN pic.twitter.com/tZjWgLEReT
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) March 22, 2022
14th over: Australia 65-2 (Meg Lanning 36, Beth Mooney 4) Lanning goes the distance to finish the over with a six. It’s ambitious, but then she is ambitious. She gets right under Khaka’s delivery and sends it into the air and all the way.
13th over: Australia 56-2 (Meg Lanning 29, Beth Mooney 3) ALMOST a four as Lanning faces Tryon and one-ups her with an outside edge the keeper can’t get too. Unlucky for Australia, third man does. She’s wrong-footed a little but stops the ball in its tracks in the nick of time.
12th over: Australia 51-2 (Meg Lanning 25, Beth Mooney 2) Khaka bowls a wide to Lanning. Australia’s captain then smacks two runs through point and manages another single. But South Africa are probably in the better position right now. Australia need 216 to win and they will have to get a wriggle on to make that happen.
Wicket! Rachael Haynes 17 c du Preez b Tryon, Australia 47-2
10th over: Australia 47-2 (Meg Lanning 22, Beth Mooney 2) Haynes is gone! Chloe Tryon has just entered the attack but this short, flat delivery isn’t exactly testing. Haynes pulls with ease and the ball sails up, up and over to ... du Preez. She’s at deep mid-wicket, she’s skipping forward and then dives and emerges with the goods in hand. That’s a shame for Haynes. She had been good. Welcome, Beth Mooney.
10th over: Australia 44-1 (Meg Lanning 21, Rachael Haynes 17) We have a new bowler now in Ayabonga Khaka, whose statistics suggest she could yet have a field day out here. A right-armer who likes to take wickets. If anything, her strong economy might slow this partnership down a little. So far, so good on that front. She pitches with a good line and length and Haynes manages only two this over.
Ninth over: Australia 42-1 (Meg Lanning 21, Rachael Haynes 15) Just as I’ve written that Haynes puts away a four. Ismail, who had just made the batter duck another bouncer, sends this one down too wide and Haynes slices it deftly. This surface is pristine. Little room for error. Lanning chips over mid-on with ease for another four. And why wouldn’t she?
Eighth over: Australia 33-1 (Meg Lanning 17, Rachael Haynes 10) Haynes is still getting going. She faces an inswinger and manages to squeeze out a single to mid-off. Lanning, meanwhile, is getting into a groove. She drills through the offside and then covers for four. Kapp invited that with two much length and Lanning takes advantage.
Seventh over: Australia 27-1 (Meg Lanning 12, Rachael Haynes 9) A jaffa from Ismail to Lanning catches the edge of all edges. And yet it sails untouched, almost inexplicably so, through the gap between keeper and slip. It was Chetty’s to take but she had been heading the other and got her feet tangled up. A small appeal against Haynes is then quickly overlooked and moved on.
Sixth over: Australia 22-1 (Meg Lanning 7, Rachael Haynes 9) Meg Lanning has other ideas against Kapp though, threading a cut past a diving fielder at backward point and to the ropes for four. The captain took advantage there off a delivery with a bit of width. It came one ball after Kapp had sent down an absolute humdinger too.
Fifth over: Australia 17-1 (Meg Lanning 2, Rachael Haynes 9) I’m blaming it on the dog, who may or may not have had some fun with some wiring. Also, hello. Thank you Mike. And I’m back just in time to see Ismail bowl a maiden to Haynes. She starts with a yorker and follows it with a bouncer that forces the batter to duck, before defending her way through the rest of the over. Ismail is killing it.
Fourth over: Australia 17-1 (Meg Lanning 2, Rachael Haynes 9) Just two off this next over from Kapp, a single each for Lanning and Haynes. And here’s Emma, fresh from the off-and-on trick with her modem, to take you through the rest of this match.
Third over: Australia 15-1 (Meg Lanning 1, Rachael Haynes 8) After Healy goes first ball of Ismail’s over, caught by her counterpart behind the stumps, captain Lanning arrives at the crease. Ismail continues her good work with another four dots before Lanning edges low through the slips and via a ricochet gets off the mark - and spoils what would have been a wicket maiden for Ismail.
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WICKET! Healy c Chetty b Ismail 5 (Australia 14-1)
Ismail throws down a peach of a delivery that moves away and Healy nicks off and is caught behind! South Africa have an early breakthrough and the dangerwoman.
Second over: Australia 14-0 (Alyssa Healy 5, Rachael Haynes 8) Marizanne Kapp opens for South Africa from the other end with a wide - you could claim that’s a loosener - before Haynes nudges a single through the leg side. Healy then finds the boundary again for Australia, this time with a flick off her legs that races down to the ropes down at fine leg. An inside edge has Australian hearts in mouths, briefly, but Healy survives and it’s another fruitful over for the batting side.
First over: Australia 7-0 (Alyssa Healy 0, Rachael Haynes 7) This will be the second highest run chase in the World Cup if the world No 1 side can pull it off. Australia start very brightly as opener Healy gets off the mark without any ado at all with a punched cover drive off Shabnim Ismail’s first delivery for two. She follows that with the first boundary of the day, through point, as a full toss is fully punished. Seven off the opener, and that will do Australia for now.
We’re just waiting for Emma to fix some technical issues at her end, but she’ll be here shortly. The umpires are on their way out again and we should be good to go shortly. Meanwhile, in case you hadn’t realised, Laura Wolvaardt is on fire:
Watch Laura Wolvaardt's fourth consecutive 50 of #CWC22 as the South Africa made a brilliant 90 against Australia 👇https://t.co/VY9UtwSeoN
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 22, 2022
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South Africa 271-5
Well that was a sensational finish that was driven by Marizanne Kapp and ably assisted by Chloe Tryon. Some really impressive running got every little run possible out of the pitch and put themselves in the best possible position to defend this total. Australia are excellent in the chase however and they were able to chase down a bigger score against India on the weekend. What does work in SA’s favour is their bowling attack - statistically the best in the tournament. While Australia do have statistically the best batting, SA will take a lot of confidence from the way India were able to recover late and take Australia into the final over. If they can do that, their strong death bowlers will have a good shot at restricting the Australians.
On Australia’s side is the depth of their batting line up. By adding Sutherland in place of Brown they’ve given themselves even more depth than they had against India. You have to get down to Schutt at 11 before you find a genuine non-batter in this line up. Any kind of partnership early and the Australians put themselves in a strong position to take the win.
It’s sure to be an enthralling second innings, so take a quick break and refuel before we see what Haynes and Healy can offer up at the start of this chase. I’m going to leave you in the very capable hands of Emma Kemp to take you to the end of this match. Thanks for joining me, I’ll be glued to the coverage for the upcoming innings!
50th over: South Africa 271-5 (Marizanne Kapp 30, Chloe Tryon 17)
Here we are into the final over for SA and Kapp starts it well with a sweep around the corner past deep fine leg for four. Jonassen pulls back next ball and doesn’t give away a run. She then offers up a full toss and Kapp pulls it to deep midwicket and pushes hard for two runs. It’s really excellent running from these two - the best running we’ve seen from SA all match. She then scoops one past fine leg for another four. Tryon gets to face the final ball of the over and she gives it everything she’s got with a slog sweep to deep midwicket and again they push themselves hard and get two runs to finish off their innings.
49th over: South Africa 258-5 (Marizanne Kapp 19, Chloe Tryon 15)
Schutt returns for the penultimate over - her 10th over of the match. Kapp plays a good pull shot and she pushes Tryon for two. Kapp will eke out every run available from this pitch, she has a great sense of urgency about her. Tryon slog sweeps beautifully for six over deep midwicket - it’s an unusually expensive over from Schutt.
48th over: South Africa 246-5 (Marizanne Kapp 16, Chloe Tryon 6)
Jonassen takes another, hoping for as good an over as her last one. She starts it very well with two dots, but Kapp isn’t intimidated and she slog sweeps the next one past deep midwicket for four. She then drives on for two, misses her timing next ball and finishes by cutting one right through the gap for another four.
47th over: South Africa 236-5 (Marizanne Kapp 6, Chloe Tryon 6)
Schutt is back for her ninth over and it’s another couple of quick singles to start her over, but the South Africans will need more than singles to give their bowlers a good score to defend. A wayward throw at the stumps and some good running gives them a chance at two and then Kapp pushes for two again the next ball. They’ve pushed the run rate up above five an over now.
46th over: South Africa 228-5 (Marizanne Kapp 4, Chloe Tryon 0)
Into the final five overs of the game now and we’ve got Jonassen to bowl it. There’s been a lot of chopping and changing by Lanning with the bowlers so far. Only Gardner has bowled out her overs so far. A strong pull shot from du Preez can only pick up a single and Kapp looks keen to keep the runs coming against the very economical death bowling of Jonassen, but du Preez can’t get a big shot past Gardner and now it’s Tryon to partner with Kapp to try to boost the scoring.
WICKET! Mignon du Preez 14 c Gardner b Jonassen, South Africa 228-5
That ball was pulled hard by du Preez and looked like it would get past Gardner, but she snaffles it out of the air one-handed like a magician and du Preez has to go. A sensational catch from Gardner.
45th over: South Africa 226-4 (Marizanne Kapp 3, Mignon du Preez 13)
A big ask for Kapp and du Preez now, as SA lose their two set batters in quick succession. But if anyone can put on a good late score, it will be these two. They deal in singles to start with against Gardner, content with rotating the strike. du Preez goes for a big reverse sweep in the middle of the over, but it slides under her bat. So next ball she tries a regular sweep and it’s in the air, but it falls out of Carey’s grasp and bounces over the boundary.
44th over: South Africa 218-4 (Marizanne Kapp 1, Mignon du Preez 7)
Let’s see what du Preez can do in these final overs. We’ve seen plenty of her in the WBBL and know how dangerous she can be, so the Australians will be desperate to contain her. They send Schutt straight in to do the job, but du Preez sweeps one very fine and evades Sutherland on the boundary to pick up four. She’s showing plenty of intent early. She sweeps another, but this one is just a single and Sutherland collects it easily. Luus goes for a big pull shot and mistimes it, giving McGrath a nice catch and bringing Kapp to the crease.
WICKET! Sune Luus 52 c McGrath b Schutt, South Africa 216-4
A big loss for SA there, Luus has been so good on the pull shot, but doesn’t get control of that one and it falls into the safe hands of McGrath.
43rd over: South Africa 211-3 (Sune Luus 52, Mignon du Preez 1)
Gardner replaces Schutt and Luus pulls the first ball away - it really should be two, but they don’t turn quick enough and it’s only one. They learn their lesson though and next ball, they go hard and pick up two. Wolvaardt mistimes her drive and is caught by McGrath, bringing Mignon du Preez to the crease.
WICKET! Laura Wolvaardt 90 c McGrath b Gardner, South Africa 209-3
Wolvaardt knows she has to pick up the pace and she slightly mistimes her drive, which is all McGrath needs to swoop in and take a nice catch at long off.
42nd over: South Africa 206-2 (Sune Luus 50, Laura Wolvaardt 88)
Jonassen returns now, coming over the wicket to Luus, who sweeps her away to bring up the 200 for SA. Wolvaardt gets a leading edge next ball that pops up in the air, but again there’s no fielder underneath it and she’s safe. Then Luus pulls one beautifully that travels so quickly that the Australians have no chance of using their strong boundary fielding to cut it off and it’s four. But Jonassen tightens up and fights back with a couple of dots. Luus picks up a single off the last to bring up her 50 off just 48 balls.
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41st over: South Africa 199-2 (Sune Luus 44, Laura Wolvaardt 87)
We’re into the last 10 overs now and there’s a bit of urgency creeping into the game. Luus gets a top edge that offers a chance, but there are no fielders underneath it and she manages to pick up two. They’ll find it hard to score big off Schutt’s bowling, but they need to keep pushing up the run rate at this time of the match. It’s another six from the over, keeping things moving fairly well for now.
40th over: South Africa 193-2 (Sune Luus 40, Laura Wolvaardt 85)
Another over for McGrath, which she will hope is better than her last. Her line is better to start and the batters are still just working in singles. Luus finds the line she’s looking for on the last and sweeps it past fine leg for four.
39th over: South Africa 186-2 (Sune Luus 35, Laura Wolvaardt 83)
Schutt returns to the attack to try to break this partnership - either with a wicket herself or by creating the pressure for the bowler at the other end to capitalise on. She is so economical that she often frustrates the batters into making mistakes in the next over. The batters don’t allow the pressure to build early, with some quick singles to rotate the strike. Schutt then aborts her run up after seeming to forget to let go of the ball and Luus pulls one away for another single, before Wolvaardt goes to the other side of the field looking for her single. They can’t get Schutt away here, but they’ve done an excellent job to pick up a single from every ball and keep the run rate in check.
38th over: South Africa 180-2 (Sune Luus 32, Laura Wolvaardt 80)
McGrath returns for just her third over today and Luus finds a gap with her cut shot immediately and sends it to the boundary for four. She looks for the same shot next ball, but this one is a little mistimed and Haynes is there to field it. She then looks to the other side of the wicket, but can’t quite get under that one either. McGrath then gives away a wide that gets away from Healy and heads down to the boundary. Lanning comes back for another of her long chats with the bowler and McGrath tightens up her line next ball. Luus comes up with a beautiful straight drive that evades McGrath and Carey, but is cut off before the reaches the boundary.
37th over: South Africa 168-2 (Sune Luus 25, Laura Wolvaardt 80)
Gardner continues and SA get back into the swing of things after the drinks break with a couple of quick singles. Wolvaardt sweeps one away to get to 80 - her highest score of the tournament so far. They bring up the 50 partnership from the next ball.
36th over: South Africa 164-2 (Sune Luus 23, Laura Wolvaardt 78)
Luus slog sweeps early against King for four and she looks to be putting her foot on the accelerator now. Wolvaardt cuts one through a nice gap in the field, but McGrath is at deep cover to cut it off. It’s a good over for SA, nine from it, scoring from every ball. Drinks are on the field now.
35th over: South Africa 155-2 (Sune Luus 17, Laura Wolvaardt 75)
Gardner comes back into the attack, so more spin, but a different kind of spin that she offers up. The South Africans are still taking things fairly easy, but when they see their opportunities, they take them. Luus does just that with a beautiful sweep past deep square leg for four.
34th over: South Africa 148-2 (Sune Luus 12, Laura Wolvaardt 73)
King bowls her sixth over of the day and this spin from both ends is putting a bit of hurry up in this game. Luus sweeps one around the corner to deep fine leg and another bit of excellent fielding from Schutt on the boundary cuts it off. Carey is still on the field for Perry, which is a little bit concerning for Australia, but hopefully it’s just a precaution going into their batting innings.
33rd over: South Africa 143-2 (Sune Luus 9, Laura Wolvaardt 71)
Another over for Jonassen and Wolvaardt gets her captain on strike straight away. Luus plays out a couple of dots and then goes for an aggressive drive straight down the ground for four. She tries a pull shot to follow, but doesn’t get her feet all the way to it and can’t get it past the field.
32nd over: South Africa 138-2 (Sune Luus 5, Laura Wolvaardt 70)
King returns to the attack, looking for her second wicket. Luus drives one hard first up, but can’t get it past the field and settles for a single. Wolvaardt plays a risky drive up in the air, but it sails over the fielders and over the boundary for four. She takes two from the next ball and looks to be trying to increase the run rate. King has had a good impact on this match so far and is challenging the batters with every ball.
31st over: South Africa 130-2 (Sune Luus 4, Laura Wolvaardt 63)
An important time for SA now, Australia have been really successful in drying up their runs in the last few overs, but we’ve reached the time now where we expect to see teams accelerating. They’ve got a great platform in place, but they will need to put a good score on the board to give their bowlers something strong to defend.
30th over: South Africa 126-2 (Sune Luus 2, Laura Wolvaardt 61)
Sutherland continues and bowls a good length to Wolvaardt, creating some pressure on the set batter. Eventually Wolvaardt is able to throw her hands at the ball and cuts it away to deep point for a single. It’s a very good over from Sutherland, just one from it.
29th over: South Africa 125-2 (Sune Luus 2, Laura Wolvaardt 60)
Jonassen continues and Wolvaardt immediately sweeps her away for a single. Luus gets her first look at Jonassen for the day and defends her first couple of balls before sweeping one very fine to get herself off strike. Wolvaardt gets a little deceived by Jonassen coming over the wicket and the ball gets caught up underneath her, but then she plays a very similar shot to the one that got Goodall out, but there’s no fielder under it and it falls safely.
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28th over: South Africa 122-1 (Sune Luus 1, Laura Wolvaardt 60)
Sutherland starts her next over with a wide, but fights back next ball with the wicket of Goodall. Luus comes to the crease and gets off the mark immediately with a single, getting her in form batter back on strike. Wolvaardt plays a very nice cut shot, but McGrath cuts it off before it gets too close to the boundary rope. She then finds a bit of space down near third for a single and Luus defends one back to give the strike back to Wolvaardt for the next over.
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WICKET! Lara Goodall 15 c King b Sutherland, South Africa 118-2
Just as Goodall was finding her rhythm, she has to go. Sutherland puts in a good length cutter and Goodall can’t quite get underneath it and sends an easy catch down to King.
27th over: South Africa 117-1 (Lara Goodall 15, Laura Wolvaardt 59)
Jonassen comes back for her third over after her short spell during the power play. Goodall takes a couple of balls to adjust to the different style of Jonassen and then drives one back at her, but it’s just a bit too wide of her for her to take another one of her amazing reaction catches off her own bowling. Goodall goes for her paddle again, doesn’t quite make contact with the ball and then takes a less risky drive to get herself a single from the over.
26th over: South Africa 116-1 (Lara Goodall 14, Laura Wolvaardt 59)
Sutherland takes her fourth over of the day, with Goodall starting on strike. A good length from Sutherland to start and the change against Goodall looks to be a smart one. The next ball she can only defend the ball back to Sutherland, but then she finds some very good space down to the pocket through midwicket and picks up two, then reacts to a shorter ball from Sutherland to pull it away for a single. Sutherland finishes with a bouncer to Wolvaardt that comes off her helmet and pops up in the air and over the boundary for four. Wolvaardt is now undertaking the concussion protocols, but she looks to be OK.
25th over: South Africa 109-1 (Lara Goodall 11, Laura Wolvaardt 55)
Wolvaardt starts the over by driving one past long off for four - it’s a very assured shot. Nicola Carey is on the field for Perry at the moment, who is reportedly working through a little back niggle. Hopefully she can recover in time to bat for Australia later on. A little bit more risky running from the South Africans, but they make it back again when the direct hit attempt misses the stumps. It’s a good over for SA, with nine runs from it.
24th over: South Africa 100-1 (Lara Goodall 9, Laura Wolvaardt 50)
Goodall isn’t going to let King take another maiden on her and immediately gets off strike with a quick single to give Wolvaardt a shot at bringing up her 50. King makes her wait, with some good length balls that Wolvaardt can’t get away, she gets cramped up and doesn’t have the space to get them out. Eventually she does find what she’s looking for and brings up her 50 with a cover drive (what else?) before Goodall finds her first boundary to finish the over.
23rd over: South Africa 94-1 (Lara Goodall 4, Laura Wolvaardt 49)
Gardner continues with her fifth over today and Wolvaardt picks up a quick single to make sure it’s not another maiden and the strike keeps rotating. Goodall still doesn’t look quite settled - she eventually finds space for her paddle, which goes straight up in the air, but she knows there’s no fielder there and picks up two runs from it. Gardner finishes the over with some excellent fielding from her own bowling.
22nd over: South Africa 90-1 (Lara Goodall 1, Laura Wolvaardt 48)
Another over for King, so we have spin from both ends now. Goodall can’t get her away early - she looks for a sweep, but despite her being an unknown factor, she’s clearly not unknown to Australia’s performance analysts, as they have a fielder in place to cut that off. Again Lanning comes in for a long chat before the final ball of the over - it might be a tactic to slow down the game and unsettle the batters? It’s a maiden for King.
21st over: South Africa 90-1 (Lara Goodall 1, Laura Wolvaardt 48)
Gardner comes back into the attack and starts with three dot balls before Wolvaardt takes a very quick single and tests Goodall’s running and reactions very early. Goodall is a bit of an unknown factor for Australia, having not played in the WBBL and coming into the team for Tamzin Britts this game. She gets off the mark with a single on the last - she’s looking for two, but decides not to risk it.
20th over: South Africa 88-1 (Lara Goodall 0, Laura Wolvaardt 47)
A big pull shot from Lee from the first ball of King’s over and it hits Gardner on the foot and spins away from her. King tightens up with a couple of dot balls and then she gets Lee with a plumb LBW, bringing Goodall to the crease.
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WICKET! Lizelle Lee 36 lbw King, South Africa 88-1
Finally Australia break this partnership and it’s King who manages it, with a ball that evades Lee and strikes her on the knee roll. She decides not to review and heads back to the sheds.
19th over: South Africa 84-0 (Lizelle Lee 32, Laura Wolvaardt 47)
McGrath takes her second over and Australia have now used all seven of their bowlers in the first 18 overs of the match to try to take a wicket, but they haven’t found that breakthrough just yet. It won’t be worrying them too much just yet, as SA haven’t been incredibly dominant with the bat, but it is putting a very good platform in place for them to launch from if they can both stay in.
18th over: South Africa 79-0 (Lizelle Lee 28, Laura Wolvaardt 46)
Alana King gets her first opportunity of the day and Lee rotates the strike immediately and then King nearly gets the much needed breakthrough. A little edge from Wolvaardt goes so close to hitting the stumps, but it races away towards third instead. It’s a very good over from King.
17th over: South Africa 76-0 (Lizelle Lee 27, Laura Wolvaardt 44)
We get to see some Tahlia McGrath for the first time today and Healy is keeping up to the stumps to the medium pacer to try to cramp Lee up. But Lee isn’t bothered and brings out her sweep shot past deep backward square and over the boundary for four. Wolvaardt looks a little more unsettled by McGrath when she gets on strike, reaching for a couple of wider balls outside off stump, which could prove dangerous for her. Drinks are on the field now.
16th over: South Africa 71-0 (Lizelle Lee 22, Laura Wolvaardt 44)
Lee plays one defensively straight back to Sutherland, but next ball she finds some space in the air and gets it up and over the infield and past long off for four. She gets herself off strike and Wolvaardt plays a truly beautiful looking cut shot, which is unfortunately only a single. You could hang pretty much all of Wolvaardt’s shots in the Louvre, they’re so delightful to watch.
15th over: South Africa 64-0 (Lizelle Lee 16, Laura Wolvaardt 43)
Some 00s nostalgia from the music operators at the ground, as they serve up Crazy Town’s Butterly over the loud speakers - that’ll bring the crowds in for sure. Gardner continues and the batters pick up a single each, before Gardner changes it up and comes around the wicket, which results in two dot balls, before Wolvaardt drives one down the ground for a single. There’s an appeal on the last ball of the over, but no interest from the umpire. The ball races away and King finds herself with a lot of work to do on the boundary. She gets there in good time, gets tangled up and nearly smashes the ball into the rope, but somehow manages to get it away.
14th over: South Africa 58-0 (Lizelle Lee 12, Laura Wolvaardt 41)
Another over for Sutherland and Wolvaardt rotates the strike immediately and then Lee also takes a single. The batters are looking a little more comfortable against her now and Wolvaardt plays a beautiful little flick off the front foot that nearly makes it to the boundary, but Schutt cuts it off. The Australians have fielded excellently on the boundary today.
13th over: South Africa 53-0 (Lizelle Lee 11, Laura Wolvaardt 37)
Lee finally gets some strike, she hasn’t seen much of it so far. Gardner continues with her spell and Lee looks for a big sweep early, but she misjudges the ball and starts to look frustrated at her lack of scoring opportunities. It’s a maiden from Gardner, the first of the match.
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12th over: South Africa 53-0 (Lizelle Lee 11, Laura Wolvaardt 37)
It’s just a short stint for Jonassen as now we have Sutherland taking over from the scoreboard end. Her first ball is excellent, a very good length and sitting just outside off stump. The SA batters were looking quite comfortable against spin, so this looks like a good change up to try to take a wicket and break this partnership before they get too settled and start scoring with more ease. Sutherland gives away a wide and then Wolvaardt plays a beautiful straight drive down the ground for four to bring up the 50 for SA - the first 50 run opening partnership against Australia so far this tournament. Wolvaardt teases one up in the air, but it falls short of Perry and she plays the last ball of the over safely, defending it back to Sutherland.
11th over: South Africa 48-0 (Lizelle Lee 11, Laura Wolvaardt 33)
Schutt takes a break and we have Gardner taking over from her end. SA seem happy to continue dealing in singles early and wait for their opportunities. Wolvaardt eventually finds one that’s a bit too short and she pulls it past deep backward square leg for four.
10th over: South Africa 41-0 (Lizelle Lee 10, Laura Wolvaardt 27)
Another over for Jonassen to finish the power play. She starts well, but then bowls one a little too short and Wolvaardt is able to pull it away, but she doesn’t quite time it perfectly and it’s just a single. Jonassen doesn’t quite have her line and length right, but she’s not being punished too much for it by the batters just yet. However they’ll be pleased to not let Jonassen build the dot ball pressure on them. No wickets in the powerplay for Australia, which is quite unusual - SA will be happy with that effort.
9th over: South Africa 36-0 (Lizelle Lee 8, Laura Wolvaardt 24)
This has been the best opening partnership for SA so far this tournament, so good signs early. They will want to consolidate this and give themselves a platform to launch from. Lee is quite keen on the sweep to fine leg, but she can’t quite find the boundary down there. Wolvaardt pulls one nicely to deep midwicket and it looks like she might pick up four, but the outfield is quite slow due to some earlier rain and Gardner is able to cut it off before it hits the rope.
8th over: South Africa 32-0 (Lizelle Lee 7, Laura Wolvaardt 21)
Lanning seems to have also noticed the ease with which Wolvaardt particularly was scoring off Perry, so she’s brought Jonassen into the attack early. It works in unsettling the batters a little and Lee gives away a top edge from a sweep late in the over, but it falls safely and they only take a single from it.
7th over: South Africa 30-0 (Lizelle Lee 6, Laura Wolvaardt 20)
Schutt is certainly the more economical of the bowlers so far, but both Lee and Wolvaardt are starting to look a bit more confident against her, getting it through the field more often and taking ones when in previous overs they were restricted to dots. They’re not playing her with the same ease as they are Perry, but there’s less frustration. Wolvaardt takes a risky single on the last and Lee is slow to respond, but again she makes it back.
6th over: South Africa 25-0 (Lizelle Lee 5, Laura Wolvaardt 16)
Perry bowls her first ball of the over a bit too short and Wolvaardt has no trouble pulling it to deep midwicket for two. She likes the next one as well, which she drives to deep cover for another two. Perry misses her line again for another wide and then find a better line for her field and Wolvaardt plays it straight to Gardner at point. Wolvaardt gets one just past McGrath and take the quick single - Gardner gets a good throw in, but Lee scrambles home and is safe.
5th over: South Africa 19-0 (Lizelle Lee 5, Laura Wolvaardt 11)
Schutt continues and Wolvaardt pops one up in the air, but there are no fielders in close to make her pay for it. She then tucks one off her hip nicely around to fine leg - it looks like it could be two runs, but they’re happy to just take the single. Lee has a go at that fine leg area as well with a nice sweep and it looks like it’s heading over the boundary, but some excellent fielding from Perry on the rope restricts her to two.
4th over: South Africa 16-0 (Lizelle Lee 3, Laura Wolvaardt 10)
Perry is given another opportunity and will hope to make up for her expensive first over. She starts well, her line is looking better and Wolvaardt can only defend the first two balls straight to the field. She plays a stronger stroke on the third, but it’s still not enough to penetrate the field. The fourth ball is a bit of a disaster for Perry - it slips out of her hand and it’s a full toss straight at Wolvaardt’s head and of course is ruled a no ball. Perry bangs one in short for the free hit and Wolvaardt can’t take advantage of it and it’s a dot ball. She manages to finish with a single to retain the strike.
3rd over: South Africa 14-0 (Lizelle Lee 3, Laura Wolvaardt 9)
Schutt resumes and there’s an appeal on the second ball of the over for LBW, but the umpire isn’t interested and Lanning can’t be talked into a review. The inswing of Schutt is looking difficult to play on this pitch, she’s not giving the batters a lot of room to move and dig the ball out to get past the field. Lanning and Schutt have a long discussion before the final ball of the over and move cover out quite deep, which gives Wolvaardt an easy single.
2nd over: South Africa 12-0 (Lizelle Lee 2, Laura Wolvaardt 8)
Ellyse Perry gets us underway from the scoreboard end - she was the one who really struggled with her line last game, so it will be interested to see how she adjusts today. The Wellington venue tends to suit her better and she’s not giving away wides early, but Lee pulls one aggressively for a single first ball, then Wolvaardt plays a nice cut shot in the air that finds a gap and then the boundary for four. Midway through the over Perry falters with her line and gives away a wide and then Wolvaardt plays her trademark glorious cover drive for another four when Perry offers up a half volley. Perry tightens up for the final couple of balls of the over, but it was quite an expensive one from her.
1st over: South Africa 2-0 (Lizelle Lee 1, Laura Wolvaardt 0)
We’re off, with Megan Schutt taking the new ball, as she does most often. She gets some good swing first up - the pitch looks like quite a nice bowling pitch with a bit of green on top. Her second ball is a wide - which became quite a theme of Australia’s bowling against India on Saturday, so they will hope that doesn’t become a pattern again today. Lee is looking for a quick single off every ball, but it takes her a little while to find an opportunity. Wolvaardt takes her time settling in against her Adelaide Strikers teammate and blocks out the rest of the over.
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A few changes for the teams today from their last games - for Australia Annabel Sutherland comes in for Darcie Brown. This seems to be about management of Brown as much as anything. She’s still only 18 years old and they’ll want to keep her fresh for the finals. For SA, Lara Goodall replaces Tamzin Britts and Tumi Sekhukhune comes in for Masabata Klaas.
There are plenty of these players who will be familiar to each other from the WBBL, even though this is the first time Australia have played SA in ODIs since 2017.
South Africa XI
Laura Wolvaardt
Lizelle Lee
Lara Goodall
Sune Luus (c)
Mignon du Preez
Marizanne Kapp
Chloe Tryon
Trisha Chetty (wk)
Shabnim Ismail
Ayabonga Khaka
Tumi Sekhukhune
Australia XI
Alyssa Healy (wk)
Rachael Haynes
Meg Lanning (c)
Ellyse Perry
Beth Mooney
Tahlia McGrath
Ashleigh Gardner
Annabel Sutherland
Jessica Jonassen
Alana King
Megan Schutt
Australia win the toss and elect to bowl
Well, Meg Lanning won the toss and unsurprisingly decided to chase! So they will want to get off to good start with the ball to make that chase pretty straightforward against the very strong SA bowling attack we spoke about earlier.
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Preamble
Good morning and welcome to what we hope might be the match up of the tournament so far! Both teams sit undefeated at the top of the table and this win will provide plenty of confidence and ascendancy for whoever takes it out. While Australia have been dominant so far, South Africa have arguably the best bowling attack in world cricket and if Australia wins the toss and chooses their beloved chasing position, they will want to make sure they have restricted SA enough in their innings that the total is chaseable in the face of such formidable bowlers.
The net run rates (1.424 for Australia vs 0.226 for SA) tell an interesting story as well. While Australia’s wins have largely been dominant, SA have pulled off miraculous wins under extreme pressure. Fortunately for Australia they had a dose of that pressure on Saturday when India took some late wickets to take their game into the final over so they have had some experience being there if this match goes down to the wire.
The two pressure specialists from the teams are of course Australia’s Beth Mooney and SA’s Marizanne Kapp, who have both been incredibly cool and calm in those pressure situations so far. I’m looking forward to seeing a kind of “ice-in-their-veins off” between the two experienced campaigners today.
We’re just about ready for the toss, so let’s get ready to jump in!
