That’s it from me today, my TV went straight from the cricket and into two men hitting each other (Boxing) without so much as a second glance. Geoff and I will be back for day two tomorrow and I’ll leave you with the big moment from day one - as Alyssa Healy became the fifth woman to perish on 99 in Test cricket.
As Michael Atherton told me a few years back:
It is impossible to know why that one run matters so much. But it does.”
Out for 99! 💔
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 15, 2024
Alyssa Healy falls one short of a Test century - as Tucker takes her first Test wicket! #PlayOfTheDay | @hcltech | #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/eBEinOAGr2
Australia are in command of the game but will be feeling decidedly flat after the late dismissal of Healy one shy of what would have been a memorable and hard fought maiden ton. Once the dust settles the Australian skipper’s innings will be appreciated for the showcase of poise and power that it was, though. Australia were reeling on 12-3 before Beth Mooney and Healy set about the South Africa attack to put the home side back on top. Mooney fell for a typically compact 78 but Annabel Sutherland will be there tomorrow for her side, unbeaten on a blisteringly assured 54.
Australia lead by 175 runs, the batters backing up the solid work done in the morning by a five-wicket haul-ing Darcie Brown. At just 20 years old, Brown led the charge with the ball as South Africa were bundled out for a lowly 76 and she led her teammates from the field with 5-21 in less than ten overs of zippy seam bowling.
STUMPS: Australia 251-5 (lead by 175 runs)
Ash Gardner replaces her captain at the crease and the final over of the day is negotiated. The crowd, players and commentator still reeling from that Healy dismissal. To make matters that bit more galling Healy ahd gone to 99 with a clip for two that had to be checked by the third umpire as Tazmin Brits slid round to haul it in millimetres from the boundary rope. It was a tight call but the umpire deemed it was a clean bit of fielding and Healy still needed that solitary run. Heartbreakingly for the Australian skipper - It never arrived.
55th over: Australia 251-5 (Sutherland 54, Gardner 0)
Updated
WICKET! Alyssa Healy c & b Tucker 99 (Australia 249-5)
Late drama in Perth! Alyssa Healy cannot believe what she has done! She cloths a length ball tamely back in the air to Delmi Tucker who takes the tumbling catch in her follow through. The air is sucked out of the WACA as it becomes clear that there will be no Test century (and maiden ton) for the Aussie skipper as she joins cricket’s 99 club.
3,892 people have played Test cricket since 1877.
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) February 15, 2024
Just 12 among them have a career high score of 99 in the format.
2 of those 12 are a married couple.#AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/nuuDYsJQjR
Updated
Noooooooooo! Alyssa Healy is out on 99!
Alyssa Healy joins the 99 club at the WACAhttps://t.co/nLzjguo3NZ
— Jim Wallace (@Jimbo_Cricket) February 15, 2024
Updated
54th over: Australia 247-4 (Healy 97, Sutherland 54) Sutherland goes to an excellent fifty with a glance for two and follows up with a four through cover. End of the over. All eyes on Alyssa Healy.
53rd over: Australia 241-4 (Healy 97, Sutherland 48) Healy picks up a lucky four with a punch to the offside that is mis-fielded and gifts a boundary. She’s onto 96. Make that 97, a single is taken down the ground. Sutherland skips down and lofts Tucker over her head for SIX. Easy game eh?
52nd over: Australia 229-4 (Healy 92, Sutherland 41) Mlaba replaces Tryon and Sutherland soaks up the over whilst Healy gathers herself at the non strikers end. Tension rising. Can Healy get there before the close? There are about ten minutes left in the day!
51st over: Australia 227-4 (Healy 92, Sutherland 39) Tucker slides one into Healy’s pads and they pick up a couple but there was not bat involved so the runs don’t help the captain’s quest through the nineties…
50th over: Australia 224-4 (Healy 92, Sutherland 38) Sutherland pokes Tucker down the ground for a single and the atmosphere builds as Healy is content to block out the rest of the over. She needs eight more runs for a maiden Test ton.
Updated
49th over: Australia 223-4 (Healy 92, Sutherland 37) Healy moves into the nineties with a powerful cut for four – no sign of nerves or weariness in that stroke.
Healy moves into the 90s ... everybody quiet #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/0kSnlnUtJG
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 15, 2024
Updated
The camera cuts to a nervous looking Ian Healy, his niece is on the *unlucky* number of 87 with a maiden Test century in her sights. Reminds me of speaking to Jess Jonassen (and Mike Atherton and Alex Tudor) for this piece a few years back.
Updated
48th over: Australia 217-4 (Healy 87, Sutherland 36) Healy looks to be really flagging out there now, she’s been out in the middle all day but for the few overs at the start of the Australian innings. She won’t want to give the chance to chalk up a maiden Test century away. Sutherland keeps the strike and time for the final drinks break of the day. I’m holding off for a post play flat white, you could plant potatoes in my eye bags.
I know, I know… “And they say nurses have it tough”.
47th over: Australia 213-4 (Healy 86, Sutherland 33) Delmi Tucker comes on for her first bowl in Test cricket and immediately finds some turn and bounce off the wicket. Wolvaardt gets a short leg and a slip in after that one ball. Two singles off a tidy first over for Tucker.
46th over: Australia 211-4 (Healy 85, Sutherland 32) Tryon manages to stitch together a maiden.
Bro if JL says ‘sniffs the leather’ one more time #AUSvSA
— Little Podge (@little_podge) February 15, 2024
45th over: Australia 211-4 (Healy 85, Sutherland 32) Hlubi replaces a weary looking Klaas but Annabel Sutherland is showing some serious form out in the middle. An on drive for four has Justin Langer purring like a tabby having his tuumy tickled in the TV comms box. ‘JL’ is then in danger of needing to go for a lie down as Sutherland hangs back to spear a short ball away through point for four more. Scintillating strokeplay from Sutherland. Prrrrrr.
44th over: Australia 198-4 (Healy 85, Sutherland 19) Healy heads into the eighties with a silky late cut that teases slip and runs away for four.
43rd over: Australia 192-4 (Healy 79, Sutherland 19)cAnnabel Sutherland comes to life and showcases her skills by peeling off three boundaries in the over! A pull over midwicket, a majestic on drive and a punishing cut shot. Three of the best you examples of each stroke you could ever wish to see.
42nd over: Australia 177-4 (Healy 79, Sutherland 5) Sutherland uses her crease to rock back and take Tryon for a single.
A good day for home captains sorting shit out. #AUSvSA #INDvENG
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) February 15, 2024
41st over: Australia 178-4 (Healy 79, Sutherland 6) South Africa tightening things up with stumps in sight, just a single off a tight over from Klaas. The Aussie lead is now over three figures, mind.
40th over: Australia 177-4 (Healy 79, Sutherland 5) Tryon drops short but gets away with it as Healy finds the boundary sweeper at deep point.
Over in Rajkot – Rohit Sharma has notched his 11th Test ton and India are doing a bit of bone grinding on the Bazballers. A perennially perky Adam Collins is on the tools for that one:
39th over: Australia 176-4 (Healy 78, Sutherland 5) Klaas is back into the attack after another quick stop for drinks. The shadows are lengthening over the WACA outfield but it is still brutally hot out there. A maiden from Klaas as she keeps Sutherland honest.
Updated
38th over: Australia 176-4 (Healy 78, Sutherland 5) Chloe Tryon continues but is still sending down too many balls that are covered in a little bow with a speech bubble emanating that says “HIT ME”. Australia have obliged. A drag down is rifled to the fence to get Sutherland off the mark.
37th over: Australia 170-4 (Healy 78, Sutherland 0) de Klerk has got her dander up here, she’s probing away on a good line and getting the ball to nip back towards the pads and stumps.
Fastest recorded Test fifty by an Australian woman:
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) February 15, 2024
BF
52 Tahlia McGrath v IND, 2023
59 Alyssa Healy v SA, today
61 Alyssa Healy v ENG, 2019
61 Alyssa Healy v ENG, 2023#AUSvSA https://t.co/jLj0ENBf9O
Just spotted this. Areas.
36th over: Australia 168-4 (Healy 76, Sutherland 0) Tryon is given another over and it is an improvement on her last – just a Healy single off it as Sutherland sees out five dots whilst getting a read on the conditions. It’s still 37 degrees in Perth. South Africa need a strong finish in this final hour if they are to stay in some sort of contention.
35th over: Australia 167-4 (Healy 75, Sutherland 0) Annabel Sutherland is the new batter, she confidently drives her first ball back to the bowler and defends the final two deliveries of the partnership-breaking over. Mooney looked rueful as she dragged herself from the middle, she’s left plenty out there.
WICKET! Beth Mooney c Luus b de Klerk 78 (Australia 167-4)
From nowhere! de Klerk deprives Mooney of what looked to be a nailed on century, a thick edge to a ball outside off stump flies to Luss at slip and is well pouched. South Africa needed that and then some
34th over: Australia 166-3 (Mooney 78, Healy 74) Ropey from Chloe Tryon. A full toss is swatted to the fence on the sweep by Healy and an easy single sees the 150 partnership up for this pair. Gah! Another full toss from Tryon is sent to the fence with ease. Nine off the over.
33rd over: Australia 157-3 (Mooney 74, Healy 69) Mooney punches de Klerk for a couple and then lands the knockout with a booming drive to length ball outside off. Four runs. de Klerk responds by beating the outside edge for what seem like the first time in about eight years.
32nd over: Australia 151-3 (Mooney 68, Healy 69) Tryon serves up a juicy full toss and is easily swatted away for four more by Healy. Weary stuff from the visitors, they are in real danger her with Mooney and Healy happy to capitalise on anything loose.
31st over: Australia 147-3 (Mooney 68, Healy 65) de Klerk drops short and is thudded away for another four, all too easy for Australia at the moment.
Updated
30th over: Australia 142-3 (Mooney 64, Healy 61) South Africa turn to the twirl of Chloe Tryon. A decent start from the spinner who pushes the ball onto the batters on a good length and gets out of the over with just three off it, feels like the first boundary-less over in yonks.
Updated
29th over: Australia 139-3 (Mooney 64, Healy 61) de Klerk resumes with the ball after a slurp of something cooling and is greeted by Beth Mooney’s flowing blade as a full ball is pinged back past the beleaguered bowler for four more runs.
Updated
28th over: Australia 134-3 (Mooney 60, Healy 60) Crikes. Australia have scorched 64 runs off 60 balls in the post tea period. The lead has raced to 58 runs and the umpires call drinks. South Africa need a shot of something in their gatorade, this pair proving to be their batting kryptonite so far in Perth.
Updated
27th over: Australia 128-3 (Mooney 54, Healy 60) It’s been brutal stuff from Australia since the tea break. Twelve runs are plundered from the over as Hlubi wilts in the heat. Healy drives for four and follows up by hitting a cover drive with Swiss clock timing to take her to a highest score in Test cricket.
26th over: Australia 116-3 (Mooney 53, Healy 51) The 100 partnership comes up between Mooney and Healy and Beth Mooney goes to a half century of her own by sweeping Mlaba away for four. It’s taken 81 balls for the opener who was marooned down the non striker’s end for Klaas’ early onslaught. She’s absolute granite for her side.
25th over: Australia 110-3 (Mooney 48, Healy 50) Alyssa Healy crashes a pull shot to the fence for four and goes to a 59-ball fifty! It’s been a counterpunching masterclass from the Aussie skipper and a first Test half ton on home soil.
Updated
24th over: Australia 105-3 (Mooney 47, Healy 46) A welcome maiden from Mlaba brings a few moments of respite for the visitors. One ball in particular fizzes and bounces to offer some signs of hope, the ball ripping past a watchful Healy’s outside edge.
23rd over: Australia 105-3 (Mooney 47, Healy 46) Beth Mooney drives a full bunger from Klaas down the ground for an easy four.All the signs are showing that it could be a punishing session for South Africa under the Western Australian sun.
22nd over: Australia 101-3 (Mooney 43, Healy 46) Beth Mooney is happy to glide along in Healy’s more aggressive slipstream. A bit of width from Mlaba allows the opener to open the face and run the ball away fine for another deft four. 100 up for Australia and the lead is opening up.
Updated
21st over: Australia 96-3 (Mooney 38, Healy 46) Australia are truly dominating now, Healy gets on the front foot and pumps Klaas over mid on for another four. She’s approaching fifty and South Africa are in desperate need of a wicket to break this partnership.
Hold the pose 👌
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 15, 2024
Healy continues finding the boundary regularly #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/sSn4SpMDYg
‘Ave it!
Updated
20th over: Australia 89-3 (Mooney 40, Healy 38) Mlaba drops short to Healy and is punished with a scything cut for four.
19th over: Australia 84-3 (Mooney 36, Healy 37) Klaas is summoned back into the attack but even she can’t stop the flow. Healy pills for three through midwicket to give the Aussies the lead. Mooney then gets in on the act with a delicious drive through the covers for four.
18th over: Australia 76-3 (Mooney 32, Healy 33) Left arm spin from Nonkululeko Mlaba to get things underway. Mooney sweeps her first ball for a couple and then slams the second ball away for the first boundary of the session, a powerful cut square of the wicket to a bit of a drag down. The scores are now level, every run from here on in will hurt South Africa that little bit more.
Here come the players for the final session of the day. There are 49 overs left in the day, we won’t get anywhere near those.
If you are out there then do drop us a line, fling an email into the OBO mailbag or whang a ditty on the binfire website formally known as Twitter.
Geoff just sent through this nice missive on Australia’s star performer with the ball today:
@GeoffLemonSport only just jumped on the Guardian blog to see this. Much as I wanted to see S Africa put on a competitive test match, let me say this. I love Darcie Brown, and only mostly because I'm a country South Australian. She's a breath of fresh air - good on her today.
— Bernhard Sayer (@AppilaJourno) February 15, 2024
South Africa have been bowled out by Australia for their lowest-ever total in a women's Test.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 15, 2024
A first Test five-wicket-haul for Darcie Brown 🇦🇺#AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/XYMeyrRAU8
Updated
17th over: Australia 70-3 (Mooney 26, Healy 33) Healy shows off her deft touch with a velvet handed late cut for four. She then defends the final ball of the session to see her side to the tea break with the deficit reduced to just six runs. The players trudge off under the stifling afternoon sun, the home side much the happier.
Updated
16th over: Australia 66-3 (Mooney 26, Healy 29) This is a fantastic counterpunch by Mooney and Healy. Their fifty-partnership comes up with Beth Mooney batting well outside of her crease and turning a de Klerk length ball into a half volley – timing it through cover for another boundary. Australia made just 18 runs from the first nine overs as Klaas and Hlubi kept the pressure on but since they departed the scene it has been all Australia.
15th over: Australia 57-3 (Mooney 19, Healy 28) Three boundaries off the over for Australia! Alyssa Healy is ticking and dangerous. She cuts Bosch for four and follows it up with a drive through the covers for four more. The bowler looks a tad rattled, dropping short once more and getting plundered for another boundary by the gimlet eyed Healy.
14th over: Australia 45-3 (Mooney 19, Healy 16) Shot! de Klerk sends down a half volley and Mooney greets it with a delightfully straight blade. Four more, a flurry of boundaries since drinks. South Africa in danger of letting Australia off the hook here, their slender lead stands at only 31. More wickets needed to make this a one innings shootout.
13th over: Australia 40-3 (Mooney 15, Healy 15) Lovely! Alyssa Healy unfurls a coaching manual cover drive and holds the pose for good measure. The ball tracing away across the turf to the boundary. Australia are punching back here with the first change SA bowlers coming on and the intensity dropping off a little. Healy pulls for a couple and Beth Mooney drives uppishly to collect another brace. Ten runs off the over in total. Precious runs at this stage.
That boundary by Alyssa Healy brings up 100 runs at the WACA today (for 13 wickets)#AUSvSA
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) February 15, 2024
Updated
12th over: Australia 30-3 (Mooney 13, Healy 8) de Klerk is getting some movement in the air despite the sweltering conditions. She drops too short though and Healy pounces to slap through point for another boundary. The home side starting to tick.
11th over: Australia 23-3 (Mooney 11, Healy 3) Anneke Bosch replaces Klaas, who has 3-8 from her opening spell. Bosch and bosh! The bowler drops short and is crunched away square of the wicket by Mooney for a welcome Aussie boundary.
10th over: Australia 19-3 (Mooney 7, Healy 3) It is - as Caroline Aherne’s Fast Show weather presenter Poula Fisch would say – “Scorchio” in Perth. The mercury touching on 43 degrees. Umbrellas, ice packs and cold drinks are the order of the day during the drinks break. It’s about 7 degrees and belligerently dank here in South London, hot coffee and thick socks.
Nadine de Klerk replaces Hlubi and Mooney scampers a single into the off side. The match is on a knife edge.
Updated
9th over: Australia 18-3 (Mooney 6, Healy 3) Mooney flashes at a drive to a ball outside off stump and connects only with the Perth breeze. Signs of frustration from the usually unflappable opener. She’s playing with her hands well away from her body at the moment, dicing with death. Time for a drink.
8th over: Australia 16-3 (Mooney 5, Healy 2) Hlubi is challenging the edge, landing it on a handkerchief on and around off stump. Mooney glides a single past point and Healy fails to get hold of a pull shot but plinks for one into the leg side.
7th over: Australia 15-3 (Mooney 5, Healy 1) Klaas has been.. class. She already has Litchfield, McGrath and Perry in her back pocket and looks very dangerous. Healy gets off the mark with a flick to leg and Mooney returns the favour with a slightly fortunate inside edge past the timbers.
6th over: Australia 12-3 (Mooney 3, Healy 0) Thanks Geoff and hello all. Well well, an exceedingly quick game is a good game? Hlubi stitches together a maiden to Beth Mooney, around the wicket and back of length. Cramping the batter and beating her outside edge too. Plenty in this WACA pitch – just the THIRTEEN wickets today in a little over a session and a half.
Updated
5th over: Australia 12-3 (Mooney 3, Healy 0) The sixth ball is blocked out by the captain, but South Africa have a chance to really apply pressure from here. Outstanding reply after their dispiriting day to this point. This game is careering forward.
That’s me for the day. James Wallace will be with you for the rest.
WICKET! McGrath c Jafta b Klaas 0, Australia 12-3
First Klaas! She has 3 for 12! South Africa are in this, all of a sudden. Another beautiful delivery, floating up, swinging away, and another poor shot, McGrath driving at the ball early, having taken no lessons from the South African batting failures. Big edge, this time Jafta has to do some footwork to the off side and takes it standing almost in front of first slip. Healy wouldn’t have been expecting to bat so soon, but here comes the captain.
WICKET! Perry c Jafta b Klaas 3, Australia 12-2
MASSIVE for South Africa! The best in the business goes cheaply! Subtle swing from Klass, Perry drives and the ball kisses the edge through to the keeper. That will buoy the tourists so much.
4th over: Australia 12-1 (Mooney 3, Perry 3) First runs for Perry, driving Hlubi away nicely through point for two, then taking one down the ground.
3rd over: Australia 9-1 (Mooney 3, Perry 0) Stretching for width, driving to cover, Mooney is denied by the fielder. No run from the over.
2nd over: Australia 9-1 (Mooney 3, Perry 0) That brings Australia’s Test doyen to the crease, Ellyse Perry. She’s only 75 runs away from 1000 in women’s Test cricket, which is a serious achievement given how few they play. Mooney is on strike though, the ball swinging down leg from Hlubi. Once Mooney gets a straighter line she’s able to drive three through cover.
WICKET! Litchfield c Bosch b Klaas 4, Australia 6-1
1st over: Australia 6-1 (Mooney 0) So it’s Litchfield and Mooney to open, starting with a couple of leg byes as Klaas bowls right-arm on the line of the left-hander’s leg stump. Next ball Litchfield gets an inside edge that pops up, trying to work the ball to fine leg off the bat this time, but it lands safe. Third ball beats the outside edge, good line. Three slips, gully, point. Litchfield punches between them for four! Rides the bounce and gets the ball down to beat gully.
But not from the last ball of the over! Wide and Litchfield gets on one knee and steers the wider fuller ball straight into the cordon, third slip.
We mentioned South Africa’s women have only played 13 Tests starting in 1960, and only been bowled out 18 times on those, but today’s is the lowest score of the lot. They made 89 against New Zealand in Durban in 1972.
South Africa all out 76 in the first innings
A batting debacle for South Africa. Happy days for Australia though. Darcie Brown in her 4th Test had only three wickets before today, but has 5 for 21 now as her best figures. The plan to bowl first has worked perfectly – they can now make SA bowl two sessions in the heat, and Australia can plan to be bowling again perhaps around lunchtime tomorrow when the weather is cool.
Updated
WICKET! Hlubi b Brown 5, South Africa 76-10
Five wickets for Brown! Show of faith from Healy to keep her speedster on, and Brown gets it right. Does come a little wider I think, angles the ball in at leg stump but has shifted the starting point slightly towards the off side. So it crashes into the inside of the leg stump rather than angling down, when it beats Hlubi’s shot.
31st over: South Africa 76-9 (Klaas 10, Hlubi 5) A short straight mid off in place for Sutherland bowling to Hlubi, who defends off an inside edge to midwicket. Then runs down the ground! Drives through mid on for four. Slices her next shot, and it lands between cover and point for a run. The partnership is worth 19.
30th over: South Africa 71-9 (Klaas 10, Hlubi 0) Brown tosses the ball from hand to hand, then fires at the stumps again, and Klass gives it the same treatment! Bashed through mid on. Brown could try going wider on the crease and ramping up that angle at the stumps. Instead she bowls a beamer! Down the leg side too, to the boundary, so that’s five no balls. Handy for SA. Gets her line back though, and misses leg stump marginally after beating the outside edge of the retreating Klaas. Keeps bowling at leg stump rather than off stump, and bowls another high full toss to follow, but not quite high enough to get penalised. Expensive over.
29th over: South Africa 62-9 (Klaas 6, Hlubi 0) A whole over for Hlubi to survive, but she does so, plays a couple of shots against Sutherland too, including one that nearly carries to mid off, and another that bounces just in front of the bowler.
28th over: South Africa 62-9 (Klaas 6, Hlubi 0) Runs for Klaas! Brown tries the yorker, and it gets slammed back down the ground for four.
27th over: South Africa 58-9 (Klaas 2, Hlubi 0) Sutherland at the other end. Klaas hits a run down the ground. Hlubi sees out the rest.
26th over: South Africa 57-9 (Klaas 1, Hlubi 0) That last ball is negotiated by Ayanda Hlubi, the No11 blocking it away. The end for South Africa is nigh, but postponed.
WICKET! Mlaba c McGrath b Brown 6, South Africa 57-9
Darcie Brown with the ball after lunch. Mlaba flinches away from a short fast one, then tries a couple of front-foot swipes but misses. Brown misses the stumps by a small margin the second time. Finally Brown gets one full enough but Mlaba clunks it over mid on for two. Fifth ball, she backs away for the fifth time and smacks it straight to cover. Low catch taken, after a check upstairs to see if it was a bump ball off the bat. Straight off the toe. Brown has four wickets, and one ball in the over to try for a fifth.
We’re coming back after the sandwiches.
Lunch - Day 1, South Africa 55-8
An absolute disaster of a session for the visitors, who looked overawed by the task. Poor shots up the order, the pressure was on immediately, and aside from Sune Luus who made half of the runs calmly, nobody else was up to it. Brown was the early beneficiary, Sutherland bowled beautifully, as did Perry for no wicket. McGrath got lucky but still has 2 for 4.
25th over: South Africa 55-8 (Mlaba 4, Klaas 1) Three for Brown, three for Sutherland, two for McGrath who runs in now. It’s a pretty sloppy over though, wide either side of the stumps. No runs. And that will be lunch.
24th over: South Africa 55-8 (Mlaba 4, Klaas 1) Masabata Klass the next on the carousel, and she backs away to slap a wide ball to cover point for one. Mlaba doesn’t mind, shuffling to leg to create room, digging out a full ball past the bowler for four.
Updated
WICKET! Tryon c Perry b Brown 5, South Africa 50-8
Another one bites the dust. Tryon is stuck in a bad position, she decides that she has to go after the bowling. Darcie Brown comes back and Tryon fancies that pace. Absolutely leathers her off-drive, but hits it in the air, and Perry at mid off has the cool to step across and intercept the Exocet.
23rd over: South Africa 50-7 (Tryon 5, Mlaba 0) We’re into the bowlers, Nonkululeko Mlaba to the middle. Leaves her first, defends her second, ends the over.
WICKET! Jafta c Healy b McGrath 0, South Africa 50-7
The procession continues. Again not a great ball from McGrath, wide and short, Jafta plays a cramped looking cut shot, footwork not right for it, and the ball tickles the toe through to the keeper. So faint that the batter doesn’t know it, so she reviews after she’s given out, but the soundwave graph has heard what she didn’t feel.
22nd over: South Africa 50-6 (Tryon 5, Jafta 0) Tryon cracks a cover drive but can’t get one for it, the cover fielder around to cut it off. Again with a shot off the back foot to backward point. Then hit on the inner thigh as she can’t get around her pad in time, marooned on the front foot. And jabs at a ball that beats the outside edge. The cordon appeal but they’re not supported by the umpire. Finally, though, she gets one away, King misfielding at backward point as the ball is cut hard at her, through the hands on the bounce. Sutherland 1 for 13 after the boundary.
21st over: South Africa 46-6 (Tryon 1, Jafta 0) There’s serious hoop for McGrath, too, who gets one moving away from the wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta and nearly taking the edge. And again, after a ball down leg. Tryon might need to get out some shots here to try putting pressure back on Australia.
WICKET! de Klerk c Mooney b McGrath 5, South Africa 46-6
They’re falling apart. McGrath comes on, bowls a pie down the leg side that is helped way for four, then her next ball is wide and a bit short. The batter leans away and slashes at it, a one-day shot, but one-dayers don’t have three waiting in the cordon. Top edge straight at Mooney who clasps it.
20th over: South Africa 42-5 (Tryon 1, de Klerk 1) Tryon got off the mark in that over, but it brought about the wicket of Luus next ball. Nadine de Klerk is next in. Gets going quickly with a run to cover.
WICKET! Luus c Molineux b Sutherland 26, South Africa 41-5
Three for Sutherland! Now that she’s bowling, Molineux comes in to second slip, and that’s where the ball goes as Luus drives at a wide one. The only meaningful contributor to her team’s score departs after collecting 26, she hit her team’s only boundary so far today. SA in all sorts.
19th over: South Africa 39-4 (Luus 25, Tryon 0) No spin as yet, with the ball still swinging for the seamers. Tahlia McGrath hasn’t bowled yet either. Perry into her fifth over, Luus ducking the short one, called wide, before jabbing a run to cover from a shorter length. Reckon that was a one-day wide, not a Test wide. Barely down leg.
The South African men have been cleaned up by New Zealand for 211, meaning the fourth-innings target is 267.
18th over: South Africa 37-4 (Luus 24, Tryon 0) Hat-trick ball, and it’s left alone on a good length just outside off. Healy could have made more of that, brought in a couple of close catchers. Didn’t change the field. Then an inside edge onto pad as Luus props forward. Clips a run to square leg. Tryon splices a drive to point. She’s an attacking player in short form but might be forced back into her shell by this difficult situation.
17th over: South Africa 36-4 (Luus 23, Tryon 0) Cricket is a cruel game. Have to feel for Delmi Tucker. Perry resumes and nearly cleans up Luus, swinging in, beating the bat and not far away from leg stump. Then a skewed drive through point, Molineux knocks it down and keeps them to two. King at square leg tumbles to stop Tryon’s potential first run, then Perry beats her outside edge.
16th over: South Africa 33-4 (Luus 20) The over ends with Sutherland on a hat-trick! Well, that’s the risk of just occupying the crease. You go, another goes, and South Africa have gone nowhere since the second wicket fell. Four down now.
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WICKET! Tucker b Sutherland 0, South Africa 33-4
Horrible for Tucker! A golden duck on debut. Full and straight from Sutherland, and Tucker’s feet don’t move at all. Just pushes with her hands at the line of that ball but it angles in, beats the bat and crashes into middle via a little edge.
Updated
WICKET! Brits lbw Sutherland 5, South Africa 33-3
Sutherland to Brits, who tries a pull shot but gets it off the glove. Takes a run but has the glove off in consternation on reaching the other end. Calls for treatment. Magic spray and ice. Luus drives to cover and puts Brits back on strike.
Great ball from Sutherland, cutting in at the stumps and striking pad… umpire says no. Too far? Looked good live.
Hits her on the back leg, just in line with off stump… and three reds! Hitting middle stump, high up.
That’s good bowling. Figured that Brits would be thinking about the shorter ball again, and so Sutherland pitches it up. Brits has faced 48 balls and put some time into the session, but she’s out with the scoreboard still on 33.
15th over: South Africa 31-2 (Luus 19, Brits 4) The South Africans settling in, though the scoreboard isn’t doing much. Still tough work out there. Perry swinging the ball away from Luus, but an overpitched delivery allows a drive for two, out through cover. Two more square through leg.
In Hamilton, David Bedingham is out for 110. Remarkable innings given the disparity between these men’s teams. South Africa’s men lead by 257 in the third innings and are a chance of a win in New Zealand. Three wickets in hand to build that lead.
14th over: South Africa 27-2 (Luus 15, Brits 4) Another six dot balls with Brits at the crease, she’s 4 from 44 as Sutherland finishes the over.
13th over: South Africa 27-2 (Luus 15, Brits 4) Luus ducks a Perry short ball. Pretty brisk. Gets a single to cover, and Brits is able to do the same. Serious swing from Perry and then the ball comes back off the seam, over the leg bail for Luus. Then so nearly takes the outside edge with one that curls away! Great bowling.
12th over: South Africa 25-2 (Luus 14, Brits 3) Perry at one end, the Perry clone at the other now, in Annabel Sutherland. Uncanny how similar they are in stance, gait, bowling action, ponytail. It’s weird seeing them both in the field, wearing whites. Good start from Sutherland, getting the ball to kick from her back-of-a-length landing spot. Past the outside edge twice as Brits pushes, having been put on strike by a Luus single. Finally Brits gets a ball straight enough to push to leg for a run. A nice checked drive by Luus to cover for another, following the ball as it seams away slightly.
11th over: South Africa 22-2 (Luus 12, Brits 2) Drinks break after 40 minutes, given the heat. Ellyse Perry will have a bowl to follow. Her 13th Test today, and she’s been playing for Australia since 2007. Back of a length to start, up towards 120 kph. Decent first ball. Long run from the sponsor’s logo, and gets some swing away but Luus goes after the short length, skews it over backward point for a couple. Swing throughout, Luus though clips two through square, then jams an inside edge off the line of her midriff for one. The score is Richie Benaud.
10th over: South Africa 17-2 (Luus 7, Brits 2) Scoreless over from Brown, aided by the non-striker’s stumps that stopped a crisp drive. Brits has faced 31 balls for her two runs.
9th over: South Africa 17-2 (Luus 7, Brits 2) Garth into her fifth over, and the scoring eases just a little, Luus driving a run before Brits works one square.
8th over: South Africa 15-2 (Luus 6, Brits 1) South Africa building a total in Darcie Brown extras here. Another wide added, as Brits again can’t score. Does hurl the bat at another wider ball but doesn’t get it.
7th over: South Africa 14-2 (Luus 6, Brits 1) Luus is hopping up on her toes to defend Garth away. Meanwhile in New Zealand, David Bedingham is on 94 not out – would be amazing if he could take a century from the Kiwis for a South African team built from spare parts while the country’s best 50-odd players are busy playing a T20 league. Luus gets a run straight, Brits her first on debut with a push to cover.
6th over: South Africa 12-2 (Luus 5, Brits 0) Another over from Brown with no run off the bat, but she oversteps again. Brits looks uncertain with the bat.
5th over: South Africa 11-2 (Luus 5, Brits 0) Kim Garth is still swerving the ball around. Luus plays out the first five, having to be very watchful, but gets a good push-drive behind the final delivery and hits it straight of mid off for four.
4th over: South Africa 7-2 (Luus 1, Brits 0) So Tazmin Brits isn’t opening in this team, but she’s at the crease after three and a bit overs. Brown bowls her a no ball, then a bouncer that goes so high it’s called wide. Brits drives the next and edges along the ground into the cordon.
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WICKET! Wolvaardt c Mooney b Brown 4, South Africa 5-2
Garth doesn’t get the next chance, but Brown does! One ball after being dropped, Wolvaardt has a big drive at the first ball of the next over and slashes it into the cordon. So first Mooney drops one and Healy takes the next, then Healy drops one and Mooney takes the next. Brown has a burger deal, 2 for 1.
3rd over: South Africa 5-1 (Wolvaardt 2, Luus o) Inside edge for one as Wolvaardt presses forward at Garth. Another for Luus, dropping it to cover. Then another drop! Healy the culprit this time! Garth is the one who misses out, and it’s the last ball of her over too so she doesn’t get a chance to find another edge like Brown did. Healy in front of Litchfield at first slip, has to go a long way and the ball swings too far off Wolvaardt’s edge. They get a run.
2nd over: South Africa 2-1 (Wolvaardt 2, Luus o) A single for Wolvaardt from the first ball, to square leg, then Brown but the squeeze on Bosch, who must have been nervous. What a disappointment, opening and then being back in the rooms so soon. Sune Luus is batting at three. Started her career as a leg-spinner. Nobody does that…
WICKET! Bosch c Healy b Brown 0, South Africa 2-1
A double chance for Australia. Bosch plays a couple of bad shots, the first a steer straight into the cordon, but Sutherland at second slip goes at the ball and puts off Mooney at third, who parries the chance behind herself. Doesn’t matter though, two balls later Bosch plays a cross-batted prod and gets a top edge, and the three slips all fade backwards to get out of Healy’s way as the keeper gets under it.
1st over: South Africa 1-0 (Wolvaardt 1, Bosch o) Kim Garth to open, the Irish import who now qualifies for Australia on residency. She starts with serious swing, the ball swerving away from South Africa’s right-handed skipper. Starts too wide, but brings her line in dangerously close to the stumps as one ball goes on straight and clears the woodwork. Nudges a single from the final ball.
Updated
The South African openers head to the middle. A lot is riding on Wolvaardt’s performance here, you’d say. She hasn’t been able to buy a run in her last few starts but she’s their classiest player.
South Africa did take a T20 and an ODI off Australia in the preceding matches though, their first wins over Australia ever. So they’ll have some confidence.
Kapp didn’t train on Tuesday, but apparently that was just workload based. She started getting sick yesterday, and now is ill enough that the medical staff are working out whether she is stable enough to travel home.
That all sounds awful, so we’re sending her our best wishes and hoping that she recovers as soon as possible.
Teams
Some huge calls for both teams. With Kapp out, Tazmin Brits is in the middle order while Bosch will open. Tryon and de Klerk will have to do the all-round lifting, with Tucker a chance to feature with her off-spin too.
For Australia, mainstay Jess Jonassen is out of the side for fellow left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux. Molineux has missed literally years with hea long-term knee injury and some bone fractures. Darcie Brown returns too – Lauren Cheatle played the most recent Test in India last December but is having treatment for a melanoma.
South Africa
Laura Wolvaardt *
Anneke Bosch
Sune Luus
Tazmin Brits
Delmi Tucker
Chloe Tryon
Nadine de Klerk
Sinalo Jafta +
Nonkulueko Mlaba
Masabata Klaas
Ayanda Hlubi
Australia
Beth Mooney
Phoebe Litchfield
Ellyse Perry
Tahlia McGrath
Alyssa Healy * +
Annabel Sutherland
Ash Gardner
Sophie Molineux
Kim Garth
Alana King
Darcie Brown
Huge news - Marizanne Kapp is not playing
South Africa’s star player with bat and ball is missing with illness. Wolvaardt only says that Kapp “isn’t feeling very well”. It would have to be severe to keep Kapp off the field, but there it is.
Australia win the toss and will bowl!
That’s a bold move. And a bowled move. Laura Wolvaardt calls tails, the coin comes up heads, and Alyssa Healy wins her seventh toss on the spin. The odds are ever in her favour. But instead of batting in the heat, she says they will hope that any life in the pitch is there on day one, and they want to search for it.
Preamble
Hello world. A big day coming up from Perth, and a big three more days to follow. The Australian women’s players don’t get the chance for many Test matches, they’ve played five of them since the end of 2017.
South Africa’s women get even fewer chances – they have played one in nearly a decade, dating back to November 2014.
But over the next four days (not five, as it was during the last Women’s Ashes) these teams will meet at the WACA Ground, which hasn’t been used for men’s Tests since December 2017.
Four days might be more than they want, though, given that Perth is already 33C with a projected top of 43C. There were those sort of temperatures during the 2013 men’s Ashes Test at this ground, and it was a brutal experience even watching at the ground. So it’s going to be a tough few days, with 37C predicted for Day 3 and 42C for Day 4 after the second day clocks a relatively gentle 29C.
Bat today and look to bowl most of tomorrow, that seems like the ticket. We’ll have teams at the toss, which is coming up shortly.
