Mooney’s Unbeaten Fifty Propels Aussies To Success In First T20I Over Proteas Women

CANBERRA: Top-order batter Beth Mooney showcased her talents with the willow to record an undefeated half-century to aid Australia earn victory in the first T20 International (T20I) against South Africa in Canberra on Saturday, with the hosts picking up the first two points on offer in the multi-format tour.

Player of the Match Mooney amassed 72* runs off 57 balls, including 11 fours and one six, as Australia triumphantly pursued South Africa’s first innings score of 147/6 after 20 overs which featured a leading knock worth 59* off 54 deliveries (6 fours, 2 sixes) from Tazmin Brits.

South Africa was establish into bat after the host nation won the toss and elected to field. The visitors made a steady start with opener Laura Wolvaardt playing the role of the protagonist before finding a fielder at point off the bowling of Darcie Brown (2/20) to depart for 16, which included three fours.

The visitors lost another wicket in the final over of the powerplay, with Marizanne Kapp (1) becoming Brown’s second scalp of the day to leave the Proteas 33/2 after six overs.

Although the innings began patiently for Brits, the imposing opening batter started to find her rhythm out in the middle as she recorded crucial boundaries alongside Suné Luus (19) to assist seize South Africa to 65/2 after 10 overs.

With the tourists enjoying a positive spell at the crease, Australia’s Georgia Wareham (1/33) made the all-important breakthrough as she found the slightest brush off Luus’ gloves with Healy completing the catch behind the stumps to see South Africa three down for 73.

The introduction of all-rounder Anneke Bosch (14) brought forward South Africa’s most dominant period of the innings as Bosch and Brits found boundaries with relative ease before the former was caught in the deep off an Ellyse Perry (2/13) ball.

With the Proteas Women on 100/4 after 14 overs, Brits and modern batter Chloé Tryon (12) added a further 27 runs on the board as Brits reached her ninth T20I fifty before Tryon mistimed one of Perry’s varied pace deliveries to fielder Ashleigh Gardner in the deep.

Despite disciplined death bowling from the Aussies, Brits and Nadine de Klerk (10) edged South Africa’s score closer to the 150-run trace before a rush out of de Klerk saw the away side conclude on 147/6 after their allotted 20 overs.

Needing 148 runs for victory, Australia’s opening pair of Alyssa Healy and Mooney began their innings as they meant to depart on as the duo raced to 49/0 at the finish of the powerplay before bringing up their 50-run stand with some aggressive strokeplay in the seventh over.

All-rounder de Klerk (1/25) finally broke the deadlock for South Africa, picking up the perilous Aussie captain Healy for a well-played 46 off 28 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) with Luus taking a smart catch on the boundary.

Despite losing her captain, Mooney teamed up with Tahlia McGrath (24) in fine fashion as the pair carried the home side to 84/1 at the drinks crash before taking Australia into triple figures in the 13th over.

The experienced duo combined for a significant 65-run partnership for the second wicket to guide their team towards victory and although Kapp (1/25) and the South African bowlers refused to roll over for Australia by picking up the tardy wicket of McGrath and taking the match into the final over, the Aussies comfortably got over the line with five balls remaining

The battle between South Africa and Australia continues in the second T20I on Sunday, 28 January from 10h45 local time (01h45 SAST) at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Proteas Women Squad (T20I & ODI) – Multi-format Tour to Australia

Laura Wolvaardt (Fidelity Titans, Captain), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Nadine de Klerk (Western Province), Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions), Delmi Tucker (Western Province)

Results:

T20 Warm-Up

Governor-General XI beat South Africa by 4 wickets

South Africa: 149/7 after 20 overs; N. de Klerk 48* (24), C. Tryon 39 (29); C. Sippel 2/20, C. Ainsworth 2/31

Governor-General XI: 150/6 after 19.2 overs; S. Molineux 59 (41), T. Flintoff 42 (27); M. Klaas 3/16, A. Khaka 2/29

T20I Series vs Australia

1st T20I 

Australia beat South Africa by 8 wickets 

South Africa: 147/6 after 20 overs; T. Brits 59* (54), S. Luus 19 (17); E. Perry 2/13, D. Brown 2/20

Australia: 149/2 after 19.1 overs; B. Mooney 72* (57), A. Healy 46 (28); M. Kapp 1/25, N. de Klerk 1/25

Fixtures – Proteas Women Multi-format Tour to Australia

T20I Series vs Australia:

Sunday, 28 January @ 10h45  – 2nd T20I – Australia vs South Africa (Manuka Oval, Canberra)

Tuesday, 30 January @ 19h05 – 3rd T20I – Australia vs South Africa (Bellerive Oval, Hobart)

ODI Series vs Australia:

Saturday, 03 February @ 14h10  – 1st ODI – Australia vs South Africa (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)

Wednesday, 07 February @ 14h40  – 2nd ODI – Australia vs South Africa (North Sydney Oval, Sydney)

Saturday, 10 February – @14h40 3rd ODI – Australia vs South Africa (North Sydney Oval, Sydney)

Test Match vs Australia:

15 – 18 February @ 11h00  – Only Test – Australia vs South Africa (WACA Ground, Perth)

Every match times are local times in Australia

Source: cricket.co.za

Gary Kirsten: South African former cricketer Gary Kirsten was known for his composure on the field. As the coach of the Indian national cricket team later, he led the team to their historic 2011 Cricket World Cup win, one that came after 28 years. He has also coached the South African team.