It was a hard slog for South Africa on day one of the first test against Australia as the home team left a very hot WACA in Perth firmly on top.
At the close of play, Australia was on 251 for five in their first innings, a lead of 175. This after South Africa was bowled out for 76, their lowest score in a test match innings. Annabel Sutherland (54) and Ash Gardner (0) will resume the Australian innings tomorrow morning.
Trailing Australia 4-8 in the multi-format tour, South Africa faces an uphill battle should they want to turn things around and have an opportunity to share the spoils.
They are taking on the Australians without the services of the experienced Marizanne Kapp while four players are making their test debuts. South Africa also last played a test in 2022 while Australia has played three tests in the last nine months.
After losing their first three wickets for just 12 runs, Aussie captain Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney slowly but surely rebuilt the Australian innings. When Mooney finally departed for 78, the duo had scored a 155-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Earlier Sune Luus (26) and Masabata Klaas (10 not out) were the only Proteas offering any resistance with the bat. For Australia, Darcy Brown grabbed five for 21, her best test figures. Sutherland took three for 19.
South Africa lost openers, captain Laura Wolvaardt (4) and Anneke Bosch (0), within the first two overs and from then on wickets fell at regular intervals. Lunch was taken with the Proteas reeling on 55 for eight.
Returning after the break, the Australian attack continued where they left off and South Africa lost their ninth wicket with only 57 runs on the scoreboard. Klaas and Ayanda Hlubi added a valuable 19 runs for the last wicket before Hlubi (5) was the last South African batter out.
Changing bat for ball and undeterred by the mammoth task ahead, Klaas then struck in quick succession to remove Phoebe Litchfield (4, 6b, 1x4), Ellyse Perry (3, 6b) and Tahlia McGrath (0, 4b).
But then it was time for the Healy and Mooney show, and what a performance it was. At tea, they had taken the score to 70 for three.
The last session saw the duo cracking the whip even harder. Australian skipper Healy led from the front, with her third test 50 coming from only 59 deliveries. Shortly after Mooney also crossed the 50 mark with the 100 partnership not far behind. Twelve for three had become 162 for three with the 150 partnership an added bonus.
With the end of play on day one looming, Nadine de Klerk finally managed to break the stranglehold when Mooney edged a ball to Luus. She was out for 78 (109b, 13x4) and Australia was on 167 for four.
Sutherland joined Healy and hammered more nails into the South African coffin. She followed up her three wickets with a 50 from 78 deliveries.
It was a Healy batting masterclass as the Australian skipper scored at will around the wicket. But one run short of becoming only the third player to score a century in all formats of the game, she had to make the long walk back for 99 (124b, 16x4) when Delmi Tucker managed a caught and bowl dismissal. With one over remaining in the day, Australia was on 249 for five.
AUSTRALIA: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Alyssa Healy (capt), Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, Alana King, Darcie Brown.
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Tazmin Brits, Delmi Tucker, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkulueko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Ayanda Hlubi.