Australia had no problem chasing down the 106 for victory in the first ODI against South Africa at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, beating the Proteas by eight wickets.
The home team finished on 106 for two (18.5 overs). This after the visitors earlier scraped together 105 for nine (31.3 overs), their lowest ODI score against Australia. Kim Garth was the player of the match after taking two for 18 in six overs.
Australia are leading South Africa 6-2 in the multi-format tour.
The South African bowling attack couldn’t fire on all cylinders with Marizanne Kapp retiring hurt after being struck on the elbow while batting. She was taken to hospital for a scan that indicated there was no fracture. Delmi Tucker took her place on the field.
Protea captain Laura Wolvaardt admitted that the result wasn’t what they wanted.
“It was a tough day at the office, especially after the positive result in the T20s. There was not enough application with the bat, so there’s a lot to chat about. The seemers came out well, but losing Kappie [Kapp] wasn’t ideal. We need to come back stronger and keep moving forward.”
Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield got the Australian innings off to a flyer with their 38-run opening stand coming from just 44 balls. Litchfield (12, 23b, 1x4) then chased a Masabata Klaas delivery outside off-stump and nicked it to Sinalo Jafta behind the wicket.
Jafta positioned herself nicely to take another catch when Healy scooped one from Nadine de Klerk high into the air. The Australian captain had to walk back for 19 (24b, 4x4) with the score on 42.
Beth Mooney (52*, 34b, 9x4) and Ellyse Perry (16*, 33b, 2x4) took the game away from South Africa with a dominant batting display, hitting an unbeaten 64 for the third wicket.
Earlier, the South Africans lost their first three wickets for just nine runs. Wolvaardt was out for 4 (12b), Anneke Bosch didn’t bother the scorers (6b) and Tazmin Brits only scored one run of 18 balls.
Kapp and Sune Luus could then just add 25 runs for the fourth wicket before Luus (6, 21b, 1x4) got an inside edge of an Annabel Sutherland delivery onto the stumps.
South Africa lost their fifth wicket with the score on 56 when Chloe Tryon (10, 16b, 2x4) tried to slog Ash Gardner over mid-on and Sutherland took a comfortable catch.
After the drinks break, Kapp’s intent was clear – to get the scoreboard ticking over to a respectable and defendable total. The allrounder’s 50 came off 58 balls (8x4). It was her third ODI half-ton against Australia and 13th in total.
Kapp then went off the field after being struck on the elbow, bringing Jafta to the middle with the score on 93 for five. The wicketkeeper only lasted seven deliveries before she was trapped lbw for nought by Alana King and the Proteas were in deep trouble on 94 for six.
King’s next over saw another successful lbw appeal, this time it was De Klerk who was on the receiving end for 18 (33b) and the score slumped to 97 for seven. It went to 97 for eight when Garth picked up another wicket, bowling Nonkululeko Mlaba for nought. King got her third scalp after an easy catch by Georgia Wareham saw the end of Ayabonga Khaka for three (4b). Klaas was not out on four.
The second ODI is on Wednesday 7 February at the North Sydney Oval in Sydney.
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Nadine De Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka.
AUSTRALIA: Alyssa Healy (capt), Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Alana King, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt.