They say ‘tough times don’t last, tough people do’. In this case, the South African women’s cricket team must be hard as nails by now judging their performance in the test against Australia at the WACA in Perth.
By close of play on day two, the Proteas were barely hanging on at 67 for three in their second innings, trailing Australia by 432. Tazmin Brits (18) and Delmi Tucker (27) will resume their innings’ tomorrow morning.
Australia declared their first innings on 575 for nine, a lead of 499 after South Africa was bowled out for a paltry 76 on day one.
A day to remember! We'll be hunting wickets tomorrow 💪
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 16, 2024
Scorecard: https://t.co/gnDNNNVNYN #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/jEadeINenH
With Annabel Sutherland’s mammoth first double hundred (210) in test cricket, captain Alyssa Healy’s 99 and Beth Mooney’s 78 it means three Aussie batters have now scored more than the whole South African team.
South Africa’s return to the batting crease started in the worst way possible when Anneke Bosch was caught by Sophie Molineux from the bowling of Kim Garth without scoring (4b).
One for one nearly became eight for two after Protea captain Laura Wolvaardt nicked one from Garth to the slip cordon, but this time Molineux couldn’t hold on.
Garth eventually picked up her second wicket with South Africa on nine when Phoebe Litchfield held on to one that saw the back of Sune Luus for 5 (24b).
Wolvaardt’s poor form with the bat continued as she could only scrape together eight runs (17b, 1x4) before Healy caught one behind of the bowling of Darcie Brown. South Africa was wobbling on thirteen for three.
Test debutants Brits and Tucker then managed to see the match through to at least a third day with an unbeaten 54-run fourth-wicket partnership.
SUTHERLAND AND AUSTRALIA MAKE HISTORY
Earlier Healy decided to add insult to injury when no declaration came at the tea interval despite a 445-run lead.
Or perhaps it was the record for the highest test score by an Australian batter and the world record within sight for Annabel Sutherland that prompted the decision.
When the Australian batting heroine finally departed for 210 (256b, 27x4, 2x6) following a catch by Bosch from the bowling of Chloe Tryon, a handful of impressive feats were left in her wake.
Sutherland’s double ton was the fastest (248b) and at 22, she was the second youngest to achieve this feat.
210 runs. The second highest Test score by an Aussie woman.
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 16, 2024
A knock for the ages. Well batted, Belsy! #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/ndjbUQxuAk
Only nine players have crossed the magic mark, five of them Australians with Sutherland at No 4 and teammate Ellyse Perry (213) at No 3.
It was clear creating history was foremost in Healy’s thoughts as the declaration was still not forthcoming with Sutherland’s wicket and the score on 541 for eight.
The highest test score, Australia’s 569 for 6 declared against England in 1998, was just a couple of boundaries away.
The return-to-dressing-room signal finally came when Alana King was bowled by Tryon for 8 (9b, 1x4) and the scoreboard reading 575 for nine, yet another record secured for this seemingly unbeatable Australian team.
Garth was stuck on 49 not out at the other end, just missing her maiden test half-century.
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.