A spectacular unbeaten half-century by captain Laura Wolvaardt led the Proteas Women to a six-wicket victory in the second T20 International (T20I) against Australia in Canberra on Sunday.
This triumph marked their first-ever win against Australia across all formats, levelling the three-match series and multi-format tour.
The Proteas Women lost the first T20I against Australia on Saturday.
However, in Sunday’s game, Wolvaardt dispatched six fours en route to 58* off 53 deliveries alongside Tazmin Brits’ 28-ball 41 (8 fours) as South Africa successfully chased down Australia’s 142/6.
Determination!
The Proteas Women register their biggest win Down Under 🇿🇦🇦🇺
All to play for in the final T20I 🍿#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #AUSWvSAW pic.twitter.com/eBWjUf2uBw
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) January 28, 2024
In the bowling effort, Masabata Klaas’ return of 2/16 helped to set up the victory.
Opting to bat, Australia faced early challenges as Beth Mooney (13) survived two dropped catches before succumbing to a run-out at the non-striker’s end.
Despite the early loss, captain Alyssa Healy (29) and Tahlia McGrath (23) added 31 runs before Klaas dismissed Healy in the ninth over, leaving the home side at 58/2.
Australia’s McGrath and Ellyse Perry (18) combined well for another 26 runs before South Africa picked up three quick wickets to transfer the pressure back onto the hosts. Nonkululeko Mlaba’s (1/18) and Marizanne Kapp (1/22) brilliantly supported Klaas to leave the Aussies 93/5 at the end of the 15th over.
Soon after the home team brought up triple figures in the 17th over, all-rounder Nadine de Klerk (1/24) picked up South Africa’s sixth scalp of the day to remove Ashleigh Gardner (10) before Australia finished off their innings on 142/6, helped by a late cameo from Grace Harris (31 not out off 18 balls, 3×4, 1×6).
South Africa started well, reaching 41/0 in the powerplay and before Wolvaardt and Brits brought up a 50-run partnership for the first wicket in just 42 deliveries.
Brits, in good form from the previous T20I, continued her impressive batting, hitting eight boundaries before falling to McGrath (1/16) in the 10th over.
Needing 68 runs for a historic triumph, experienced all-rounder Marizanne Kapp (20) joined Wolvaardt at the crease, before guiding the Proteas Women past the 100-run mark before Kapp lost her wicket to Gardner with South Africa at 109/2.
Despite brief innings from Suné Luus (1) and Anneke Bosch (11), Wolvaardt stood firm, reaching her 10th T20I half-century. Chloé Tryon (4 not out) hit the winning runs in the penultimate over, securing the historic win for South Africa and levelling the series 1-1.
Well played, @ProteasWomenCSA.
We'll have a T20I series decider in Hobart on Tuesday night! #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/UwZIHrZDx6
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) January 28, 2024
The series decider is scheduled for Tuesday at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart at 10:35 SAST.
Cricket South Africa
