Beth Mooney guided Australia to a five-wicket, series-clinching triumph over the Proteas in the third women’s T20I in Hobart on Tuesday.
In the wake of Marizanne Kapp’s career-best 75 off 48 deliveries (10 fours, one six) in her 100th T20I, which propelled South Africa to 162-7, Mooney struck a 55-ball 82 (11 fours and one six) to steer Australia to victory with four balls remaining.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, the Proteas faced an early setback as openers Tazmin Brits (nought) and Laura Wolvaardt (15), along with No 3 batter Suné Luus (nought), were dismissed within the powerplay, leaving the tourists reeling at 36-3 after six overs.
Facing a rebuilding task, the experienced Kapp marked her milestone match for the Proteas with a significant 80-run stand with Anneke Bosch (21) for the fourth wicket.
Kapp reached her half-century off just 34 balls, propelling the visitors to triple figures at the end of the 14th over.
The partnership ended at the start of the 15th over when Annabel Sutherland (1-27) dismissed Bosch, who picked out Darcie Brown in the field. This was followed by the scalp of Kapp, who was clean-bowled by Tahlia McGrath (1-17) with South Africa on 127-5.
Vital cameos from the versatile duo of Chloé Tryon (26) and Nadine de Klerk (21) helped the Proteas post a competitive 162-7, with both batters dispatching six boundaries, including a maximum off the bat of Tryon.
HIGHLIGHTS: Australia vs Proteas (3rd Women’s T20I)
In their chase, Australia made another fast start, with Mooney and skipper Alyssa Healy (10) reaching 32-0 in the fourth over before Nonkululeko Mlaba (1-27) made the initial breakthrough, dismissing Healy after she mistimed an advancing shot over cover, with Wolvaardt taking the catch.
Despite increased pressure from South Africa with two more wickets lost, Mooney remained calm and destructive at the other end. She raised her bat for a 22nd career fifty off 39 balls and combined with McGrath (16) for a hard-fought 38-run partnership, taking the hosts past the 100-run mark before De Klerk (1-33) delivered another counter-punch for South Africa.
Although Mooney witnessed four of her teammates departing, she found another able partner in Gardner (26*) to add a further 45 runs to the scoreboard.
With Australia needing 14 runs off 14 balls for victory, Ayabonga Khaka (1-30) finally dismissed the in-form Mooney, but Gardner and Grace Harris (eight) sealed the win.
The focus now shifts to the ODI series, with the first match at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday (5:30am SA time).
Photo: Steve Bell/Getty Images
