Australia secured a 110-run win (DLS method) over the Proteas in a rain-interrupted third women’s ODI in North Sydney on Saturday.
The hosts clinched a 2-1 series win and took a four-point lead in the multi-format tour ahead of the four-day Test from 15-18 February at the WACA Ground in Perth.
Beth Mooney played a pivotal role with an unbeaten 82* off 91 deliveries (10 fours), complemented by Alyssa Healy’s 73-ball 60 (nine fours, one six), as Australia posted a total of 277-9.
Masabata Klaas achieved career-best figures of 4-56.
The hosts then bowled South Africa out for 127, with Alana King taking 4-26 in her five overs and securing the win with 6.3 overs remaining in the rain-shortened innings.
HIGHLIGHTS: Australia vs Proteas (3rd Women’s ODI)
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Australia faced an early setback with the dismissal of Phoebe Litchfield (five) by Klaas. But Healy and Ellyse Perry (24) steadied the ship, contributing to an 82-run partnership for the second wicket.
Healy reached her 17th career fifty but fell to Eliz-Mari Marx (1-45) shortly after, leaving Australia at 119-3 in the 25th over.
Despite losing two quick wickets, Australia countered effectively, with Mooney and Tahlia McGrath (44) adding 67 runs for the fourth wicket before Chloé Tryon (1-50) dismissed McGrath, and Marizanne Kapp (1-28) took the wicket of Ashleigh Gardner (one).
Another half-century partnership between Mooney and Annabel Sutherland (18) pushed Australia past the 200-run mark.
Klaas and Nadine de Klerk (1-49) picked up two wickets but Australia continued to dominate to finish on 277-9 after 50 overs.
In their chase, the Proteas faced early setbacks with Laura Wolvaardt (three) and Anneke Bosch (four) departing, leaving them at 29-2 in the seventh over.
Tazmin Brits (31) and Suné Luus (34) added 23 runs before Australia struck back with two quick wickets.
Rain interrupted play after 14 overs, and when the match resumed, South Africa faced a revised target of 238 in the shortened 31-over innings.
Luus and de Klerk (20) partnered for a promising 50-run stand for the fifth wicket before De Klerk’s dismissal.
That wicket marked the beginning of the end for the Proteas as McGrath (3-23) and King combined to take three more wickets in six deliveries, including Tryon (11), Luus, Sinalo Jafta (nought) and Klaas (nought).
Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
