Australia dominated day one of the one-off women’s Test against South Africa at the WACA Ground.
Seamer Darcie Brown took 5-21 as the tourists were dismissed for 76 in 31.2 overs, before Beth Mooney (78 off 109 balls) and Alyssa Healy (99 off 124) got Australia to 251-5 at stumps, for a lead of 175 runs.
All-rounder Annabel Sutherland was 54* off 87 balls, while Masabata Klaas was South Africa’s leading bowler on her Test debut, claiming 3-39.
After being put into bat in scorching conditions in Perth, Brown swiftly dismissed openers Anneke Bosch (nought) and Laura Wolvaardt (four).
Sutherland (3-19) then picked up the wickets of debutants Tazmin Brits (five) and Delmi Tucker (nought) to leave the Proteas reeling on 33-4.
The situation worsened for the visitors as Sutherland, Tahlia McGrath (2-4), and Brown combined to claim five wickets for just 24 runs to send Suné Luus (26), Nadine de Klerk (five), Sinalo Jafta (nought), Chloé Tryon (five), and Nonkululeko Mlaba (six) back to the pavilion.
Only a resilient 19-run stand for the final wicket between Klaas (10*) and Ayanda Hlubi (5) enabled the Proteas to reach 76.
HIGHLIGHTS: Australia vs Proteas Women (Only Test, Day 1)
Australia suffered early setbacks in their first innings as Klaas dismissed Phoebe Litchfield (four), Ellyse Perry (three) and McGrath (nought) to make it 12-3.
However, Mooney and Healy then added 155 runs for the fourth wicket, propelling the home side into the lead.
The breakthrough for South Africa came through all-rounder Nadine de Klerk (1-41), who induced Mooney into a drive outside off-stump, resulting in a thick edge caught by Luus in the slips.
Despite the wicket, Healy continued her fine form, partnering with Sutherland for another half-century stand for the fifth wicket, to take Australia past the 200-run mark.
In the penultimate over of the day, Tucker (1-23) provided a moment of joy for South Africa with a brilliant caught and bowled, dismissing Healy just one run short of her first Test century.
Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images
