Australia Dominates South Africa in White-Ball Cricket Showdown

The Aussies boss it up and how​​​​​! As dominant as you like from the six-time World Champions, Australia. They have shown exactly why they remain the yardstick in white-ball cricket and the most successful side in the shortest format of the game. They've also taken brutal revenge for that defeat to the Proteas in the 2024 semifinal, a loss that denied them a seventh title, and set the sails nicely for their journey this time around.

W

Overs16.4

Score107 - 10

Georgia Wareham to Nonkululeko Mlaba, OUT! CAUGHT! With the wicket of Nonkululeko Mlaba, the game comes to an end with Australia Women winning this by 65 runs. This looked like a wrong'un around middle and leg, Nonkululeko Mlaba clears her front leg, plants this around the leg side and swings at the ball. Connects well but fails to get enough power behind the ball and finds Ashleigh Gardner stationed at the deep mid-wicket fence.

W

Overs16.3

Score106 - 9

Georgia Wareham to Chloe Tryon, OUT! MISTIMED AND GONE! Second wicket for Wareham. The spinners of Australia have ruled the roost so far. A full ball on leg, and Tryon skips down the track looking to go on the attack, but miscues it straight down Alana King's throat at mid-on. Australia just one wicket away from a thoroughly comprehensive win now. South Africa Women are 106/9, still 67 runs adrift.

W

Overs15.2

Score102 - 8

Ashleigh Gardner to Shabnim Ismail, OUT! LBW! Gardner picks up a wicket now. She dishes out a length ball, and gets it to drift into the batter from around the stumps. Shabnim Ismail is pinned in the crease and plays all over the ball, being hit on the pads. A confident shout for LBW and up goes the finger. Chloe Tryon asks Shabnim to take the review. But this looks pretty straight if there's no edge. UltraEdge shows a flat line. Ball Tracking shows the impact and wickets are both umpire's call, with the ball projected to just brush/clip the off stump. So the on-field decision is upheld. South Africa Women are 102/8. Ayabonga Khaka walks out next to bat.

W

Overs14.5

Score99 - 7

Alana King to Sinalo Jafta, OUT! TAKEN! Another wicket in this over for South Africa Women. Alana King gives it air and keeps it on off, Sinalo Jafta shows some aggression and tries to go big over long on. Doesn't connect it well as the ball carries towards long on. Annabel Sutherland settles under it and takes an easy catch. South Africa Women are 99/7 after 14.5 overs.

W

Overs14.2

Score97 - 6

Alana King to Kayla Reyneke, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! That's a really soft dismissal. Quicker from Alana King, on leg, and it turns in. Kayla Reyneke hangs deep into the crease and looks to tickle it behind on the leg side. The ball hits the upper part of her bat and lobs straight into the hands of Alana King, who makes no mistake. A simple return catch for King as she gets her first wicket.

DRINKS BREAK. With the fall of Wolvaardt, the hopes start to fade away for the Proteas. The Aussies have used six bowlers so far and almost every one has made some kind of an impact in the game and in the centre of it all is the skipper, Sophie Molineux who has picked up two massive wickets. Luus in the very first over, and now Wolvaardt at a crucial juncture, just when she was looking to put the foot down. With half the side dismissed, it will need a miracle for the Saffas to hunt this target down. They need 77 runs from 38 balls. Australia are controlling this game very well. Kayla Reyneke is in at number 7.

W

Overs13.4

Score96 - 5

Sophie Molineux to Laura Wolvaardt, OUT! CAUGHT! She finds Georgia Wareham at cover this time and this is a hammer blow on the South Africans. Flighted up, on off, Laura Wolvaardt charges down the ground again and drives it uppishly towards wide mid off. Georgia Wareham moves to her left from extra cover and takes a magnificent low catch to her left. Laura Wolvaardt departs and South Africa Women are 96/5 after 13.4 overs.

1W

Overs11.3

Score82 - 4

Ashleigh Gardner to Laura Wolvaardt, RUN OUT! MARIZANNE KAPP IS RUN OUT! A huge moment in the game. Good bit of fielding by the Aussies. But that was a bit lethargic from Kapp. A length ball around off, and Wolvaardt goes for the slog sweep, hitting it into the wind. Wareham is quick to react, picking it up and firing the throw at the bowler's end, helped by the down breeze. Kapp is very slow to complete the first run and gets delayed to turn around and is forced to dive full length but falls short at the non-striker's end. Ashleigh Gardner collects the throw from the deep and whips the bails off in a flash. Kapp is found short of her crease with the replays confirming it. South Africa Women are 82/4, needing 91 runs from 51 balls.

2

Overs11.1

Score79 - 3

Ashleigh Gardner to Laura Wolvaardt, Just out of reach! A solid effort though. Full on off, Laura Wolvaardt charges out of her crease and chips it uppishly to the right of the diving mid off fielder for a couple of runs as long on charges arcross to cut it off.