With day two being "interesting," according to Australia's Darcie
Brown (5 for 21), it was "a bowler-friendly wicket."
After the tourists had a rough start to Test cricket against Australia at the
WACA, debutant quick Masabata Klaas stated that South Africa's confidence and
focus remained unwavering despite the heartbreak of losing superstar Marizanne Kapp.
When Kapp was ruled out of the first Test against Australia due to illness,
South Africa's hopes of pulling off a major upset were dashed. Despite missing
practice before the game, she was expected to participate. She did not
feel well enough to make it through the match day, as the South Africa camp had
hoped. After the first day of the Test, Klaas told reporters, "We only
found out when we had to play that she's not going to play."
Australia's pacers, who bowled a disciplined line outside
off stump that had batsmen dying to loose shots, applied constant pressure to
South Africa's batting, causing it to wilt. South Africa lost eight wickets in
a humiliating first session without the formidable presence of Kapp, and in an
innings that lasted 31.2 overs, they were crushed for just 76, their
lowest-ever Test score.
"I don't think so," Klaas responded when asked if Kapp's absence had
shaken South Africa. "We're confident enough and have a strong batting
line-up, so I won't say that her not being here affected the team."
Despite the challenging day for South Africa, Klaas shone brightly in her debut, dismissing Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, and Tahlia McGrath with relative ease and shredding Australia's top order. Kapp praised her performance and expressed her disappointment on social media that South Africa did not choose young, athletic Eliz-mari Marx.
Klaas carried over her excellent performance from the white-ball series, where South Africa achieved historic first-ever victories over Australia in the T20I and ODI formats, by taking inspiration from the success of Australia's quicks.
"I noticed that there was something on this pitch when
I watched the Australian bowlers. So I told myself, 'I'm going to utilize
it,'" she remarked. "So I went out there with a positive mindset of
hitting my line and lengths so that worked for me."
Despite Klaas's valiant efforts, South Africa began to wither under
oppressive circumstances as they performed the play's last scenes. But South
Africa has a slim chance of mounting a comeback thanks to the late wickets of
Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy, who were removed in the penultimate over before
stumps for 99.
"Her [Healy's] wicket was a game-changer, but we have
to come back... we still have another five wickets to take tomorrow,"
Klaas stated. "It is easier [to bat] the more in you are. Staying at the
pitch longer is necessary for the batters.
Brown: A "bowler-friendly wicket" is where anything can happen
With five wickets remaining and a commanding lead of 175 runs, Australia
appears well-prepared for a two-day match that would be an anticlimax following
the compelling white-ball series.
"It seems like tomorrow will be a really interesting day," stated
quick Darcie Brown, who scored five points out of twenty-one. "It's a
bowler-friendly wicket, so anything can happen."
With her first-ever five-wicket haul in Test cricket, Brown
stood out. Her fiery bowling was ideal for the green-tinged surface, which
appropriately provided plenty of opportunities for the quicks in Test cricket's
return to the WACA. She also carried a packed slip cordon with her all the
time to evoke memories of the legendary ground.
"I had a moment where I was like 'This is so cool' just looking at all the
slips," Brown stated. "I've only ever bowled with two on the leg
side, never a seven-two [field]. It was a truly remarkable occasion."
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