The
visitors put on an incredible display in Sydney to tie the ODI series at one.
Australia's
149 (Garth 42*, Kapp 3-12) was defeated by South Africa's 229 for 6 (Kapp 75,
Bosch 44) by 84 runs (DLS method).
At
the seventeenth attempt, Marizanne Kapp's outstanding all-around performance
lifted South Africa to their first ODI victory over Australia and ensured their
survival in both the one-day and multi-format series.
After
South Africa was soundly defeated in Adelaide, Kapp was forced to retire
injured. She acknowledged that she wasn't sure if she could play at North
Sydney Oval, but the medical staff reassured her that the home team would come
back stronger. Her 75 off 87 balls, of which 48 were boundaries, was the
highlight of South Africa's batting performance. Anneke Bosch and Chloe Tryon
also made valuable contributions.
After
that, she destroyed Australia's top order, finishing with three for twelve.
Then, Australia's batting was destroyed in a way that was rarely seen as they
collapsed to 71 for 8 under lights and on a surface that had been refreshed by
a persistent drizzle that had fallen for the majority of the afternoon.
After
catching Alyssa Healy behind the wheel, Kapp executed a cunning inswinger to
evade Beth Mooney's inside edge. Then, with Ashleigh Gardner nursing a
hamstring injury she had suffered on the field, she trapped Phoebe Litchfield's
leg before wicket to send Australia 34 for 3.
Ellyse
Perry, who batted at No. 5 due to illness, could only manage two runs before
Ayanda Hlubi, a debutant, gave her a memorable first-ever ODI wicket by edging
a drive to second slip. Australia's deep batting order never had an answer as
Hlubi, Eliz-mari Marx, and Nadine de Klerk broke through the middle order on
this infrequent occasion.
Gardner,
who entered the game at number eight, and Kim Garth prevented Australia from
collapsing and created a record ninth-wicket stand in the women's ODI, which
momentarily inspired hopes of an incredible comeback before Gardner overtook
Marx in the standings.
Australia
had only once experienced a home defeat in an ODI since March 2009.
Marizanne
Kapp achieved her third consecutive half-century in a variety of formats.•
Australia Cricket/Getty Images
Australia
missed five opportunities in the field, including two from Kapp on 37 and 45,
the latter of which was a reasonably low edge to Healy. They were far from
their best in this regard. Bosch and Tazmin Brits' partnership was the only one
to reach fifty, but five middle-order partnerships, ranging from 31 to 46, kept
South Africa moving.
When
Laura Wolvaardt edged Megan Schutt to slip for a duck, Australia had taken the
crucial early wicket. In the first over, there was a close call for a second
wicket when Mooney failed to catch an edge from Bosch, who was then caught at
long leg by Perry.
During
the powerplay, South Africa was cautious and after 10 overs, they were 32 for
1, and early on in the innings, Australia had four slips. However, with some
assistance from the fielding, the visitors were able to progress through the
gears. However, they were only at 117 for 4 after Sutherland caught Sune Luus
well at long-on.
But
after a second rain delay, Kapp found crucial partners in de Klerk and Tryon,
raising her fifty from 62 balls. She was irritated when she couldn't find cover
off a Schutt full toss in the 42nd over, but Tryon's 18 off the penultimate
over guaranteed a solid finish.
Towards the end of South Africa's innings, there was an interesting incident where Australia couldn't review an LBW appeal against Tryon, who was on 15 at the time because a replay had already been shown on the big screen.
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