On Tuesday, in the 21st match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, Australia were chasing 272 in 50 overs against South Africa.
Chasing a challenging score of 272, Australia did not get to the best of their as they lost their swashbuckling opening batter Alyssa Healy (5 runs off 6 balls) in the third over. Healy’s opening partner, Rachael Haynes, who has been the in-form batter of Australia made her way back to the pavilion in the 11th over and Australia were struggling at 2-45. Later, captain Meg Lanning and Beth Mooney came together to stitch a 60 run partnership for the third wicket. When it was just starting to look good for Australia, South Africa came back strong with an unbelievable run out to send back Mooney (21 runs off 23 balls). However, Lanning did not stop fighting. She partnered with Tahlia McGrath (32 runs off 35 balls) to put together 93 runs and then with Ashleigh Gardner (22 runs off 26 balls) to take Australia to a commanding position. In the end, Annabel Sutherland (22 not out off 23 balls) played her part to see her team home. Lanning, who missed out on scoring a century in the last game against India when she was out on 97, made the most of the opportunity in hand against South Africa as she plundered a blistering 135 not out off 130 balls. Australia completed the formalities in 45.2 overs to win the match by five wickets.
🇦🇺AUS won by 5 Wickets✨
• 🇿🇦South Africa: 271/5 (50)
Laura Wolvaardt: 90 (134)
Sune Luus: 52 (51)
Annabelle Sutherland: 1/26 (6)• 🇦🇺Australia: 272/5 (45.2)
Meg Lanning: 135* (130)
Tahlia McGrath: 32 (35)
Shabnim Ismail: 2/33 (7)#CWC22 #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/HrPvlTluDH— Female Cricket #CWC22 (@imfemalecricket) March 22, 2022
For South Africa, Shabnim Ismail and Chloe Tryon were the only wicket-takers. Ismail, who opened the bowling, picked up 2-33 in her seven overs, including one maiden, while Tryon accounted for 2-44 in her eight overs. The other four bowlers used by South Africa, including Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Tumi Sekhukhune and Ayabonga Khaka went wicket-less. The South African bowlers were not able to defend 272 against Australia. Apart from the bowling, the fielding looked ordinary. There were as many as five dropped catches which did not help the cause of the Proteas.
Australia’s Meg Lanning won the player of the match for her match-winning batting performance. The right-handed top-order batter smashed an unbeaten 135 off 130 balls to power her team to a five wicket win.
Meg Lanning is Player of the Match😍
She scored an unbeaten 135 Runs in 130 Balls 🔥#CWC22 #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/K64wQwYzVm
— Female Cricket #CWC22 (@imfemalecricket) March 22, 2022
With this win, Australia have won all their six matches in this World Cup so far, while South Africa lost their first match in the tournament. To date, South Africa have won four matches and lost one match in this World Cup.
Australia and South Africa will play their next fixtures on March 25 against Bangladesh and on March 24 against West Indies respectively.
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