Gardner and Sutherland provide Australia (Woman) a stunning win

Chloe Tryon and Delmi Tucker both scored valiant half-centuries to make sure the home team had to fight hard.

Australia’s talented and adaptable attack defeated a determined South Africa team that was putting up a late fight to win the Test match handily late on day three at the WACA.

After being pushed in close T20I and ODI series wins, Australia proved their mettle in red-ball cricket as they won the first-ever multi-series between the two sides, 12-4.

Australia’s bowling depth was on display as six bowlers claimed wickets in South Africa’s second innings of 215 runs, despite their attack being forced to grind against grittier batting on a pitch that became flatter as the game progressed.

Eight bowlers, including all-rounder Annabel Sutherland, who finished with five wickets for the match in addition to her unprecedented double century, prompted captain Alyssa Healy to unleash her deep attack.

With maiden Test half-centuries from debutantes Delmi Tucker and Chloe Tryon, South Africa salvaged some respectability following a disastrous opening to Test cricket against Australia.

Tryon, Tucker, and Tazmin Brits, who was making her debut, all faced more than 100 deliveries as South Africa managed to survive 97.2 overs, a significant improvement over their paltry 31.2 overs in the first innings.

South Africa had been in danger of losing humiliatingly in two days after being thrashed for 76 on the first day of the Test, their lowest-ever score. They slumped to 13 for 3.
After defeating Australia late in the second day with a half-century stand, South Africa resumed their second innings at 67 for 3, with the Brits and Tucker looking to continue their counterattack.

British seamen appeared hesitant in the warm weather as they went after a hazardous stretch outside off-stump. The Brits edged just in front of second slip, and Darcie Brown was unlucky not to grab a wicket with her extra pace.

Additionally, Tucker top-edged over wicketkeeper Healy, but the batters found little movement on a sun-baked surface. In contrast to early in the game, they were unfazed by short deliveries that came off the wicket very slowly, and they successfully stopped a few unusual loose deliveries.

As she approached her 50th birthday, Tucker experienced a few nervous moments. One of them involved mishitting a pull shot off Ellyse Perry that almost missed Alana King, who was sprinting back from square leg.

However, Tucker quickly regained her composure and delivered her 50th delivery. Replays showed that Phoebe Litchfield had her fingertips under the ball when the Brits edged low to second slip, but Healy persisted in employing her three frontline spinners. Her faith in the seamers paid off when Perry broke the 96-run stand.

However, Tryon’s combination of strength and skill allowed him to consistently strike through the off-side as Healy eventually went back to spinning, making Australia wait once more.

It nearly paid off right away when, just before lunch, Healy missed a difficult opportunity when Sophie Molineux, playing her first international since late 2021, had Tryon inside edging onto her pad.

Following lunch, Ashleigh Gardner and King bowled effectively together and found turn and bounce. King, who came on the attack in the 42nd over of the day’s play, was warmly greeted on her home ground. Runs crawled to a stop as they handcuffed Tryon with four fielders around the bat.
Tucker felt the strain mounting, and when she chipped a return catch that Gardner skillfully made, she was undone by the extra bounce. Despite her disappointment, she walked off the field to a standing ovation from the spectators after scoring 64 runs off 180 balls in just four hours at the crease.

Mooney’s simple catch at slip saved King from taking the first wicket of the game, and Tryon quickly took advantage of the opportunity to reach her half-century.

To mark Test cricket’s return to the WACA, Sutherland clean bowled Tryon to cap off a thrilling encounter, and home town hero King took the final wicket. But an Australia victory was always certain.