Mooney dominates chase as Aussies win tense T20 decider

Beth Mooney has brushed off illness to produce a masterclass and steer Australia to a final-over T20I series-sealing victory over South Africa, spoiling 100-gamer Marizanne Kapp’s celebrations at Bellerive Oval.

Mooney’s 82 from 55 deliveries laid the foundation before Ashleigh Gardner (26no from 17) put on the finishing touches as the hosts reeled in the Proteas’ 7-162 with four balls to spare, to seal the series 2-1.

The win secured a 2-1 series victory, and saw Australia take a 4-2 lead in the multi-format series.

Mooney, who had battled suspected food poisoning throughout the day leading into the match, was on song almost from ball one as she took on the Proteas’ new-ball attack.

The left-handed opener had been bogged down early in the first two T20Is in Canberra but had no such issues at Bellerive, dispatching spinner Nonkululeko Mblaba over the rope in the fourth over – one of five boundaries she struck as Australia raced to 1-53 by the end of the powerplay.

Mooney’s fifty came off 39 balls and while she was eventually caught at backward point in the 18th over, she left the Aussies needing just 14 from 13 balls.

She was well supported by Gardner, who stepped up to ease the pressure when the hosts needed 36 from the final four overs, smacking a six and four from consecutive Nadine de Klerk deliveries.

Fittingly Gardner hit the winning run to seal victory with four balls to spare.

Mooney had anchored Australia’s chase as regular wickets fell at the other end.

Alyssa Healy hit a smart boundary to become the fourth woman to score 6000 runs across all formats for Australia, but she was forced to depart shortly after, caught off the bowling of Mlaba for 10.

Ellyse Perry was promoted to No.3 in place of Tahlia McGrath and got off the mark with a pull shot for four, and found the boundary twice more before she was bowled by Chloe Tryon, and Phoebe Litchfield’s elevated to No.3 was brief as she was caught behind for four attempting to ramp Masabata Klaas.

McGrath, who was pushed down the order after she was tied down in the first two T20Is, struck a booming six straight down the ground but otherwise struggled to get on top of the Proteas attack, dismissed for a 17-ball 16.

Earlier, Kapp produced a career-best display with the bat, featuring 10 fours and a six, to lead South Africa to their highest total against Australia.

Healy opted to chase after Sunday’s six-wicket defeat in Canberra and Gardner struck early, with in-form opener Tazmin Brits (0) picking out Grace Harris in the deep.

When Laura Wolvaardt (15 off 13) was also caught by Harris, this time off the bowling of Megan Schutt, and Sune Luus was run out – via a Harris direct hit – the Proteas were wobbling at 3-28.

Kapp was dropped by Darcie Brown on 19 and her subsequent counterattack helped turn the momentum back in the favour of the tourists, as she shared an 80-run partnership from just 57 balls with Anneke Bosch (21 from 24).

The veteran allrounder’s half-century came from 34 balls and she eclipsed her previous career best of 56, with her onslaught finally coming to an end in the 17th over via a superb McGrath yorker.

But Tryon (26 from 16) and Nadine de Klerk (20no off 11) kept up the momentum, as the Proteas added 32 runs from the final three overs to reach 7-162.

It bettered their previous high score against Australia, the 6-147 they compiled at Manuka on Saturday.

Wareham (1-25) was Australia's most economical as the bowlers split the wickets, while Brown copped the brunt of Kapp’s onslaught, with her two overs going for 27 runs in her return to the XI.

Australia now head to Melbourne for Wednesday’s Australian Cricket Awards, with the teams to reconvene in Adelaide ahead of the first ODI on Saturday.

AUSTRALIA: Alyssa Healy (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.

 

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka.

Women's CommBank T20I Series v South Africa

First T20: Australia won by eight wickets

Second T20: South Africa won by six wickets

January 30: Australia won by five wickets

Women's CommBank ODI Series v South Africa

February 3: First ODI, Adelaide Oval, 2.10pm

February 7: Second ODI, North Sydney Oval, 2.40pm

February 10: Third ODI, North Sydney Oval, 2.40pm

Australia squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris*, Jess Jonassen, Alana King**, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham *T20s only | **ODIs only

South Africa squad (T20Is & ODIs): Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Mieke de Ridder (wk), Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Chloe Tryon, Delmi Tucker 

Women's CommBank Test Match v South Africa

February 15-18: Only Test, WACA Ground, Perth 11.00am