Australia Women outplay South Africa in low-scoring encounter

AUSTRALIA women cricketers had a resounding 51-run victory over South Africa in a low-scoring encounter in their warm-up match at Guyana National Stadium, Providence last night.

Australia were made to labour for their runs after winning the toss and electing to bat. However, they managed to compile a respectable 130-4 off the back of a solid half-century by captain Meg Lanning (65 not out) who pulled the innings together along with Rachael Haynes (29 not out) after a top order collapse.

Lanning came to the crease with Australia tottering on 8-3 as opener Alyssa Haley (7), Ashleigh Gardner (0) and Elyse Vilani (0) were all removed cheaply.
Healey was the first to go in the second over bowled by medium pacer Shabnim Ismail who was the pick of the South African bowlers.

Gardner came to the crease and was also out, bowled two balls later without troubling the scorers. That wicket capped a superb second over by Ismail who left the Australians on the back foot. Vilani’s scalp was captured by Marizanne Kapp in the very next over as she attempted a loose stroke to be caught by Sune Luus.

Ismail, who ended with 2-19 from her allotted four overs, received valuable support from Luus and Kapp, who took a wicket apiece and helped to keep a stranglehold on the Aussies’ batting.
Lanning struck up a brief partnership with opener Beth Mooney. Together the pair took Australia from 8-3 to 38-4 before Mooney was bowled by Luus.

Haynes then took to the crease and along with her captain guided the team to what seemed a below-par total. While Haynes was more conservative, she hit three boundaries while Lanning struck eight fours and a six.
South Africa, needing 131 to win at a rate of 6.55 runs per over, got off to the worst possible start as Lizelle Lee lost her stumps off the very first delivery of the innings; a ripping in-swinger from 20-year-old right-arm medium pacer Tayla Vlaeminck.

Delissa Kimmince bowled Robyn Searle (9) to leave South Africa 17-2.
After that the South Africans never quite found their bearings as Laura Wolvaardt was the next to perish for eight, caught by Gardner off the bowling of Ellyse Perry at 21-3.
The Australian bowlers maintained a strict line and length to stifle the South Africa batters who were never able to string together any meaningful partnerships.

With the run rate always mounting the South Africans lost their wickets at regular intervals with loose shots as the Aussie bowlers piled frustration on them.
Only three batters reached double figures; Chloe Tryon was the top scorer with 14 while Luus (11) and Mignon du Preeze (13) were her main supporters.

South Africa managed not to be bowled out and ended on 79 for 9. Jess Jonassen was the pick of the Aussie bowlers, ending with figures of 2-10 off four overs. She was supported by Vlaeminck and Nicola Carey who grabbed two wickets apiece while Perry and Kimmince had one wicket each.