Image Credit- CA
Australia recovered from a shocking Twenty20
International defeat to South Africa, winning a tight series finale behind a
magnificent 82 from Beth Mooney, who had battled illness earlier in the day and
wasn’t sure if she would play.
With five wickets remaining and four balls remaining
in Hobart, Australia overcame the opponents’ 162 for 7 thanks to the opener’s
55-ball effort.
Before succumbing in the 18th over, when her team
needed 14 runs from 14 balls, Mooney frequently lost partners. Ashleigh Gardner
used her composure to use a boundary to complete the victory.
Earlier, in their 100th Twenty20 International, South
Africa scored their greatest T20I total against Australia, led by a career-best
48-ball 75 from Marizanne Kapp.
After defeating Australia in all formats for the first
time on Sunday, South Africa forced a decisive Twenty20 match to tie the score
at one.
Mooney, who finished with 11 fours and one six after
hitting an undefeated 72 in the first game, hammered the ball cleanly from the
start. Ellyse Perry, who was moved up to number three, and fellow opener Alyssa
Healy both failed to score.
After being put to bat, Kapp assisted South Africa in
rallying from a precarious 28 for 3 in the fifth over. The all-rounder and Anneke Bosch, who
provided good support with 21, had an 80-run partnership from just 57 balls.
Kapp was dropped on 19 in the outfield, and her score
eclipsed her previous high of 56. When
Tahlia McGrath sneaked a slower ball that struck the stumps in the 17th over,
she was out.
Grace Harris of Australia got things started right
away, making two receptions and hitting Sune Luus directly.
Late in the innings, Chloe Tryon contributed a crucial
26 from 16 balls before spinner Georgia Wareham caught and bowled her in the
18th over.
With two fours off the next three deliveries, Nadine
de Klerk finished with an undefeated 20 from 11 balls, demonstrating her own
fierce late-inning swing.