Women’s T20 WC: McGrath half-century helps Australia beat South Africa

World number one T20I batter Tahlia McGrath’s blistering 57 accomplished an ideal run by means of the group levels of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 for Australia, as they beat hosts South Africa by six wickets in Gqeberha on Saturday.

With this win, Australia topped Group 1 with 4 wins in 4 video games, logging a complete of eight factors. South Africa is in third place with one win and two losses in three matches and a complete of three factors. They have a complete of two factors with yet another recreation to go.

Coming to the crease with the defending champions in a spot of hassle chasing South Africa’s 124 for six, McGrath confirmed no nerves as she and Ashleigh Gardner added 81 runs for the fourth wicket to take them to the brink of victory.

While McGrath did fall on the back-end of the Aussie innings, the job was carried out by then because the defending champions cantered to a cushty win.

South Africa, in the meantime, began strongly witn each bat and ball solely to fall away later. They now face a must-win conflict with Bangladesh whereas hoping New Zealand beat Sri Lanka and end at 4 factors together with the hosts and the Islanders, which might then put the workforce with the higher web run-rate by means of the semifinal.

After being put into bat, South Africa made a flying begin as Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt mixed to placed on 54 runs at a run-a-ball for the opening wicket.

Eventually, Ellyse Perry had Wolvaardt caught behind for 19 by Beth Mooney, who was protecting instead of the injured Alyssa Healy.

Marizanne Kapp fell for a duck earlier than Georgia Wareham bought the large one when she clear bowled Brits for 45. She additionally scalped Chloe Tryon (1) in the identical over as South Africa immediately discovered themselves 77 for 4.

The hosts sank deeper, with Delmi Tucker falling for seven to Megan Schutt. The going bought more durable for South Africa because the boundaries dried up.

After going greater than eight overs with out discovering the ropes, Nadine de Klerk launched Schutt over the boundary over long-on earlier than Sune Luus added a 4 within the ultimate over.

The skipper was bowled by Gardner for 20 whereas De Klerk completed on 14 not out because the hosts needed to accept 124 for six after a promising begin.

Georgia Wareham was the choose of the bowlers for Australia, taking 2/18 in 4 overs. Schutt, Darcie Brown, Perry and Gardner took one wicket every.

While the rating wasn’t going to be enougn for the defending champions, the Aussies hobbled initially Kapp having Perry caught at slip by Tryon for 11 earlier than Meg Lanning was bowled round her legs for one by Nonkululeko Mlaba within the sixth over.

When Kapp discovered Mooney plumb in entrance for 20, Australia have been 40 for 3 in seven overs.

However, the batting depth of the Aussies got here to the fore at this level, with McGrath and Gardner settling in and taking the chase ahead. Successive boundaries from the blade McGrath within the tenth over noticed the momentum shift, with the defending champions choosing up tempo.

From then on, boundaries saved coming at common intervals. McGrath, in the meantime, raised her half-century off simply 29 balls.

Three extra boundaries off Mlaba took Australia inside touching distance, and whereas she was caught by Wolvaardt off Masabata Klaas making an attempt to complete the job, Grace Harris got here in to smash the profitable boundary. The Aussies cantered house with three-and-a-half overs to spare.

Kaap took 2/21 in her 4 overs for SA, whereas Nonkululeko Mlaba and Masabata Klaas took a wicket every.

McGrath gained the ‘Player of the Match’ for her highly effective knock.

Brief Scores: South Africa: 124/6 in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 45, Sune Luus 20, Georgia Wareham 2/18) misplaced to Australia: 125/4 in 16.3 overs (Tahlia McGrath 57, Ashleigh Gardner 28 not out* Marizanne Kapp 2/21).

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