GQEBERHA: Tahlia McGrath blasted a fifty to propel Australia to a dominant win by six wickets over South Africa in a low-scoring game and helped the side reach the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, here on Saturday.
McGrath scored 33-ball 57 laced with 10 boundaries to steer Australia in command while they were chasing a paltry total of 125. Ashleigh Garden also contributed with an unbeaten 28 from 29 balls to take her side home in the 17th over.
Electing to field first, Australia put up a superb bowling effort to restrict the home side to 124/6 in the 20 overs despite a flourishing start raised by the South African openers.
Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits notched up a 54-run opening stand before star all-rounder Ellyse Perry (1-8) found the first breakthrough in the 9th, dismissing the former.
Brits played a gritty knock of 36-ball 45 before Georgia Wareham cleaned her up, two balls after Darcie Brown got rid of Marizanne Kapp on a duck.
South Africa lost control following the chaos as Australia unsettled their batting line with three more wickets in quick succession, dismissing Chloe Tryon (1) and Delmi Tucker (7) cheaply.
Captain Sune Luus made 20 off 24 but failed to accelerate the run rate in the death.
In reply, Australia slumped at 40/3 in 7 after both openers, Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney, and captain Meg Lanning were sent back to the hut. Gardener and McGrath, however, held the fort and anchored the run chase with a 61-run partnership afterwards.
Opener Ellyse Perry scored just 11 before she fell prey to Kapp in the 4th over while her partner Beth Mooney managed 20.
McGrath went back to the pavilion with only four runs left to chase as she attempted to finish the game in style off Masabata Klaas’ bowling.
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