Australia Vs South Africa Highlights, Women's T20 World Cup: Wareham’s All-Round Magic Powers AUS-W To 65-Run Win

Hello Cricket fans! Welcome to the live coverage of match 6 of the Women's World Cup between Australia and South Africa at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Stretford, on Saturday, June 13.

Australia have won the toss and elected to bat first against South Africa.

Australia: Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, PhoebeLitchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, Alana King.

South Africa: Laure Wolvaardt (c), Sune Luus, Annerie Derksen, Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Kayla Reyneke, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka.

South Africa draw blood in the first over as Marizzane Kapp gets Aussie opener Georgia Voll caught for a duck. It was a short-delivery by Kapp and Voll decided to play a short-arm jab but ends up mistiming the shot and hits it straight into the hands of the mid-wicket fielder.

AUS 1/1 (1)

Phoebe Litchfield smacked Marizanne Kapp for two boundaries in the fifth over of the powerplay to provide some momentum to Australia's innings. Litchfield raced to 27 off just 16 balls. South African have been quite disciplined so far with the ball and have sent two Aussie batters back in the dug out already, with Beth Mooney being the latest one, who was dismissed by Shabnam Ismail.

AUS 35/2 (5)

Half of the Australian innings is over and they lost four wickets during the course while maintaining a healthy run-rate of almost runs per over. Apart from Phoebe Litchfield, who slammed a magnificent fifty off just 24 deliveries no other Aussie batter could get off to a even a start. Australia need a partnership from Ellyse Perry and Gerogia Wareham, if they want to get to a decent first innings total.

AUS 79/4 (10)

Georgia Wareham was the last batter to depart after playing a handy knock of 32 off 22 balls. She forged a 58-run stand with Ellyse Perry to get Australia out of trouble to a decent position. Veteran Ellyse Perry is batting well-set at 35 and has the prime responsibility of taking her team to a strong first innings score.

AUS 131/5 (15)

Australia get 10 runs from the last over to finish the first innings at 172. Given that they were reeling at 35/2 after five overs, it looks like a good total as they have the bowling to defend the total on a wicket that has some assistance for the pacers. Phoebe Litchfield was the mainstay of Australia's batting as she provided momentum to their innings with a fiery 50 off 24 balls. Ellyse Perry also played a handy knock of 36 runs to take her team to a decent total.

AUS 172/8 (20)

South Africa got off to a bad start in the chase of 173 as they lost their two off their top three batters within the first two overs. Opener Sune Luus was trapped in front of wickets by Sophie Molineux on the last ball of the first over for 1, followed by Annerie Derecksen, who was castled by Kim Garth for 4.

SA 16/2 (3)

The sixth over has just concluded, and it’s been a productive one for the batting side! With 9 runs coming off the over, the scoreboard moves along to 43/2. The over featured some smart intent, highlighted by a boundary and a crucial bonus run. Nadine de Klerk continues to look solid, moving to 22 off 17 balls. She is providing the stability the innings needs at this stage. Laura Wolvaardt is finding her rhythm, sitting on 12 off 10 balls.

AUS 43/2 (6)

It’s been a turbulent phase for South Africa. While the eighth over brought 7 runs to the board, the breakthrough from Georgia Wareham has shifted the momentum, leaving South Africa in a spot of bother at 55/3.

The highlight—and the heartbreak—of the over was the dismissal of Nadine de Klerk. After looking in fine touch, she was cleaned up by a beauty from Wareham. It was a classic leg-break that turned away, catching de Klerk as she looked to guide the ball toward third man, only for the ball to crash into the off-stump. She departs for a gritty 25 off 22 balls, featuring one boundary and two maximums.

Despite the loss of a key wicket, the scoreboard has ticked over to 55/3 after eight overs. Laura Wolvaardt is holding steady at 19 off 16 balls, and she is now joined by Marizanne Kapp, who is 1 off 1.

With the team three down, the onus is now on this pair to stabilize the innings and rebuild against a bowling attack that is keeping things tight, evidenced by Ashleigh Gardner’s economical 1-0-7-0 spell so far.

AUS 59/3 (9)

Drama in the middle! A mix-up that Australia will happily take. Marizanne Kapp tried to steal a quick second after Laura Wolvaardt’s slog sweep didn’t quite have enough power to beat the wind, but this time there was no escape.

Georgia Wareham covered ground brilliantly to her left, gathered the ball cleanly and fired in a flat throw towards Ashleigh Gardner. The stumps were broken in a flash, and despite Kapp’s desperate dive, she was well short of her ground.

Kapp walks back after a quick-fire cameo of 12 off just six balls, with two boundaries, as Australia strike at a crucial moment.

Alana King is into the action now. The leg-spinner joins the wicket-taking party with a soft dismissal, picking up her first T20I wicket against South Africa.

Kayla Reyneke never got going and is gone for a duck. King tossed this one into the pads, Reyneke tried to work it towards the leg side but closed the bat face a touch too early. The leading edge popped up invitingly, and King moved quickly to her right to complete a simple caught-and-bowled chance.

A quiet stay at the crease comes to an end as Australia tighten their grip on the contest.

Georgia Wareham delivers the knockout blow! South Africa’s last big hope of reducing the damage is gone as Chloe Tryon departs.

Tryon charged down the track looking for a big shot, but Wareham cleverly shortened the length and forced the mistimed stroke. The ball ballooned up, and Alana King settled underneath it to complete a comfortable catch.

Tryon’s stay ends on 9 off 13, and Australia are now firmly in control with the finish line getting closer.

And that’s the finish line. Australia complete a commanding 65-run victory as Georgia Wareham wraps up the innings with the final wicket.

Nonkululeko Mlaba walked in with the pressure mounting, but she had no time to settle. Wareham struck immediately, forcing the mistimed shot, and Ashleigh Gardner made no mistake under the skier.

A dominant all-round performance from Australia sees them close out a thumping win, while South Africa’s chase ends well short of the target.

That’s a wrap from this match, Australia’s dominant win over South Africa was a complete team effort, with Georgia Wareham stealing the show with her all-round brilliance.

You can now switch over to our West Indies Women vs New Zealand Women live blog for more action. See you all there, bye-bye.