GQEBERHA: Tahlia McGrath’s blistering 57 accomplished an ideal run via the group levels of the ICC Girls’s T20 World Cup 2023 for Australia as they beat hosts, South Africa by six wickets in Gqeberha on Saturday night time. Coming to the crease with the defending champions beneath a little bit little bit of stress chasing South Africa’s 124 for six, McGrath confirmed no nerves as she and Ashleigh Gardner added 81 runs to take them to the brink. Whereas McGrath did fall on the demise, the job was finished by that time, and Australia completed off the snug win. Australia have now received 4 from 4 to complete high of Group 1, and can await the ultimate video games in Group 2 to seek out out their semi-final opponent.
South Africa, in the meantime, began each innings strongly on this one, solely to fall away, and now face a must-win conflict with Bangladesh, whereas hoping New Zealand beat Sri Lanka and that they end high of the three-way tie on internet run-rate. After being put in to 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. Finally Ellyse Perry had Wolvaardt caught behind for 19 by Beth Mooney, holding instead of the injured Alyssa Healy. Marizanne Kapp adopted for a duck earlier than Georgia Wareham bought the large one when she clear bowled Brits for 45, including Chloe Tryon in the identical over as South Africa all of a sudden discovered themselves 77 for 4. A rebuild was required, with Delmi Tucker eliminated for seven by Megan Schutt because the boundaries dried up. After greater than eight overs with out discovering the ropes, Nadine de Klerk lastly did the honours, smashing Schutt for a most over long-on earlier than Sune Luus added a 4 within the ultimate over.
The skipper was bowled by Gardner for 20, De Klerk ending on 14 not out as they needed to accept 124 for six after such a promising begin. That didn’t really feel like sufficient in opposition to this Australia workforce, though Kapp had 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 took out Mooney, plumb in entrance, for 20, Australia have been 40 for 3 and beginning to wobble. Nonetheless, batting depth is the hallmark of this Australian workforce, and McGrath and Gardner proceeded to settle in earlier than successive boundaries from the previous within the tenth over confirmed their intent to choose up the tempo. From then on, the fours saved coming and the goal grew to become simpler and simpler, with McGrath shifting to her half-century from 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 successful boundary with three and a half overs to spare.
Transient scores:
Australia beat South Africa at St George’s Park, Gqeberha by 6 wickets
South Africa 124 for six in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 45, Sune Luus 20; Georgia Wareham 2/18, Ellyse Perry 1/8) vs Australia 125 for 4 in 16.3 overs (Tahlia McGrath 57, Ashleigh Gardner 28 not out; Marizanne Kapp 2/21, Masabata Klaas 1/18).
Participant of the Match: Tahlia McGrath (Australia).