South Africa’s Delmi Tucker lifts up her bat after reaching a milestone With Delmi Tucker (pictured) and Chloe notching up half centuries, it was a major improvement on South Africa’s 76 all out in the first innings after batting first. Picture: twitter.com/ProteasWomenCSA
Despite some stiff resistance on day three, the Proteas fell to a crushing 284-run defeat to Australia in the once-off women’s Test in Perth on Saturday.
Resuming on their overnight total of 73/3 and 432 runs behind in their second innings, the tourists fought it out for a little over two sessions before finally being bowled out for 215.
Still, it was a major improvement on their 76 all out in the first innings after batting first. With Australia showing the gulf in class between the sides with 575/9 declared, their lead of 499 runs would always be too much for South Africa to reel in.
However, Tazmin Brits (31) and Delmi Tucker (64) walking to the wicket on the third day - had clearly resolved to stick it out as long as they could.
Australia had to wait 20 overs before they made a breakthrough and it would be Brits who fell to the bowling of Ellyse Perry (1/26) which ended a partnership of 97 for the fourth wicket.
Another decent partnership of 47 followed between Tucker and Chloe Tryon (64), before Australia struck again. Ashleigh Gardner took a good caught and bowled as Tucker chipped the ball back to her opponent to end her stay at the crease.
Though Tryon continued to bat with the tail, the wickets followed regularly for Australia as Kim Garth (2/55), Darcie Brown (2/47), Gardner (2/29) and Annabel Sutherland (2/11) all ended with two wickets apiece.
Playing so little Test cricket for South Africa, however, means improvement in the longest form of the game may not happen any time soon. That’s best demonstrated by the fact that Brits has played 72 limited overs games for South Africa, yet this was the Test debut for the 33-year-old.
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