Australia women hammered South Africa by an innings and 284 runs in a one-off Test match at the WACA, claiming victory in the multi-format series 12-4. They broke several records along the way.
After defeating South Africa for 76 runs on the opening day (lowest score ever in a women’s Test), Australia had a strong first innings. After Alyssa Healy was run out on her 99, the team reached her 251-5 at the end of the first day, leaving her one point away from her first Test century.
Fastest double century ever
Annabelle Sutherland was by far the standout on day two. She scored her second Test century after scoring her hundred on her Test debut at Trent Bridge last year and converting it into a double.
This was the fastest ever double hundred in women’s Test cricket. She retired with her 210 points. This was the second-highest score ever by an Australian player in a women’s Test, and her fourth-highest ever in this test format.
Biggest first-innings lead ever
Australia built a 499-point lead in the first inning at 575-9. This is the largest first-time lead ever in a women’s test and her seventh-largest in a test for both men and women. South Africa improved dramatically in their first innings total, scoring 215 runs before being bowled out on the third day. Delmy Tucker and Chloe Tryon both scored their first half-centuries, with Tucker playing in her debut Test. Tryon’s half-century made her the seventh woman to represent South Africa in more than half a century in all formats.
The first player ever to score a double hundred and take five wickets in a women’s Test match.
Annabelle Sutherland’s match against South Africa was a great one. #AUSvSA pic. twitter.com/3Rbz4wavNu
– Wisden (@WisdenCricket) 17. February 2024
Tucker, along with Tamzin Blitz, recorded South Africa’s highest fourth-wicket partnership in a women’s Test, scoring a total of 96 before Blitz was sent off by Ellyse Perry.
No, but No. 9 Nonkululeko Mlaba was the only South African batsman to score in double figures, and they were bowled out shortly after the tee. In addition to the three wickets he took in the first innings, Sutherland dismissed Tryon and Mlaba to finish the game with five wickets. This made her the first player to score a double hundred and take five wickets in the same match in the Women’s Test. Only three of her peers have achieved this in the men’s test: Dennis Atkinson, Ted Dexter and Mushtaq Mohammad.
Second-biggest win ever
The victory margin of one innings and 284 runs is the second highest in women’s Test history. This record holder dates back to 1934 when England beat New Zealand in Christchurch with her one innings and her 337 runs. Ten men’s test matches were won by large margins.
There were many firsts for both teams, considering this was the first test between the two teams. As it stands, Sutherland is the only Australian player to score a century against South Africa in a women’s Test, and D’Arcy Brown is the only Australian player to score a 5-wicket haul ( 5-21) innings in the first game.
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