Australia are on the brink of a massive win against the Proteas Women's following day two in the once-off Test at the WACA in Perth in Perth

Australia declared their first innings on 575/9 with the allrounder, Annabel Sutherland, steered Australia to the huge total with a magnificent knock of 210-runs.

On Thursday the captain Alyssa Healy fell just short of a maiden Test century with 99-runs, while the in-form Beth Mooney scored 78 and the allrounder, Ashleigh Gardner contributed with 65.

The Proteas allrounder, Chloe Tryon, was the pick of the bowlers with 3/81 in 21.2, while the Botshabelo-born Masabata Klaas took 3/84 in 21 overs.

The Proteas were in heaps of trouble early in their second innings at 12/3 after just 4.5 overs, with the captain Laura Wolvaardt dismissed for 8, Anneke Bosch for a duck and Suné Luus scoring just 5. For the former Kovsies player, Bosch, it was a pair that she recorded after also scoring no runs in the first innings.

Delmi Tucker with 27 not out and Tamzin Brits with an unbeaten 18 steadied the ship for South Africa somewhat to take the team to 67/3 at stumps. While it was little, it was definitely a good little victory by the two South African batters that were both playing in their first Tests. 

The allrounder, Nadine de Klerk, told OFM Sport that the lack of runs upfront by the top-order is a concern.

“Not getting off to the starts that we wanted to has probably been our biggest struggle this tour,” said the ever-smiling De Klerk.

“We know that we have quality within our side and things like that are going to happen in cricket. There are definitely more highs than lows, so I'm sure that we will bounce back.

“It does make it difficult when you're three down in the power-play in white-ball game, or three down within the first 10 overs in a Test match. It becomes really difficult for the rest of the batting lineup.

“I'm sure that every batter that was facing Australia out here would have been taking notes. There are a lot of lessons being learnt here, and will take that home and into our next series.”

South Africa still needs to score 432-runs to avoid an innings defeat. Play in Perth resumes tomorrow morning at 5:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport