Australia won the three-match T20 International series against the Proteas Women 2-1, but it went right down to the wire, and was just few small moved that cost South Africa the game and the series.

The World Champions beat South Africa by 5 wickets in the third and final T20 International in Hobart.

An outstanding career-best 75-runs by Marizanne Kapp in her 100th T20 International led South Africa to 162/7 in their 20 overs.

The Proteas would have felt that they were about 10 to 20-runs short in their innings, but in saying that in both the batting and bowling the showed so good courage and fight to make for a competitive game.

This saw shown be Chloe Tryon who scored 26 off 16 balls to put some pressure on the Australian bowlers.

The seasoned opening batter, Beth Mooney, struck a brilliant 82-runs of 55 balls to see Australia to the target with just four balls to spare, while the allrounder, Ashleigh Gardner, finished off the game with 26 not out of off 17 balls.

Tryon was the pick of the South African bowlers with 1/23 in her 4 overs.

The Proteas allrounder, Kapp, said despite the defeat, there are positives to take forward.

“With the start we had we probably didn't expect the game to go as close as it did,” said Kapp.

“I felt that the way we fought back with both bat and ball was good from the girls. We just couldn't get across the line - we came so close. A few basic errors cost us the game.”

Sharpening up on the basics and getting the small things right will no doubt see the Proteas converting these close games against the bigger teams into more victories.

The first of three One-Day Internationals between Australia and South Africa will be played on Saturday in Adelaide.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport