Sutherland’s double century overwhelms South Africa earlier than quicks strike

South Africa 75 and 67 for 3 (Tucker 27*, Brits 18*, Garth 2-8) path Australia 575 for 9 dec (Sutherland 210, Healy 99, Mooney 78, Gardner 65, Tryon 3-81) by 432 runs

After toiling for 125.2 overs within the area, a drained South Africa supplied little resistance and, very like their first innings of 76, the top-order merely poked and prodded to supply observe catching for Australia’s packed slips cordon.

Opener Anneke Bosch accomplished a depressing match with a pair, whereas captain Laura Wolvaardt couldn’t capitalise on an early reprieve to nick off in opposition to an outstanding supply from Brown on 8.

With their quicks bowling an unrelenting line and size, Australia appeared more likely to take a wicket on nearly each supply in a far cry to earlier within the day when South Africa may solely seize 4 wickets in additional than two periods.

Sutherland fully thwarted South Africa and her innings was initially marked by persistence. She realized from a succession of batters earlier within the match who had perished by driving on the up earlier than being set.

Sutherland solely scored 7 off her first 35 balls as she confirmed self-discipline round her off stump. Once she was settled, Sutherland unfurled easy ball putting and struck 27 fours and two sixes in her 256-ball masterpiece.

Sutherland, 22, reached the quickest ever double century on her 248th supply on the final ball earlier than tea to change into the second-youngest participant to succeed in the feat.

She fell agonisingly wanting Ellyse Perry’s Australia file of 213 as she walked off to a standing ovation from the WACA crowd, which included her dad and mom.

It was a significant disappointment for South Africa of their first Test match in opposition to Australia. They had Australia in hassle at 12 for 3 earlier than falling away as their seamers badly erred of their lengths.

After enduring near 50-degree warmth on day one, South Africa had badly wanted early wickets in a lot cooler situations and overcast skies.

Quick Masabata Klaas hoped to proceed her stellar debut after ripping aside Australia’s top-order, however was thwarted by a 144-run partnership from Sutherland and Gardner.

They made batting look comparatively straightforward as South Africa struggled to discover a spark. Gardner notched her half-century by dispatching a brief ball to the boundary, however did have a few anxious moments when she survived two critiques.

After resuming on 54, Sutherland regarded imperious and handled the offspin of Tucker with disdain by very good use of the ft to membership her down the bottom.

Sutherland moved into the 90s and her path in direction of a century confronted the impediment of Klaas armed with the second new ball. But she was undaunted and whacked consecutive boundaries to succeed in her ton and lift her bat to the WACA devoted rising to their ft.

South Africa lastly loved a breakthrough when Nadine de Klerk trapped Gardner lbw to finish the 144-run partnership. But Sutherland continued on her merry manner as she simply surpassed her highest rating of 137 in final yr’s Nottingham Ashes Test.

In her first Test match since late 2021, Sophie Molineux made a fluent 33 however the present belonged to Sutherland who had additionally claimed 3 for 19 in South Africa’s first innings as an instance her rising superstardom.

Sutherland understandably was not referred to as upon to bowl late on the day after her unforgettable knock.