By Liryn de Jager.
@GettyImages.
Despite much cooler conditions on day two, South Africa continues to fight an uphill battle in the test against Australia at the WACA in Perth.
After starting the day on 251 for five, the home team safely managed the opening session and is having lunch on 366 for five in their first innings, a lead of 290. Annabel Sutherland (113) and Ash Gardner (52) are in front of the wickets with a 117 partnership.
With Gardner (0*) receiving, Masabata Klaas opened the bowling for the Proteas.
Klaas yesterday gave South Africa a glimmer of hope with an opening spell of three for 12. This after the visitors were bungled out for 76, their lowest score in a test match innings. A 155-run partnership between Australian captain Alyssa Healy (99) and Beth Mooney (78) for the fourth wicket however put paid to any hopes the visitors had of dishing out what they received.
This morning’s first real chance came after almost an hour’s play when Annabel Sutherland (71*) scooped a Nadine de Klerk delivery into the air but the ball fell in no-man’s-land.
The 50-run partnership between Sutherland and Gardner in the 70th over was followed by Australia’s 300 in the next over.
South Africa threw everything at their more fancied opponents in an attempt to stem the steady flow of runs coming from the two batters. This included two unsuccessful referrals to the third umpire that now has them left with only one referral for the remainder of the test.
With Sutherland in the nervous 90s and Gardner one away from her 50, Klaas took the new ball. The shiny red cherry didn’t bother Sutherland too much however as she smashed two consecutive fours to bring up her first century (149 balls, 13×4, 1×6) on Australian soil and only her second overall. Gardner got in on the action with her third test match 50 (93b, 8×4) with a single to mid-on.
Australia: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Alyssa Healy (capt), Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, Alana King, Darcie Brown.
South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Tazmin Brits, Delmi Tucker, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkulueko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Ayanda Hlubi.