South Africa record first ever victory against Australia to level T20 series in Canberra
South Africa has recorded a historic six-wicket victory in the second T20 against Australia at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Only a day after a thumping eight-wicket loss, the Proteas restricted the Aussies to 6-142 from their 20 overs, before punishing a somewhat sloppy fielding effort to comfortably chase the target four-down with an over to spare.
In the 24th encounter between the two countries in any format, this is the Proteas' first ever victory.
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Opening the batting, skipper Laura Wolvaardt led from the front superbly, putting together a sensational 58 not-out from 53 balls. She and opening partner Tazmin Brits put together a 75-run opening stand.
Chloe Tryon of and Laura Wolvaardt celebrating after the winning runs. Getty
Two wickets in the space of three balls gave the Aussies a sniff, but Wolvaardt quickly extinguished any hope of a comeback.
Proteas veteran Marizanne Kapp said the victory was a "long time coming".
"To restrict them today on that wicket, I was a bit surprised by the way they came out but no, just happy," she said on Fox Sports coverage.
"I felt like yesterday we rocked up and just bowled the ball without plans, and today individual bowlers had a few more plans, and that's probably why we're on the winning side today."
Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa bats during game two of the Women's T20 International series between Australia and South Africa at Manuka Oval on January 28, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) Getty
The Proteas have come close on several occasions to downing the all-conquering Aussie women, but had never been able to finish the job.
"We've had a few of those games against Australia, and for some reason at the end we just couldn't get over the line," Kapp said.
"There's a few of us that have been playing for years, so it's probably about time we start winning the close ones."
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Earlier, Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy got the hosts off to a solid start, but the Proteas bowlers were able to claim wickets at regular intervals to stifle any momentum.
A late flurry from Grace Harris (31 not-out off 18 balls) gave the total some respectability.
In reply, Wolvaardt and Brits took the game away from the Aussie bowlers.
Georgia Wareham dropped Brits on 35, but redeemed herself two overs later off Tahlia McGrath's bowling.
Georgia Wareham dropped Tazmin Brits on 35. Getty
Kapp and Wolvaardt continued to score freely, before the Aussies landed a double blow, removing Kapp and Sune Luus in the space of three balls.
Wolvaardt brought up her half-century with a boundary through mid-wicket, before Chloe Tryon hit another to seal the victory.
The series-deciding third T20 will be played at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Tuesday night, before the one-day series starts in Adelaide next Saturday.
