Australia v South Africa Third ODI Report Card

Featuring nonsense stakes slack and Magic Eight Balls of Target Adjustment™

Nonsense Stakes Slack
Grade: B-

After South Africa’s victory in the second match of this leg of the series, Australian fans were ODI-curious. Would Alyssa Healy’s mighty side bounce back and crush the upstart South Africans? Or would Laura Woolvardt’s team replicate their previous win and level the points tally heading into the Test?

BAD AI IMAGE OF: Old timey win replicator

An early strategy the Australians employed to turn things around was to tell Healy this was a World Cup final. Superb tactics, as the Australian wicketkeeper did that thing she does, where she just goes very silly indeed batting first and puts the match out of reach of the opposition with one thundering innings.

Crazily, however, when Beth Mooney came to the crease, she told the skipper the truth and the innings threatened to falter. Luckily, Mooney, perhaps feeling guilty, sensibly anchored the innings to guide Australia to 9/277 from their fifty overs.

But if Mooney was being sensible, that meant others had to pick up the slack in the nonsense stakes. And nobody did nonsense stakes slack pick-up better than Alana King, who at one point hit a six off a no ball too high full toss while simultaneously knocking over her own stumps in the follow-through of her swing. And then followed up with another six from the free hit.

Thirteen runs and a hit wicket off one legal delivery. Superb from everybody involved.