Australian quick Megan Schutt has celebrated her milestone match with a miserly spell in an eight-wicket thumping of South Africa in the series-opening women’s one-day international.
Schutt took 1-1 from five consecutive overs as the tourists were restricted to 105 on Saturday at Adelaide Oval.
Australia, with Beth Mooney top-scoring with an unbeaten 52, reached 2-106 in 19 overs to emphatically win game one of the three-match ODI series.
Schutt became the sixth Australian to play 200 internationals and set a dominant tone with her opening spell as South Africa were bowled out in 31.3 overs.
Marizanne Kapp top-scored with 50, but she was forced to retire hurt. While completing a second run to reach her half-century, Kapp was struck on her left elbow by the throw.
Alana King (3-19), Kim Garth (2-12), Ellyse Perry (1-8), Annabel Sutherland (1-22) and Ash Gardner (1-12) were also among the wickets.
South Australian Schutt took just nine balls to take her 261st international wicket — the prized scalp of South African captain Laura Wolvaardt.
The Proteas skipper is a teammate of Schutt in the Women’s Big Bash League with the title-holding Adelaide Strikers.
When she was on four, Wolvaardt gifted her friend her wicket, slicing a short and wide delivery to point, where Georgia Wareham completed a simple catch.
South Africa soon slumped to 3-9 after eight overs and never recovered.
Kapp kept cool amid the carnage with a stellar knock, hitting eight fours from her 58 balls before misfortune literally hit.
As the all-rounder safely completed her 50th run, she was struck on the elbow. Kapp was taken to hospital for scans, and in her absence, the tourists lost their last four wickets for 11 runs.
In Australia’s run chase, openers Phoebe Litchfield (12 from 23 balls) and Alyssa Healy (19 from 24) were dismissed inside nine overs.
But stalwarts Mooney, who struck nine fours in her 34-ball innings, and Perry (16 not out from 33 balls) then cruised to victory.
The three-game ODI series continues at North Sydney Oval on Wednesday and Saturday.
AAP