Sunday's game at Allan Border Field began with Australia striding in to bat. Thankfully the fielding had improved miraculously with the day off, Lisa Keightley being run out for 20 in the 13th over, followed 8 balls later by Joanne Broadbent for 2. Winch, Fitzpatrick and Mason also all chanced runs and lost.

South Africa revealed a bowler of great promise in Levona Lewis, who took 3/50, including the prime scalps of Clark, clean bowled for 40, Rolton (again bowled with a ball much faster than was expected) on 50 and Jones, who played a foolish cut to a full toss. She will be well worth watching, having already developed an impressive left handed speedy action, despite only having played since 1997. Australia ended the 50 overs on 9/220, Julia Price having been impressive in the finals overs, on her way to an unbeaten 37.

With a much faster outfield, this again should have been a gettable target, but when Fitzpatrick removed Reid with a fast ball edged to Price on only the fourth ball of the innings, the omens did not look good. Understandably nervous of the speed of Fitzpatrick and Dannatt, they started with three maidens out of five overs, only reaching double figures at the end of the sixth.

Melanie Jones at midon made the possibility of pushing quick singles near her impossible, and again, after the fifth wicket fell in the 31st over, South Africa seemed to give up. They were then 5/82, and could only achieve another 38 runs in the next 20 overs, with a total of 14 maidens being bowled in the session. Kerry Laing stayed in a long time to get her 31 before pushing one casually back to Fitzgerald, and Anita Burger tried hard to get 25, but it was rather too little too late. Australia allowed themselves to have a little fun with the ball, giving less than well known bowlers Jones and Keightly an over each.

It will be very interesting to see how South Africa go against New Zealand. They rather obviously allowed themselves to be intimidated by Australia, and really didn't play up to their potential. Their bowling especially seems to be in good hands, with Eksteen and Lewis being especially good at times. The Australians also had trouble at times with the spin of Laing, and I especially liked the style of Sune van Zyl, who had one of the loveliest actions I have seen for a long time. They only now need to learn to bat with confidence, and they will give any team a run for their money.