Australian players Ashleigh Gardner and Alana King were left in splits as on-field umpire Claire Polosak reversed her decision despite DRS going her way. During the second ODI clash between Australia and South Africa, Sune Luus attempted a sweep shot against Gardner but missed the ball. Luus was hit on the thigh but the impact was outside. The on-field decision stood but the umpire raised her finger to signal out instead of not out. The umpire was quick to realise her mistake but the wrong signal left Gardner and Alana King in splits.
The incident took place in the 24th over of the innings. In her next over, Gardner dismissed Luus. Annabel Sutherland took a good running catch at long-on. Luus departed after scoring 19 runs from 33 balls.
Earlier, Gardner had also dismissed top-order batter Anneke Bosch who scored 44 runs from 46 balls including nine fours and a six. In a rain-curtailed 45 overs per side match, she conceded 31 runs from six overs and picked up a couple of wickets.
Despite Luus' wicket in the middle overs, Marizanne Kapp's 75-run knock and Chloe Tryon's unbeaten 37 helped South Africa post 229/6 on the board after losing the toss at North Sydney Oval. Kapp's 87-ball 75 was laced with 12 fours. Tryon hit a six and three fours in her 36-ball 37.
Australia suffer batting collapse
In the run chase, Australia struggled against Kapp's swing. Skipper Alyssa Healy, her opening partner Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney were dismissed by Kapp. Ayanda Hlubi, Eliz-mari Marx, and Nadine de Klerk joined in and reduced Australia to 71/8 in the 14th over.
Gardner-Garth’s record-breaking partnership not enough
It was the record-breaking ninth-wicket partnership between Gardner and Kim Garth that prevented Australia from getting bowled out under 100. They shared a 77-run stand to revive Australia's hopes in the run chase.
Marx broke the partnership in the 29th over by dismissing Gardner who scored 35 runs from 52 balls. Megan Schutt could not hold on to one end and was dismissed lbw by Tryon. Garth remained stranded for 48-ball 42 as the hosts were bowled out for 149 in the 30th over and lost the match by 80 runs (DLS method).
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