Australia have set South Africa a target of 135 to cause a T20 World Cup sensation in Dubai after being reliant on a late flourish with the bat from Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield.
The Proteas, itching for revenge after losing the last World T20 final to Australia last year in Cape Town, won the toss and bowled tightly as they restricted the champions to 5-134 on Thursday.
Without injured captain Alyssa Healy, the Australian innings was again anchored by a typically steadfast opening effort from Beth Mooney, who became the fastest woman to 3000 T20I runs as she scored 44 off 42 balls before being expertly run out by bowler Marizanne Kapp.
But Mooney never managed to really break the shackles with only a couple of boundaries in her knock, which still proved a valuable one after Grace Harris (3) and Georgia Wareham (5) had fallen quickly.
The evergreen left-hander put on a half-century partnership with stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath (27 off 33) as she too found the bowling of the ever-excellent Kapp (1-24), Ayabonga Khaka (2-24) and spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba (1-31) difficult to get away on what looked another slow, awkward pitch.
But Australia finally found some late impetus when 21-year-old Litchfield came to the crease to clout 16 off nine balls along with veteran Perry (31 off 23) as Australia faced a real challenge to extend their unbeaten T20 World Cup record to 16 matches as they continued their quest for a fourth straight title.
Healy, who had pulled up with a foot injury while running between wickets during Australia’s group-stage win against Pakistan last week, had earlier failed in her bid to be fit for the evening game.
