Australia have bounced back from a shock T20 loss to South Africa, clinching success in a tense series decider on the back of a classy 82 from Beth Mooney. 

The opener’s 55-ball knock helped Australia get past the visitors’ 7-162 with five wickets in hand and four balls to spare in Hobart on Tuesday night. 

Mooney lost partners regularly before falling in the 18th over with her side needing 14 runs from 14 balls. 

Ash Gardner (26 not out from 17 deliveries) held her nerve to seal the win with a boundary.

South Africa earlier posted their highest T20 score against Australia, headlined by a career-best 48-ball 75 from Marizanne Kapp. 

Beth Mooney, the artist ???? #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/oaS4FRlwdW

— Australian Women’s Cricket Team ???? (@AusWomenCricket) January 30, 2024

South Africa forced a deciding T20 game after notching their first women’s victory over Australia in any format on Sunday to level the ledger at 1-1.

The three T20s games are part of a multi-format series including three ODIs and one Test match.

Mooney, who hit an unbeaten 72 in the opening game against South Africa, struck the ball cleanly from the outset and finished with 11 fours and one six.

Fellow opener and Alyssa Healy (10) failed to fire as did Ellyse Perry (13) who was elevated to number No.3. 

After her team was sent in to bat, Kapp helped South Africa recover from a wobbly 3-28 in the fifth over. 

The allrounder shared an 80-run partnership from just 57 balls with Anneke Bosch, who supported well with 21.

“At about 4am I started to feel a bit ill…I proceeded to spend the next six or seven hours…unwell.”

Beth Mooney wasn’t exactly having the greatest day ever, but “focusing out on the middle rather than what’s happening in my guts” has worked wonders ???? #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/hEpZ90WNrt

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 30, 2024

Kapp’s score in her 100th T20 international surpassed her previous best of 56 and came after she was dropped on 19 in the outfield. 

She was dismissed in the 17th over when Tahlia McGrath snuck a slower ball that crashed into the stumps.

Australia’s Grace Harris was in the action early, taking two catches and running out Sune Luus with a direct hit.

Chloe Tryon chipped in with an important 26 from 16 balls late in the innings before being caught and bowled by spinner Georgia Wareham in the 18th over.

Nadine de Klerk also swung hard at the death, finishing with an unbeaten 20 from 11 balls including two fours off the last three deliveries.

Wareham was Australia’s most economical bowler with 1-25 from four overs, while quick Darcie Brown (0-27 from two overs) copped some stick after sitting out the last match.