Schutt sets tone as Aussie women thump Proteas in ODI

In her 200th international game, Megan Schutt set a dominant tone in Australia's eight-wicket win against South Africa in the ODI series opener in Adelaide.

MEGAN SCHUTT.
MEGAN SCHUTT. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Megan Schutt's teammates are in awe of her miserly milestone spell in Australia's eight-wicket thumping of South Africa in the series-opening one-day international.

Schutt took 1-1 from five consecutive overs as the tourists were bowled out for 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, the sixth Australian to play 200 internationals, took the new ball, claimed a wicket on her ninth delivery, and her sole run conceded came from an inside edge.

"It's a pretty unbelievable spell," Mooney said.

"To bowl five overs and only get hit for one run in international cricket against a real quality opposition ... that probably just shows the quality of bowl that Shooter has been, across an extended period of time.

"It's probably, I'd say, the best bowling she's done for a long time and across her career."

Schutt set Australia's dominant tone as the South Africans were bowled out in 31.3 overs.

Marizanne Kapp top-scored with 50 but was forced to retire hurt - completing a second run to reach her half-century, she 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.

Schutt's 261st international wicket was 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.

The all-rounder was taken to hospital for scans which revealed no fracture but soft tissue damage 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.

Stalwarts Mooney, who struck nine fours in her aggressive 34-ball innings, and Perry (16 not out from 33 balls) then cruised to victory.

"We always talk about finishing games well and I find those smaller run chases a little bit tricky," Mooney said.

"If you lose a few wickets early it can send a bit of a ripple effect through the batting order.

"It's all about making sure we win those games well and don't leave too much for the middle to lower order to do."

The three-game ODI series continues at North Sydney Oval on Wednesday and Saturday.