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The Proteas Women began their ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign with a sobering 65-run defeat to Australia, bowled out for 107 in pursuit of 173 at Old Trafford in Manchester.

For long passages in the field, there was plenty for Laura Wolvaardt's side to build on, with a revived new-ball partnership making early inroads, but a batting collapse in the chase left South Africa with ground to recover in a punishing Group 1.

Asked to bowl after Australia won the toss, the Proteas Women struck early through the reunited pairing of Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail. Kapp drew first blood in the opening over, having Georgia Voll caught by Kayla Reyneke for a duck on her T20 World Cup debut, and Ismail removed the dangerous Beth Mooney to leave Australia 52 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.

Phoebe Litchfield then wrested the game away with a brilliant counterattack, racing to a fifty from just 24 balls before Ayabonga Khaka had her caught by Wolvaardt. Khaka and left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba pegged Australia back through the middle overs, Mlaba accounting for both Ellyse Perry (36) and Ashleigh Gardner, while Nadine de Klerk produced a sharp catch and the wicket to send back Georgia Wareham for 32.

Kapp was the most economical of the South African bowlers, conceding just 29 from her four overs, while the returning Ismail bowled with genuine pace in front of a crowd of 7,543 at Old Trafford. Ismail briefly left the field with a finger injury during the innings but was passed fit to bat later in the day. South Africa's discipline at the death restricted Australia to 172 for 8, with Khaka, Mlaba, and De Klerk each claiming two wickets, leaving a competitive total on a used surface that the Proteas Women believed was within range.

The chase, though, unravelled almost from the outset. Sophie Molineux, captaining Australia for the first time at a T20 World Cup, struck in the opening over to remove Suné Luus, and Kim Garth bowled Annerie Dercksen cheaply to leave South Africa 7 for 2.

Wolvaardt and De Klerk rebuilt with care, De Klerk striking 25 before Wareham bowled her, and the captain anchoring the innings with a composed 44. But once Wareham held a fine catch at cover off Molineux to end Wolvaardt's stay, the innings fell apart. The Proteas Women lost their last six wickets for a handful of runs as Australia's spinners turned the screw, Wareham finishing with three wickets to add to her 32 to claim the Player of the Match award, while Molineux and Alana King took two apiece as South Africa folded for 107.

Wolvaardt was honest in her assessment afterwards, while taking heart from her bowlers. "Tough day today. I thought restricting them to that score wasn't bad. Disappointing day, but they bowled really well," Cricinfo reported the SA skipper saying. She was encouraged by the new-ball effort that had given South Africa their platform. "Been a long time since we bowled like that in the powerplay, so it was nice to see, and with a couple of other bowlers stepping up," Wolvaardt said.

The reverse carried an extra edge given recent history between the sides. South Africa reached the final at each of the past two editions, in 2023 and 2024, and had knocked Australia out at the most recent tournament, which lent Australia's emphatic response a pointed quality as they signalled their intent to reclaim top billing in the women's game.

The result leaves the Proteas Women at the foot of Group 1 on net run rate, having played one and lost one, with Australia top after their statement win.