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She was on a hat-trick when Tahlia McGrath took a single off the final ball as Australia finished on 6-156, leaving the match evenly poised.

Earlier, Gardner, promoted to captain Meg Lanning’s usual No.3 slot, marshalled Australia from 1-36 in the powerplay to double that run tally by the halfway mark.

Her 41-ball, 46-run second-wicket stand with Mooney, who played out a maiden in the sixth over against Ismail, broke upon the introduction of part-time spinner Chloe Tryon.

The left-armer had Gardner hole out to long-off, where South African captain Sune Luus completed a high catch without a hitch.

The allrounder then took a superb catch at deep midwicket off a Lanning pull to reduce the opposition to 4-122 with 17 balls left in the innings.

Australia amassed 34 off those 17, with Mooney, who brought up her second successive 50 of the World Cup, off 44 balls, alone fetching 25 in that tally. Her unbeaten 74 came off 53 balls.

Mooney’s pivotal innings rescued Australia after her fellow opener, Alyssa Healy, scrapped to a 20-ball 18 that ended with a catch at cover off Marizanne Kapp.

Australia were pre-match favourites against a South African side playing in their final and that experience with bat and ball showed on a slow wicket as Meg Lanning’s side retained the title they won on home soil in 2020.

AAP

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