Australian skipper Alyssa Healy falls for 99 as Australia leads South Africa by 175 runs on day one of West Test in Perth

Australia captain Alyssa Healy has fallen agonisingly short of a maiden Test century, being dismissed just one run short on the opening day of the only Test against South Africa in Perth.

Healy — captaining Australia in a Test match on home soil for the first time — got a leading edge back to spinner Delmi Tucker in the penultimate over of the day, just as she looked set to become the third woman in history to reach three figures in all three formats.

Healy, who was on the field for all but six overs of a 40-degree day, laughed after Tazmin Brits saved a boundary on the rope to prevent her moving from 97 to 101, but cut a forlorn figure two balls later as she joined husband Mitchell Starc as having a highest Test score of 99.

Australia reached stumps at 5-251, a lead of 175 runs over South Africa, which was bowled out for just 76 having been put in to bat by Healy earlier in the day.

[Summary]

There was some concern for the Aussies after stunning new-ball burst from Masabata Klaas reduced the hosts to 3-12.

But a brilliant 155-run partnership between Beth Mooney (78) and Healy, who then combined with Annabel Sutherland (54 not out) for 82 runs, rescued the Aussies and put the hosts in a very strong position.

Mooney also missed out on a maiden Test century after edging Nadine de Klerk to slip for 78, but Sutherland came in and punished the tiring South African bowling attack to put the Aussies in a very strong position.

On a scorching day at the WACA Ground, Australia dominated the inexperienced South Africans early.

The Proteas were bowled out for just 76 — the Proteas’s lowest innings score in their 14-Test history — led by a sensational 5-21 from Darcie Brown.

Playing just a third Test match in a decade, and first ever against Australia, South Africa was desperately short of red-ball experience — and it showed.

The inexperienced Proteas, who blooded four Test debutants, were dealt a blow at the toss when it was confirmed that their most experienced player, Marizanne Kapp was too sick to take her place in the line-up.

Then things got even worse.

Anneke Bosch (0) was first to depart, caught off a skied leading edge for a three-ball duck, just two balls after being dropped by Mooney at third slip.

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt (4) became Brown’s second scalp when she edged to Mooney, who took an excellent grab to leave Australia 2-5 with both openers back in the shed.

Debutants Tazmin Brits (5) and Delmi Tucker (0) then fell in consecutive balls to Sutherland to leave the tourists reeling at 4-33.

Suné Luus (26) offered some resistance as one of two South African batters to reach double figures, but was caught by Sophie Molineaux off a thick edge for Sutherland’s third.

Nadine de Klerk (5) and Sinalo Jafta (0) both fell in quick succession in successive Tahlia McGrath overs, before Brown returned to claim the wicket of Chloe Tryon (5), leaving the Proteas 8-55 at lunch.

Nankululeko Mlaba (6) swung hard at everything she saw before scooping a catch to McGrath at cover, confirmed only after an umpire review to check for a bump ball.

The 10th-wicket partnership between debutant bowlers Klaas (10*) and 19-year-old Ayanda Hlubi (5) threatened to frustrate the Australians, adding 19 runs in five-and-a-half overs, before Brown wrapped up a maiden Test five-wicket haul by bowling Hlubi.

Whether it was the confidence of her not-out score, or the belief that came with taking 11 wickets in seven matches so far on the tour, Klaas briefly took centre stage with her blistering new ball spell.

Healy and Mooney’s sumptuous display of batting erased any concerns Australia might have had, with Sutherland taking up the mantle as Australia raced to the close with a healthy lead.

Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.

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