After bowling South Africa out for 76 – their lowest-ever total in a women’s Test – on Day One, Australia piled on the runs in their first innings. They reached 251-5 by the end of Day One after Alyssa Healy was out for 99, one run short of a maiden Test century.

Fastest double century ever

Annabel Sutherland was by far the stand-out on Day Two. She scored her second Test century following a hundred on Test debut at Trent Bridge last year, and converted it to a double.

It was the fastest double-hundred ever scored in women’s Test cricket. She was out for 210, the second-highest score ever by an Australian in a women’s Test and the fourth-highest score by anyone in the format.

Biggest first-innings lead ever

Australia built a first innings lead of 499 runs when they declared on 575-9 – the biggest first innings lead ever in a women’s Test and the seventh-biggest across men’s and women’s Tests. South Africa made a drastic improvement on their first innings total, scoring 215 before they were bowled out on Day Three. Both Delmi Tucker and Chloe Tryon scored maiden half-centuries, Tucker playing in her debut Test. Tryon’s half-century made her the seventh woman to make at least one half-century in all formats for South Africa.

The first player ever to score a double hundred and take five wickets in a women’s Test match.

What a game Annabel Sutherland had against South Africa.#AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/3Rbz4wavNu

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 17, 2024

Tucker combined with Tamzin Britz to register South Africa’s highest fourth-wicket partnership in a women’s Test, scoring 96 between them before Britz was dismissed by Ellyse Perry.

However, No.9 Nonkululeko Mlaba was the only other batter to reach double figures for South Africa, and they were bowled out shortly after Tea. Sutherland added to the three wickets she took in the first innings, dismissing Tryon and Mlaba to finish the match with five. In the process, she became the first player in women’s Tests to score a double hundred and take five wickets in the same match. Only three players have done so in men’s Tests – Denis Atkinson, Ted Dexter and Mushtaq Mohammad.

Second-biggest win ever

The winning margin of an innings and 284 runs is the second-highest in women’s Test history. The record holder dates back to 1934 when England beat New Zealand by an innings and 337 runs in Christchurch. Ten men’s Test matches have been won by greater margins.

Given that this was the first Test contested between the two sides, there were a number of firsts for both teams. As it stands Sutherland is the only Australia player to score a century against South Africa in a women’s Test, while Darcie Brown is the only Australia player to take a five-wicket-haul (5-21 in the first innings).