After being put in to bat, Australia did not carry the usual swagger and confidence expected from the six-time winners of this tournament.
In fact, they were timid, only hitting 11 boundaries in total. That is despite the enviable batting depth that they possess which often results in them playing with much more freedom than other teams who tend to be protecting fragile, inexperienced middle orders.
Harris and Wareham’s early departures did not feel overly worrying, with the likes of Perry, Litchfield, McGrath and Ash Gardner to come – but with each over that passed by without an acceleration, there was a sense that such a kickstart would never appear.
In the end, being five wickets down felt like a big waste with the destructive Gardner and Annabel Sutherland left waiting in the dugout.
And they were punished for such caution as South Africa’s innings was a complete contradiction.
Wolvaardt timed the ball beautifully from the outset with her trademark exquisite cover drives but Bosch’s knock was a spectacle.
Against England in the group stage, the 31-year-old stuttered to 18 from 26 balls and did not look the part at three, but against the world’s most formidable force she struck the ball with such clarity and power in a manner that we had yet to see in this tournament.
It is the highest individual score so far, and for that to be delivered under the most pressure and against such a high-quality opponent was astonishing – and the ease of South Africa’s victory was such that even Marizanne Kapp was not required to bat.
Australia did not do too much wrong with the ball as Bosch did not even offer a chance, but they will rue their lack of ambition with the bat as they allowed South Africa to take one step closer to their first global title.
