Australia v South Africa Test Series-Piketh rocks Aussies
South Africa has claimed a drama packed women’s pairs encounter against Australia to keep its hopes of a second test victory alive at Moonta.
Having dropped this morning’s opening two rubbers, the visitors appeared on the brink of dropping a third before an 11th hour fight back from Esme Steyn and Colleen Piketh breathed new life into the encounter.
Drawn against the intimidating Australian combination of Lynsey Armitage and Karen Murphy, gold medallists at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Steyn and Piketh looked down and out trailing 5-8, 4-8 with just three ends to play in the second set before the momentum swung in the most sensational of circumstances.
Having picked up a single on the seventh end, Piketh produced a monster conversion moments later to put the jack in the ditch for three.
With scores now level, Piketh again rose to the occasion on the final end, down game in the head, she sat Armitage’s shot bowl to make two and a tie-break was suddenly required.
However, no one could imagine what was yet to unfold.
With the time limit expiring, and South Africa leading 2-1 playing the third end of the tie-break, the competitors were informed that the match would be decided regardless of the scores.
As a result, a tied match became very much a possibility.
With tension gripping the Moonta Park Memorial Bowling Club, the South Africans stood tall under the pressure as they claimed a 5-8, 10-8, 4-1 victory.
Speaking in the moments following the match, Piketh was understandably upbeat about her nation’s victory after digging themselves out of a hole.
“I went through a bit of a lull in the middle (of the match), there were a couple of shots I should have pulled off,” the South African skip said.
“It gives you a boost of confidence.”
South Africa will now attempt to draw the test level at the halfway point with the men’s triples encounter looming as a pivotal match for both nations.
