Australia eased to victory in their series-opening T20I clash with South Africa, thanks to some batting class from captain Alyssa Healy.

The wicketkeeper-batter was in doubt for the clash at Manuka Oval after suffering from an illness, but proved her fitness and then carved a match-winning 46 as the hosts sealed victory with five balls and eight wickets to spare.

A tidy half-century from South African opener Tazmin Brits helped her side post 147 for 6, but it proved well short of a competitive total against the dominant Australians.

Beth Mooney cashed in late and finished with an unbeaten 72 to continue strong recent form.

Healy looked in brilliant touch from the moment she took to the crease and quickly broke the back of the chase, smacking two sixes and six fours in her 46 off 28 balls.

An audacious flick over midwicket to cart South African bowler Marizanne Kapp for four was probably the shot of the innings, although a massive six hit straight back over Nonkululeko Mlaba’s head also caught the eye.

By the time Healy fell chipping Nadine de Klerk to long-on, Australia were virtually home, with Mooney and Tahlia McGrath, who found scoring hard work, steering them to victory in the final over, while never being in any danger of losing.

The partnership between the ICC’s world No.1 and No.2 batters added 65 runs, Mooney playing some masterful strokes in finding 11 fours and a huge six that completed the result.

It wasn’t the start South Africa were looking for in their multi-format series with Australia, with the sides slated for three T20Is, three ODIs and a Test match across the next month.

Brits got bogged down early and could hardly find a run, but came to life in the innings’ middle stages after Grace Harris’s foot touched the boundary rope while trying to complete what would have been a stunning catch.

She took that second chance and ran with it, hitting two sixes and six fours while carrying her bat through the innings as the backbone of South Africa’s batting.

Sune Luus worked well with Brits and hoicked Georgia Wareham for consecutive fours through cow-corner. However, she fell on the very next ball, Healy taking a crafty leg-side catch behind the stumps.

Australian pace bowler Darcie Brown picked up two crucial early scalps in taking 2 fpr 20, while Ellyse Perry also helped limit the South African scoring with 2 for 13 off her three overs – the first time since February 2020 she had bowled more than two in a T20I innings.

Canberra will host the second T20I on Sunday morning, before the series shifts to Hobart on Tuesday.