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Stars hang on for thrilling tie in Coffs

Dramatic scenes in the fourth ODI as the Southern Stars play out a draw against the Proteas

Rapid reaction: It's a tie! A thriller in Coffs Harbour ends all square on 242 after a dramatic final over and a brilliant fightback with the ball by the hosts.

The score: Australia 242 off 49.5 overs (Perry 69, Bolton 63, Luus 4-37) tied with South Africa 242 off 50 overs (van Niekerk 81, Kapp 66, Jonassen 3-35) in the fourth ODI at Coffs International Stadium, Coffs Harbour.

The finish: A brilliant late fightback with the ball put Australia firmly back in the match. The Proteas had looked to be cruising at 4-184 and still looked in prime position at 6-226 with captain Dane van Niekerk in the 80s and looking at her best. But when Jess Jonassen worked some magic to bowl the Proteas skipper, followed by a direct hit run out from Beth Mooney and another Jonassen scalp, the tourists were left at 9-235 needing eight runs off the final six balls.

Fourth ODI ends in dramatic tie

The final over: With the ball in Elyse Villani's hand (more on that later) there was a dot, single, single, single, boundary and then a run out off the final ball as the match ended in a dramatic tie.

Re-live thrilling final of Southern Stars tie

Australia's heroes: After South Africa opening bowlers Kapp and Moseline Daniels contained Australia early, in-form pair Nicole Bolton and Ellyse Perry found their feet, sharing in an 80-run third-wicket stand. Bolton posted her second half-century on the trot, eventually dismissed for 63, before Perry added yet another fifty to her scores of 93no and 95no from the first two ODIs. But Perry, recalled after missing the third ODI due to a groin injury, missed out on a maiden ton once again, out for 69.

Perry peels off another half-century

With the ball, Jonassen was outstanding at the death, leading the way in Australia's dramatic fightback and finishing with 3-35, while Elyse Villani's first ever international bowling effort was full of highlights.

South Africa's heroes: South Africa were in serious trouble at 4-40 with the big wickets of Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus and Mignon du Preez all back in the sheds. It could have been worse with van Niekerk handed a life on four. But instead, the Proteas skipper and allrounder Marizanne Kapp forged a near-history-making partnership for the Proteas. They kept the run rate ticking over and played it safe, offering Australia few chances, before hitting the accelerator when the run rate approached eight an over. Kapp was dismissed for 66, while van Niekerk (81 off 97) couldn't quite polish off the chase and a slice of history.

Van Niekerk's 81 in vain for South Africa

Their heroics weren't limited to the bat. Marizanne Kapp made life incredibly hard for the hosts with her superb opening spell with the ball, leaving the Coffs Harbour crowd in shocked silence when she bowled Australia captain Meg Lanning for just three runs. Such was her impact, South Africa captain van Niekerk didn't make a bowling change until after the 17th over and kept Kapp on for her entire 10-over spell, which she finished with figures of 1-23.

Proteas allrounder Kapps off day with 66

Van Niekerk was more expensive in her 3-52 off nine overs, but grabbed the dangerous wickets of Alex Blackwell, Elyse Villani and Alyssa Healy right when Australia wanted to lift the scoring rate late in their innings.

The wicket: Big things are expected of South Australian leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington and she wasted no time showing what she's capable of at international level, taking a wicket with her very first delivery. Not only that, the 19-year-old deceived South Africa's most experienced player Mignon du Preez, having the former captain stumped on five. Wellington looked threatening throughout her 10-over spell, finishing with 1-35.

Wellington strikes with first international ball

The drop: Wellington almost had a second wicket when she had Proteas captain van Niekerk dropped in the 16th over. Lanning doesn't put many down but she couldn't hang on to a low chance that flicked Alyssa Healy's glove on the way through to her at slip, handing her South African counterpart a life on four runs.

The first: After two Tests, 15 ODIs and 39 Twenty20s for Australia, Elyse Villani had never bowled a ball at international level. The right armer – who has been waging a campaign to join Australia's Fast Bowlers' Union – finally got her chance to roll the arm over in the 21st over of South Africa's chase. She sent down two overs, finishing with 0-8, before returning for a third over - a maiden. But it was her fourth then the magic finally happened…

The run out: Brought back on for a fourth over with the game hanging in the balance and Kapp looking set to see South Africa home, Villani pulled off a brilliant run out. Van Niekerk pushed a delivery back to bowler Villani, who whipped around and threw down the stumps, running out Kapp out for 66. And didn't she love it.

Kapp run out by Villani

The first (2): Villani went one better when she nabbed the wicket of Chloe Tryon in the 46th over, bowling the Proteas batter for 11. It produced one of the most enthusiastic celebrations you'll see on a cricket field. Villani, who may well now feel she has a legitimate claim to a spot in the Fast Bowlers' Union, finished her eight overs with 1-37.

Villani's first international wicket

The history: South Africa had never beaten Australia in any format heading into Sunday's match. Now, after 11 defeats, they've added a tie to the mix.

The stat: Perry has now scored 16 half-centuries from her last 22 ODI innings, more than any other player in the history of the game – male or female – over the same period of time. The closest is New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who scored 14 half-centuries in 22 innings in 2014.

Bolton, Perry fire Stars to 242 in Coffs

The debutants: Called into Australia's squad after the third ODI in Sydney, the South Australian pair of Wellington and allrounder Tahlia McGrath managed to have an impact with both bat and ball in their first international outing. In addition to Wellington's aforementioned heroics, McGrath finished with 0-28 from her five overs. The duo also batted together through the last three overs of Australia's innings, showing no outward signs of nerves as they happily took on the South Africa attack, Wellington sweeping her way to a run-a-ball 11 before two final wickets saw Australia all out for 242 with ball one remaining.

Wellington, McGrath receive ODI caps

The opening partnership: Australia mixed things up at the top of the order for the fourth ODI, elevating in-form batter Beth Mooney to opener alongside Nicole Bolton and dropping Elyse Villani back to No.7. The move didn't pay off hugely for the Southern Stars, as tight bowling from the Proteas contained the pair early, with both handed lives from dropped catches before left-arm seamer Moseline Daniels drew first blood for the tourists, removing Mooney for 14 off 24. Watch this space to see if they stick with the combination for Tuesday's final ODI!

Bolton, Perry fire Stars to 242 in Coffs

The wash-up: Australia hold a 3-0 lead with just one game remaining in the five-match series. The action remains in Coffs Harbour, where the last match will be played on Tuesday, November 29. The game will kick off at 2.20pm local time, entry is FREE and if you can't make it, you can watch every ball live and free on cricket.com.au.