'Had to be ready': McGrath thriving in difficult situations

After spending a couple of games occupying the unfamiliar role of "specialist fielder", Tahlia McGrath says her match-winning knock against South Africa could not have come at a better time.

McGrath's services with bat or ball were not required in large victories over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh earlier this week in Gqeberha, but her 33-ball 57 was decisive against the Proteas.

She arrived at the crease with Australia 3-40 chasing 125 and smacked a smart 29-ball fifty before falling with her side just four runs shy of victory.

"It's a big relief," McGrath told reporters after the Aussies wrapped out their fourth win in as many games this tournament, cementing top spot in Group 1.

"I haven't been batting overly well and I've lacked sometime in the middle, so I was a bit nervous to start off with.

"I seem to thrive in difficult situations and no good in the easier ones … I just love a challenge, I love the fight.

"I keep it pretty simple when it's a tense situation out there.

"It seems to be working for me at the moment so I'll just roll with it.

"It's been nice watching the batters at the top order do their thing, but also nice to get an opportunity tonight."

McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner took time to settle in the tricky batting conditions but went on to put together a match-winning 81-run stand.

The South Australian's innings got going when she pulled fiery Proteas quick Shabnim Ismail for four, with McGrath unstoppable from there as she hit trios of boundaries off spinners Chloe Tryon and Nonkululeko Mlaba.

"It was a tough one, I don't like facing Ismail," McGrath said.

Image Id: 303C3E2F17AF4FFFA3FB5E6884CE1812 Image Caption: McGrath takes on a short ball against South Africa // Getty

"She's a quality bowler and had me looking pretty silly, so I had to do something, had to change something.

"We speak a lot about playing a really brave, fearless brand ... (I knew there was) a short ball coming. I tried to disrupt her length a bit and look, my head was in the sky, but I managed to get it away and come out on top of that one."

McGrath is the world's top-ranked T20I batter and was recently crowned player of the year in the shortest format.

However, the 27-year-old said being part of a team with Australia's depth meant sometimes being patient and ready for when opportunities presented themselves.

"I've been a specialist fielder the last couple of games, but this is my first T20 World Cup, I'm loving it," she said.

"I love every chance I get to put on an Aussie shirt.

"I knew I was going to have an opportunity where the team needed me and I had to be ready.

"That's the biggest strength of our squad, how much depth we have."

ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Alyssa Healy (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham

Australia's T20 World Cup 2023 fixtures

Feb 11: beat New Zealand by 97 runs

Feb 14: beat Bangladesh by eight wickets

Feb 16: beat Sri Lanka by 10 wickets

Feb 18: beat South Africa by six wickets

Semi-finals

Feb 23: Australia v Group 2 runner-up, Newlands, Cape Town, 3pm local (12am Feb 24 AEDT)

Feb 24: Group 2 winner v Group 1 runner-up, Newlands, Cape Town, 3pm local (12am Feb 25 AEDT)

Final

Feb 26: Newlands, Cape Town, 3pm local (12am Feb 27 AEDT)