Australia achieved the highest total in Test cricket, but their opponents' top order was once again dismissed.
Annabel Sutherland scored a double century on the second day to put Australia in a dominant position in their first Test against South Africa at the WACA.
Sutherland's 210 helped Australia reach 575 for 9, the highest total in women's Test cricket. Captain Alyssa Healy declared early in the final session. Seamers Kim Garth and Darcy Brown bowled spectacular spells with the new ball to rip through South Africa as they collapsed to 13 for 3.
After spending 125.2 overs in the field, a fatigued South Africa offered minimal resistance. Similar to their first innings of 76, the top-order merely poked and prodded, providing practice catching for Australia's packed slips cordon.
Opener Anneke Bosch had a miserable spell, scoring a pair. Captain Laura Wolvaardt failed to take advantage of an early reprieve and was dismissed on 8 by a superb delivery from Brown.
There was a slim chance the match could be over in two days. But debutants Delmi Tucker and Tazmin Brits showed some much-needed fight with a half-century partnership as the shadows crept over the ground.
With the quicks bowling with relentless line and length, Australia looked likely to take a wicket with almost every delivery, a far cry from earlier in the day when South Africa could only manage four wickets in more than two sessions.
Sutherland prevented South Africa from scoring and showed great patience in her innings. She observed the mistakes of previous batters who drove on the up before being set and avoided making the same errors.
Sutherland started slowly, scoring only 7 runs off her first 35 balls, but showed discipline around her off stump. Once settled, she displayed effortless ball striking, hitting 27 fours and two sixes in her 256-ball masterpiece.
On the last ball before tea, Sutherland, aged 22, achieved the fastest ever double century on her 248th delivery, making her the second-youngest player to reach this feat.
She was close to breaking the world record Test score of 242 by Pakistan's Kiran Baluch against West Indies in 2004, but unfortunately fell to left-arm spinner Chloe Tryon after failing to execute the scoop shot.
She narrowly missed breaking Ellyse Perry's Australian record of 213, receiving a standing ovation from the WACA crowd, including her parents.
Healy, who made 99 on the first day, and Ashleigh Gardner, who made 65, formed important partnerships for Sutherland.
This was a significant letdown for South Africa in their inaugural Test match against Australia. They had Australia on the ropes at 12 for 3 before their seamers lost their line and length.
South Africa desperately needed early wickets on day two after enduring close to 50-degree heat on day one. The cooler conditions and overcast skies provided some relief.
Fast opener Masabata Klaas had a brilliant debut, ripping apart Australia's top order, but her efforts were thwarted by a 144-run partnership between Sutherland and Gardner.
The duo made batting look relatively easy, while South Africa struggled to find a spark. Gardner reached her half-century by dispatching a short ball to the boundary, but had a couple of anxious moments surviving two reviews.
After resuming on 54, Sutherland looked confident and dominant, effortlessly using her footwork to hit Tucker's offspin down the ground.
Sutherland quickly moved into the 90s but faced a challenge from Klaas and the second new ball. She refused to be deterred, however, and smashed two consecutive boundaries to bring up her century and send the WACA crowd roaring to its feet.
South Africa finally had a breakthrough when Nadine de Klerk trapped Gardner lbw, ending the 144-run partnership. But Sutherland continued to score with ease. She surpassed her highest score of 137 in last year's Ashes Test in Nottingham.
Sophie Molineux made a fluent 33 in her first Test match since late 2021, but the show belonged to Sutherland, who also claimed 3 for 19 in South Africa's first innings, illustrating her rising superstardom.
It is understandable that Sutherland was not asked to bowl late on the day after her remarkable innings.