The Indian women’s team managed to secure a 15-run victory in the tri-nation women’s ODI series between India, South Africa and Sri Lanka on Tuesday (29).
The match, which was played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, was the second match of the series and the Indian team won both the matches and took the top spot in the points table.
The Indian team fielded the same team that had entered the field against Sri Lanka today, and wicketkeeper Karabo Meso made her ODI debut for South Africa.
The Indian captain won the toss and elected to bat first. Accordingly, their innings begins with Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana. The two of them put on a partnership of 83 runs for the first wicket in 111 balls.
Smriti Mandhana was dismissed for the first wicket after scoring 36 runs in 54 balls with 5 fours.
After her dismissal, Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol managed to put on a partnership of 68 runs for the second wicket. It took only 73 balls and the partnership for that wicket was broken with the dismissal of Pratika Rawal. At that time, she had scored 78 runs in 91 balls with 7 fours and a six.
This half-century is Pratika Rawal’s 5th half-century in her 8-match ODI career. Her dismissal added three more runs to the Indian innings when Harleen Deol was also dismissed. She was on 29 off 47 balls with the help of four fours.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues then added 59 runs off 58 balls for the fourth wicket. Jemimah Rodrigues finished the partnership with 41 off 32 balls with the help of four fours, taking India to 213 for 4.
Harmanpreet Kaur ended the innings with an unbeaten 41 off 48 balls with the help of four fours, while Richa Ghosh also added 24 runs off 14 balls with the help of three fours and a six.
In the bowling , Nonkululeko Mlaba took 2 wickets for 55 runs while Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas took a wicket each.
The reply was opened by skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. Together, they put on 140 runs for the first wicket in 168 balls, giving their team a good start.
Laura Wolvaardt was dismissed for 43 runs after ending her partnership for that wicket. She had faced 75 balls and hit 3 fours in her innings. As South Africa added another 30 runs to their innings, Tazmin Brits, who had been batting well until then, was forced off the field due to an injury.
By then, she had scored 108 runs off 105 balls, with 13 fours and 3 sixes.
With her departure, Sune Luus added 28 runs off 34 balls with 4 fours, Chloe Tryon 18 runs off 22 balls with 1 four and Annerie Dercksen 30 runs off 20 balls with 3 fours and a six.
With their dismissals, South Africa’s innings had reached 251 for 7 when Tazmin Brits, who had been out injured, came back to bat. But the Indian bowlers did not allow her to succeed.
She could only face 2 balls that time. She was out for the 8th wicket, scoring 109 runs off 107 balls, with 13 fours and 3 sixes. It was her 3rd ODI century.
After that dismissal, South Africa needed just 9 more runs to win the innings before the Indian bowlers were able to close the innings. Right-arm off-spinner Sneh Rana played a major role in this. She also recorded her best figures in ODIs, taking 5 wickets for 43 runs.
In addition, Deepti Sharma, Shree Charani and Arundhati Reddy took a wicket each.
Scoreboard
India Women’s Cricket Team – 276 for 6 (50.0) Pratika Rawal 78, Smriti Mandhana 36, Harleen Deol 29, Harmanpreet Kaur not out 41, Jemimah Rodrigues 41, Richa Ghosh 24, Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/55
South Africa Women’s Cricket Team – 261 all out (49.2) Laura Wolvaardt 43, Tazmin Brits 109, Sune Luus 28, Annerie Dercksen 30, Sneh Rana 5/43
India Women’s Cricket Team won the match by 15 runs