After winning the toss, India opted to bat first and got off to a steady start. Debutant Pratika Rawal impressed once again with a fluent 78 off 91 balls, showcasing great temperament and stroke play. Her innings included nine boundaries and came at a strike rate of 85.71, providing a solid platform for the middle order.
Veteran opener Smriti Mandhana, who looked in touch early, could only manage 36 off 54 before falling to Annerie Dercksen. The first wicket fell at 83 in the 19th over, bringing Harleen Deol to the crease. However, her stay was brief as she scored 29 from 47 balls before being dismissed by Nonkululeko Mlaba, who picked up two crucial wickets in the middle overs.
India’s momentum was maintained by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who remained unbeaten on 41 off 48 balls. Her calm presence ensured India didn’t collapse after losing a few wickets in quick succession. Jemimah Rodrigues provided a late flourish with an aggressive 41 off just 32 deliveries, including four boundaries, before falling to Masabata Klaas.
Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh chipped in with a quick 24 off 14 balls but couldn’t convert her start. All-rounder Deepti Sharma added a handy 9 before becoming Nadine de Klerk’s only scalp. Kashvee Gautam, playing in just her second ODI, contributed a useful unbeaten 5 at the death.
Extras also played a small but helpful role, with South Africa conceding 13 wides, helping India cross the 270-run mark. The final total of 276/6 is a competitive one, especially on a surface that has shown signs of slowing down in the second innings of previous matches.
Fall of Wickets:
- 83/1 – Smriti Mandhana (18.3 overs)
- 151/2 – Pratika Rawal (30.4 overs)
- 154/3 – Harleen Deol (32.3 overs)
- 213/4 – Jemimah Rodrigues (42.1 overs)
- 247/5 – Richa Ghosh (45.5 overs)
- 259/6 – Deepti Sharma (47.4 overs)
South Africa Women’s Bowling:
- Ayabonga Khaka: 8-0-42-1
- Masabata Klaas: 9-0-43-1
- Suné Luus: 4-0-24-0
- Nadine de Klerk: 9-1-39-1
- Nonkululeko Mlaba: 10-0-55-2
- Annerie Dercksen: 3-0-40-1
- Chloe Tryon: 7-0-33-0
South Africa’s bowlers had a tough outing, with only Mlaba standing out for her discipline and ability to break partnerships. The rest of the attack, including Klaas and de Klerk, struggled to maintain pressure, conceding boundaries regularly and allowing India to build multiple mini-partnerships.
With a target of 277 to chase, South Africa will need a strong start from their top order, especially from senior pros like Laura Wolvaardt and Suné Luus, to challenge the Indian bowling attack led by Deepti Sharma and Arundhati Reddy.
As the chase begins under lights, India hold the upper hand with an 84% win probability. But cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, and South Africa will be looking for a spirited batting effort to turn the tables in this crucial tri-series contest.
