In a thrilling encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, India Women defeated South Africa Women by 15 runs in the second ODI of the 2025 Sri Lanka Women’s Tri-Nation Series. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, the Indian team put up a competitive total of 276/6 in their allotted 50 overs. Pratika Rawal emerged as the star of the innings with a composed 78 off 91 balls, anchoring the innings while rotating strike consistently and punishing the bad deliveries. She received valuable support from Jemimah Rodrigues, who added a quickfire 41 off 32 balls, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who remained unbeaten on 41 from 48 balls, ensuring a strong finish.
The South African bowlers found it challenging to contain India’s batters, although Nonkululeko Mlaba managed to stand out with figures of 2/55 in her full quota of 10 overs. Nadine de Klerk (1/39) and Annerie Dercksen (1/40) also chipped in with timely breakthroughs, but the Indian batting lineup kept the scoreboard ticking with well-paced partnerships throughout the innings.
Chasing 277 for victory, South Africa got off to a steady start with opener Tazmin Brits leading the charge with a magnificent century. Her 109 off 107 balls was a mix of grit and elegance, providing the foundation South Africa needed. Laura Wolvaardt also made a valuable contribution with 43 off 75 balls, while Annerie Dercksen’s quick 30 off just 20 deliveries reignited hopes in the South African camp during the middle overs.
However, the Indian bowlers tightened their grip as the match progressed. Sneh Rana turned the game in India’s favor with a sensational spell, claiming a five-wicket haul (5/43) that dismantled South Africa’s lower-middle order. Deepti Sharma (1/40) and Nallapureddy Charani (1/51) provided crucial support at the other end. South Africa were eventually bowled out for 261 in 49.2 overs, falling short by just 15 runs in what turned out to be a gripping contest.
This win gives India Women an important boost in the tri-series standings and highlights the growing depth in their squad, particularly with emerging players like Pratika Rawal and consistent all-round performances from their senior players.
