In a low scoring thriller, India won the first T20I by 11 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series, writes Naeemah Benjamin.
Despite a brilliant bowling effort by the Proteas Women to restrict India Women to 130-8, Lizelle’s Lee’s fireworks upfront and Mignon du Preez’ composure, India’s spinner sealed the deal with Deepti Sharma taking 3 wickets including 3 maiden overs and only conceding runs in her last over.
After winning the toss and electing to field first, the Proteas Women got off to a superb start picking up the wicket of the attacking debutant Shafali Verma for a duck leaving India on 1-1 after the first over.
It was a quiet start for India being 11/1 after 3 overs followed by a brilliantly bowled maiden over by Ayabonga Khaka.
Smriti Mandhana struck two boundaries in the 5th over off Tumi Sekhukhune and doing much of the same in the 6th over smashing Shangase for two fours off the first two deliveries and then sliced a full toss straight to cover and had to go for 21 off 16 balls. India were 28-2 at this stage.
The team 50 came up in 9 overs when both Rodrigues and Kaur took on Sune Luus with her first over going for 14 runs.
Just as Rodrigues were starting to get going she hits one straight to the fielder at long on and had to go for 19 off 25 balls. India were 3 down for 59 runs after 10 overs.
In the 16th over De Klerk struck twice to get rid of both set batters, Deepti Sharma 16 off 16 balls and captain Harmanpreet Kaur lbw for 43 off 34 balls leaving India on 105/5.
A run out and only 2 runs in the 18th over bowled by Khaka further dampened India from finishing strong. Two wickets for Ismail in the 19th including an overthrow that went for four followed by a boundary by Tanya. India posted 130-8 in their 20 overs.
SA Women in pursuit of 131 got off to a firing start with the bat. Three boundaries by Lizelle Lee including 5 wides leaving SA on 18-0 after the first over.
Shikha Pandey brought an end to Lizelle Lee’s fun with a brilliant inswinger that crashes into off-stump. After 2 overs SA were 25-1.
A double wicket maiden for Deepti who caused mayhem with a spinning ball and it crashed into middle stump and Brits had to go for 3 and then she got the outside edge of De Klerk caught behind for a duck leaving SA reeling on 29-3.
Another double blow in the 9th over as Poonam Yadav got 2 in 2. First, a googly that cleaned up Laura Wolwardt for 14 and Sune Luus chips it to a flying Mandhana at extra cover for a first ball duck. At this stage SA were 48-5.
The spinners were getting massive turn and it was difficult for the batters. Shangase got off the mark with a glorious four but her struggling at the crease came to an end with Kaur getting in on the fun. At this stage SA were 65-6 after 12 overs.
Mignon du Preez fought a lone battle with wickets constantly falling at the other end. In the 16th over she started to put her foot down and hit a six and four off consecutive deliveries with SA on 92-7, much of the same with her attacking the bowlers in the 17th over leaving SA on 104-7.
In the final over SA needed 18 off the last over, Du Preez hit a beautifully timed six and then she survived a miss stumping chance and she got out trying to go big. SA were bowled out for 119.
Photo: CSA/Twitter
