India Women cruised to a comfortable 8-wicket victory, chasing down 165 easily after restricting SA women to a below par 164 to go 1-0 up in the 3-match ODI series.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, losing a wicket off the first ball is really not the start SA would’ve anticipated. After Lizelle Lee’s blazing knock in the final T20, they would’ve hoped she could continue her form into the ODI’s but that wasn’t meant to be today, she was struck on the pad and had to depart for a golden duck. SA continued their poor starts, they were 0/1.
Laura Wolwaardt and Trisha Chetty got stuck in, hitting a couple of boundaries before the latter attempted a slog and missed. The keeper did the rest and she had to go for 14. Their 31-run stand was their second-highest partnership today. SA were 32-1 at that stage.
Experienced campaigner Mignon du Preez once again looked in good touch belting four boundaries before Ekta Bisht won the battle and dismissed her for 16, claiming her second scalp. SA were 3 down for 56 runs.
Skipper Sune Luus and Laura Wolwaardt’s partnership of 33 runs were the highest of the day. That tells the complete story of how SA couldn’t capitalise from their starts. The pair managed to keep the Indian bowlers in check and kept the scoreboard ticking. Deepti Sharma continued her good form and rattled the latters stumps. Laura gone for 39. At that point SA were 89-4
Once again, India’s spinners were taking full control and Shikha Pandey struck twice in the over. First removing Sune Luus for 22 and then Nadine de Klerk for 0. 103/6 and in a complete spot of bother.
Marizanne Kapp made her welcome return to the side and showed exactly the immense value she brings and batted brilliantly with the tail and brought up her 8th ODI victory to steer the Proteas to a somewhat respectable total.
First, Ismail started getting agitated and frustrated after facing 21 deliveries for only 3 runs. She tried to take on the next delivery but gets a huge outside edge and Tania Bhatia grabbed it comfortably. Then the debutant Shangase and struck a four but that was all. She departed for 4 (10) to give Julan Goswami her 221st ODI wicket. SA were 128/8.
Tumi Sekhukune might not have troubled the scorecard much but her supporting role on the other end while Marizanne did the work was applaudable. She faced 36 deliveries and scored only 6 runs.
Marizanne Kapp was the last wicket to fall for 54. SA were bowled out for 164 in 45.1 overs.
Jemimah Rodrigues and debutant Priya Punia set about to chase down a mere 165.
The two were in absolutely no rush and looked composed. The former had a bad run in the recently concluded T20 series but paid no attention to that and just focused on the task at hand. She showed resilience and patience throughout her innings.
After scoring her second ODI fifty, debutant Nondumiso Shangase bowled Jemimah Rodrigues for 55 to get her maiden wicket.
India were 83-1.
The debutant looked at ease at the crease and Marizanne putting down a simple chance at mid wicket surely helped her along and she became the 7th Indian to score a half-century on debut.
Punam Raut was bowled by Nadine de Klerk for 16 and then Mithali Raj joined Punia and their unbeaten partnership of 37 took India closer to the target. They went steadily and in no rush whatsoever. Punia was unbeaten on 75 and hit the winning runs, deservedly so. India chased down 165 as easy as you like in 41.4 overs to go 1-0 up.
The Proteas Women will need to learn to adapt to the conditions quicker and start off better with the bat and also have to capitalize on their starts and score big. The top 6 will have to step up big time if they want to make a comeback in the series. Next ODI on Friday.
