Published: Jul 08, 2017, 09:40 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 08, 2017, 10:21 PM (IST)
Defending a good score of 273 runs, South Africa came out all guns blazing against an in-form Indian side. India were hoping to chase down a record (vs SA) target of 274 runs to win and get their feet rooted in the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017. Sadly for them Dane van Niekerk’s girls had other plans. Much like their halting of India’s 16-run unbeaten streak, South Africa stopped The Eves’ 4-match winning ride in the tournament as well. It was Dane’s craft with the ball that toppled Indian batswomen in their own game. Dane along with Ayabonga Khaka ensured the Eves’ were never in the reckoning and were humiliated by a 115 –run defeat. Full cricket update, India vs South Africa, ICC Women’s World Cup 2017
Dane’s exemplary bowling overshadowed her’ sturdy knock of 57 runs. Her wickets included Indian skipper, Mithali Raj, who fell for a golden duck and the explosive Harmanpreet Kaur (0). Dane became the only the second Women’s captain to get a 4-for and hit fifty runs in an ODI. For India, it was Deepti Sharma, who stood tall in the crease achieving her seventh ODI half-century. With this knock she took over Lizelle Lee (701) as the leading run scorer in Women’s ODI for 2017.
Smriti Mandhana after her impressive start to the tournament (90, 106*) has not done enough to make this her Oscar moment. Yet again she failed to provide India with a solid start. Trying to flick the ball off her hips, Smriti ended up giving Shabnim Ismail a simple catch at deep square leg against Marizanne Kapp for just 4.
It was the pair of Deepti and Punam Raut that rescued India from further damage. A slow-started Deepti played out a probing spell by Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne, before launching an attack on Moseline Daniels. Just as things were looking on the up for India, Ayabonga Khaka bowled Punam for 22.
She tried to break way from and managed just a wild swing of the bat, Ayabonga knocked over her stumps. Skipper Mithali Raj came out at No.4 Her lasted just one-ball as her South African counterpart, Dane Van Niekerk, cleaned her up; handing Mithali her first ever golden duck.
Misjudging the line completely, Mithali left too much of a gap between the bat and pad for the ball to sneak in. Dane did not stop there, she picked up Harmanpreet Kaur just a ball later. She played for the straighter one, but the ball turned just that to wrap the pads in the middle and leg line for a simple leg before for Dane.
New batswomen Veda Krishnamurthy did not add much to the score, she fell for 3 after Ayabonga rattled her stumps.
Shikha Pandey who came in for Mansi Joshi departed for a 3-ball duck, after getting stumped off Dane. Shikha was guilty of trying to hard and misjudging the line of the ball completely. With wickets tumbling from one end, Deepti continued to hold one end to avoid India any embarrassment.
In an attempt to run for a quick single, wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma lost her wicket. With Deepti showing no interest in the run, Sushma could not manage to get back in time and was ran out for 1 off 8 balls. Deepti was joined by Jhulan Goswami, who ensured India some respectability.
Deepti reached her seventh ODI half-century in 79 balls; all coming in 2017. The pair added 50 runs for the eighth wicket in 105 balls. Trying to loft Dane over the top, she holed out at long on bringing an end to the 53-runs stand. Dane could have had her fifth wicket but Sune Luus dropped Ekta Bisht on 2.
Sune had the last laugh, getting Ekta caught by Dane at square leg for 13. Shabnim Ismail hit the final nail in the coffin getting Poonam Yadav caught by keeper for 0. Jhulan remained unbeaten on 43 off 79 deliveries as India were all out for 158 runs.
Earlier in the day, South Africa’s innings were held together by Lizelle Lee and Dane. Lizelle’s knock of 92 blew away India’s bowling plans of the charts, while Dane’s resolute 57 ensured South Africa end up making 273 runs. For India, it was Shikha Pandey who chipped in with 3 wickets, while Ekta Bisht grabbed 2 scalps. In her knock of 92, Lizelle smacked 7 sixes taking her tally to 51 in Women’s ODI.
Brief scores:
South Africa Women 273 for 9 in 50 overs (Lizelle Lee 92, Dane van Niekerk 57; Shikha Pandey 3 for 40 ) beat India Women 158 all out in 46 overs (Deepti Sharma 60, Jhulan Goswami 43*; Dane van Niekerk 4 for 22) by 115 runs.
Player of the Match: Dane van Niekerk
