Published: May 09, 2017, 08:52 PM (IST)
Edited: May 09, 2017, 08:52 PM (IST)
India Women showed clinical performance with their all-round show, easing to a 7-wicket win over South Africa Women in Match 3 of the Quadrangular Series, at Potchefstroom. Shikha Pandey and Jhulan Goswami shared 6 wickets between them to bundle South Africa to a mere 119 in 39.3 overs. In the process, Jhulan also became the leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket. Jhulan went past Australia’s Cathryn Fitzpatrick and now has 181 ODI wickets. Meanwhile, Mithali Raj played a captain’s knock, finishing the game in style with a six and remained unbeaten on 51. Harmanpreet Kaur supported her with an unbeaten 14. Mignon du Preez was the top-scorer for South Africa while Shabnim Ismail was the pick amongst the bowlers (2 for 17). Full Cricket Updates: India Women vs South Africa Women, Match 3, Quadrangular Series
Chasing 120, India’s Deepti Sharma was dismissed cheaply for nought with Shabnim bagging her first wicket. Following that wicket, Poonam Raut and Mona Meshram handled the task cautiously, stitching a 38-run stand for second wicket until Moseline Daniels halted India’s march. Mithali entered and made the chase look easy. She began with successive boundaries off Masabata Klaas. By drinks, India needed another 65 to win. Mona was next to walk back to the pavilion with Shabnim scalping her second wicket. Thereafter it was Mithali and Harmanpreet’s unbeaten stand of 50 runs that provided India their second win of the series.
Put to bat first, South Africa Women looked out of sorts. Shikha was right on money and scalped the first wicket of Lizelle Lee in her first spell. Lizelle’s partner Laura Wolvaardt, who looked in good stead, was the second wicket for Shikha as well as for India. South Africa found some hope in wicketkeeper Trisha Chetty who got a few boundaries after early jolt. She scored 60-ball 28 that included 4 fours. However, Deepti got the big fish in her first spell, leaving South Africa tottering at 59 for 3.
Since, it was Mignon and Marizanne Kapp who added the highest partnership of 33 for the South African innings. They took South Africa to the 100-run mark. However, Shikha was on top with her third wicket as she grabbed Marizanne for 23. This was when the South African collapse began. Indian bowlers conceded just 19 runs and picked the remaining 6 wickets within 39.3 overs. Jhulan bagged a three-wicket haul while Ekta Bisht and Poonam Yadav got wicket apiece.
India have not lost a single game so far in the series including the warm-up game while South Africa faced their first defeat.
Brief scores:
South Africa Women 119 in 39.3 overs (Mignon du Preez 31; Jhulan Goswami 3 for 20, Shikha Pandey 3 for 22) lose to India Women 121 for 3 in 41.2 overs (Mona Meshram 38, Mithali Raj 51*: Shabnim Ismail 2 for 17) by 7 wickets and 52 balls to spare
