Indian women versus South African women 3rd T20I: All-round India register a thumping win

 

The Indian women’s team registered an emphatic win in the 3^rd T20I against South Africa played at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium, Lucknow on Tuesday.

Indian captain Smriti Mandhana finally won the toss and decided to field first. It was an ideal start for the hosts as Rajeshwari Gakywad got rid of Anne Bosch with good delivery. The Indian bowlers kept tight lines and lengths not allowing the South African batters to score runs easily. Gayakwad struck another big blow as she dismissed inform Lizelle Lee to leave visitors in some trouble. At the end of the first six overs, South African women scored 15 for 2.

An exceptional catch by Deepti Sharma at extra cover ended the innings for Laura Wolvaardt to leave South Africa in tatters. South African captain Sunne Luus and Faye Tunnicliffe steadied the innings for the visitors against disciplined Indian bowling. Simran Bahadur got her maiden T20I wicket getting rid of Tunnicliffe chopping onto the stumps. Luus and Tunnicliffe added 24 runs for the 4^th wicket. Every Indian bowler kept did not allow South African batters to score runs freely. Gayakwad produced another beauty to dismiss Nadine de Klerk.

The South African captain Luus looked impressive with her stroke play before Deepti Sharma dismissed her making life tough for the visitors. Lara Goodall and Jafta provided some resistance at the end but the Indian bowlers restricted them to just 112 for 7 in 20 overs. Gayakwad was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 8 in 4 overs. The Indian fielding was brilliant as they took catches and made good stops.

Chasing a modest total of 113 runs to win, Shafali Verma was at her sublime best smashing 18 runs off South African best bowler Shabnim Ismail in the first over. The 17-year-old youngster blasted the bowling attack. On the other hand, Smriti Mandhana struggled initially before hitting boundaries at will. It was an amazing batting performance as the Indian openers raced to 71 for 0 at the end of six overs.

After the field restrictions, there was no respite for the South African bowlers. Shafali Verma completed her fifty off just 25 balls. Mandhana put Ismail under immense pressure with a flurry of boundaries. Verma’s brilliant innings came to an end as she tried to clear the boundary but was caught by Ismail. Verma and Mandhana added 96 runs for the opening wicket. Mandhana hit the winning runs and helped Indian women register a thumping 9 wicket win with 54 balls to spare.

Indian women 114 for 1 in 11 overs (Shafali Verma 60, Mandhana 48*, Shangase 1/18) beat South African women 112 for 7 in 20 overs ( Luus 28, Goodall 25*, Gakywad 3/9) by 9 wickets.

For her brilliant knock of 60 off 30 balls, Shafali Verma was awarded the player of the match and the player of the series award. South African women’s team won the T20I series 2-1.

 

 

Shafali Verma 60 off 30 balls helps Indian women register an emphatic 9 wicket in the 3rd T20I