2nd ODI
Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur centuries has secured India’s series-clinching win
India scored 325/3 in 50 overs, where as South Africa scored 321/6 in 50 overs.
So, finally India beat South Africa by 4 runs.
Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur spearheaded India’s batting assault against South Africa, securing a series-clinching four-run victory in the second ODI in Bengaluru on Wednesday (June 19).
Mandhana (136 off 120) recorded her second consecutive century and her highest ODI score, with 18 fours and 2 sixes.
Harmanpreet hit nine fours and three sixes, remaining unbeaten on 103 off 88 balls.
Their commanding 171-run partnership set the stage for a total of 325/3, marking India’s first 300-plus score at home and their third highest in ODIs.
Despite a spirited chase by South Africa, with Marizanne Kapp (114 off 94) and Laura Wolvaardt (135* off 135) posting a record-breaking 184-run partnership for the fourth wicket, they fell short due to a fine last over by Pooja Vastrakar, who defended 10 runs.
Asked to bat in overcast conditions, India began slowly, scoring only 28 runs in the first powerplay.
Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas bowled tightly, with India managing just 4 runs in the first five overs.
Mandhana took 17 deliveries to get off the mark, and Shafali Verma struck the first boundary in the sixth over.
The openers added 38 runs before Nonkululeko Mlaba dismissed Shafali in the 12th over.
Mandhana and Dayalan Hemalatha then put on a brisk 62-run stand for the second wicket.
Hemalatha had a slow start but picked up pace with a couple of sixes off Nondumiso Shangase.
However, she fell to Klaas for 24 soon after India reached 100 in the 23rd over.
Mandhana and Harmanpreet then dominated the innings, adding 171 runs until the 46th over.
Mandhana brought up her fifty off 67 balls, and Harmanpreet hit her first boundary, a six, off Sune Luus.
Mandhana scored three consecutive fours off Shangase, and Harmanpreet reached her half-century as India reached 200 in the 38th over.
Mandhana hit a six off Luus and, along with Harmanpreet, took 19 runs off a Klaas over and 17 off Khaka.
Mandhana was dismissed by Mlaba in the 46th over, ending her knock at 136.
Harmanpreet, on 75 then, accelerated, with Richa Ghosh contributing aggressively.
Richa struck a six and a four off Klaas in the 48th over, and Harmanpreet brought up India’s 300 with a boundary.
Harmanpreet scored a four, six, and another four off Mlaba in the final over, reaching her century off 87 balls.
India scored 118 in the last 10 overs, finishing strongly.
South Africa fought valiantly, with Kapp and Wolvaardt’s record partnership keeping them in the chase.
However, Vastrakar’s excellent final over ensured India’s victory.
South Africa faced an early setback in their chase as Tazmin Brits was bowled by debutant Arundhati Reddy.
However, Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch showed confidence, striking regular boundaries off the Indian pacers to establish a positive start in the first powerplay.
Wolvaardt hit two consecutive fours off Arundhati, while Bosch did the same off Pooja Vastrakar.
India also lost a review for an lbw appeal against the South Africa skipper.
The introduction of spin slowed down the scoring, but Deepti Sharma was unfortunate not to dismiss Bosch as Asha Sobhana dropped the catch, with South Africa reaching 52/1 after 10 overs.
Jemimah Rodrigues put in a valiant effort but couldn’t hold onto a catch at cover off Radha Yadav’s bowling, granting Wolvaardt a reprieve.
However, Deepti ended the 40-run partnership by dismissing Bosch, and also bowled a maiden over.
Smriti Mandhana, bowling for the first time in international cricket, dismissed Sune Luus, but was hit for a six by Marizanne Kapp in her second over before leaving the field.
South Africa reached 100 in the 22nd over, but with the required rate climbing close to eight an over, Wolvaardt and Kapp accelerated.
Both batters struck boundaries off Radha, and a flurry of fours in the 27th over, bowled by Vastrakar, saw Wolvaardt reach her fifty.
Kapp also surpassed fifty and together they raised a century partnership.
Kapp hit a six off Deepti, but India maintained the upper hand as South Africa required 148 off the last 15 overs.
Despite the mounting required rate, Kapp and Wolvaardt continued to find boundaries, increasing the pressure on India.
However, tight overs from Radha and Deepti shifted the momentum, leaving South Africa with a challenging equation of 68 off 36 balls.
Kapp reached her century, but fell soon after.
Wolvaardt, nearing her ton, was dropped in the deep by Arundhati but eventually reached her hundred, making history as four batters scored centuries in a women’s ODI for the first time.
With 38 needed off 18, Wolvaardt continued to attack, reducing the equation to 23 off 12.
Nadine de Klerk hit boundaries off Vastrakar, bringing it down to 11 off the last over.
However, Vastrakar dismissed de Klerk and Nondumiso Shangase, conceding only a bye off the last two balls as India clinched a thrilling victory.
The match also witnessed a record for the most sixes in a Women’s ODI, with a total of 15, and the second-highest match aggregate of 646 in Women’s ODIs.
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