India Women defeated South Africa Women by 15 runs in the second match of the ODI Tri-Series at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India Women posted 276/6 on the scoreboard with the help of a half-century from Pratika Rawal and useful contributions from Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Smriti Mandhana. They successfully defended the total by bowling South Africa Women out for 261, thanks to a brilliant bowling spell from Sneh Rana (5/43). Even a superb century by Tazmin Brits went in vain. India now have 4 points from 2 matches, and one more win will secure their place in the final.
Slow Start for India
India Women won the toss and opted to bat. Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana opened the innings. Ayabonga Khaka bowled the first over and conceded only one run. South Africa Women bowled tightly at the start. India reached just 18/0 after 7 overs. However, both openers found some rhythm soon after. They hit boundaries off Sune Luus and Masabata Klaas to lift the scoring rate.
Pratika and Smriti added 50 runs together in 12 overs. After 15 overs, India stood at 63/0. Rawal scored 31 from 45 balls with three fours, while Mandhana had 32 from 45 balls with five fours.
In the 19th over, Annerie Dercksen dismissed Mandhana for 36. Harleen Deol then walked in. Rawal soon completed her half-century with a six in the same over, reaching the mark in 58 balls.
India Crosses 100 and Another Key Partnership
Harleen hit a four off Mobala in the 22nd over, bringing up India’s 100. Khaka and Tyron bowled well in the middle overs, slowing the scoring. Yet, Rawal and Deol kept ticking along.
By the 28th over, the duo had stitched a 50-run partnership. India reached 148/1 at the 30-over mark. Deol took a couple in the 31st over, bringing up 150. However, Mlaba struck in the same over, dismissing Rawal for 78. Harmanpreet Kaur came in next. India stood at 153/2.
Mlaba picked up Deol in the 33rd over. She scored 29 from 47 balls. Jemimah Rodrigues joined Kaur. Nadine de Klerk tightened the grip. After 36 overs, India had moved to 167/3.
Strong Finish for India
Rodrigues and Kaur broke the shackles after 36 overs. India touched 200 in the 41st over. Their partnership also reached 50 in the same over. Rodrigues scored a quick 41 off 32 balls before Klaas dismissed her in the 43rd over. Richa Ghosh came in and attacked de Klerk and Mlaba. She even hit a six off Khaka in the 46th over. Khaka dismissed Ghosh for 24 in the same over. Deepti Sharma walked in but fell in the 48th over to de Klerk after scoring 9. Kashvee Gautam joined Harmanpreet at the crease.
In the 49th over, Harmanpreet hit two fours off Mlaba. Klaas bowled the final over and gave away just three runs. Harmanpreet remained unbeaten on 41 from 48 balls. Kashvee stayed not out on 5. India posted 276/6 in 50 overs.
Aggressive Start from South Africa
South Africa needed 277 to win. Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits gave flting start to South Africa. Wolvaardt and Brits batted aggressively. They brought up 50 runs in just 7 overs. SA Women reached 51/0. Then, Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma slowed things down. After 12 overs, the score was 65/0. Wolvaardt hit a six in the 13th over. In the next over, Brits reached her half-century in 46 balls. South Africa moved to 80/0 in 14 overs. Deepti and Charani bowled tightly, but SA kept rotating strike. After 16 overs, the score was 87/0.
100-Run Opening Stand
Brits hit a four in the 18th over, bringing up the 100-run stand. SA Women were 104/0 after 18 overs. Even as Rana and Charani kept it tight, singles flowed. SA reached 133/0 after 25 overs.
India Breaks Through and Tightened the Grip
Finally, Deepti Sharma broke the stand in the 28th over. She removed Wolvaardt for 43. Lara Goodall came in next. SA reached 143/1. Runs slowed again as India built pressure. After 30 overs, the score was 147/1.
Goodall hit a four to start the 31st over, taking SA to 150. However, she lost her wicket to Rana in the same over for 9. Karabo Meso joined Brits. SA stood at 152/2.
Brits Gets Century, Then Retires Hurt
Tazmin Brits reached her hundred in the 33rd over. She took 103 balls and finished the over with two consecutive fours. However, she retired hurt in the 34th over. Sune Luus replaced her. SA were 177/2.
India Strikes Again and Collapse Begins
Arundhati Reddy dismissed Meso for 7 in the 37th over. Chloe Tryon joined Luus at the crease. Both tried to rebuild, but India kept things tight. SA reached 196/3 in 40 overs. Luus hit a boundary in the 41st to reach 200.
In the 42nd over, Charani removed Luus. Annerie Dercksen came next and scored a quick 28 off 34. SA were 209/4. Rana then got Tryon in the 46th over. She scored 18 off 22.
SA reached 250 in the 48th over. But then, disaster struck. Rana picked three wickets in that over — de Klerk (0), Dercksen (30), and the returning Brits (109). SA collapsed to 252/8.
Final Wickets Fall and India Seal the Win
Masabata Klaas got run out in the 49th over. SA were 254/9. Needing 23 from the last over, Mlaba smashed a six off the first ball. However, she got run out on the next. India bowled out South Africa for 260.