South Africa women’s defeat India women’s by 5 wickets, clinch series 4-1

South Africa women on Wednesday sealed an emphatic 4-1 win over Indian women as they defeated the host by five wickets in the fifth and penultimate ODI in Lucknow.

Scoring her second consecutive half-century, Mignon du Preez and Anneke Bosch who scored 58 chased down 189 for South Africa as they defeated India by five wickets and 10 balls to spare.

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The only hope that India got was at the start of the South African chase as spinners Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Dayalan Hemalatha picked up three wickets in the first 10 overs for just 27 runs at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.

Rajeshwari got the breakthrough in the second over as opener Laura Wolvaardt walked back for a duck and then got Lara Goodall in her very next over. While Hemalatha sent back South African skipper Sune Luus in the 11th over.

However, the critical damage for India was done by the 96 run partnership by du Preez and Bosch. Eventually, the two were dismissed but it was too late as Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk, who had also taken three wickets in the Indian innings, took the Proteas over the line.

Earlier, Indian captain Mithali Raj’s unbeaten 79 off 104 balls ensured that India crossed 150. While India looked set for a competitive score when Harmanpreet Kaur (30) was in the middle with Mithali, the host stumbled after the former retired hurt in the 31st over.

India were 124/3 at that time and the collapse started in the 37th over where Dayalan Hemalatha was dismissed and subsequently the women in blue lost their next six wickets for 52 runs.

The two teams go head-to-head in a three-match T20I series at the Ekana Stadium which starts on March 20.