India-W blow away South Africa-W in series opener at Bengaluru

The Indian Women Cricket team rode roughshod over the South Africa Women’s team in the curtain-raiser of the three-match ODI series as they secured a staggering 143-runs win.

Winning the toss, Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bat first and the Indian batters didn’t really get the start that they were hoping for. Shafali Verma (7), Dayalan Hemlathan (12), captain Kaur (10), Jemimah Rodrigues (17) and Richa Ghosh (3) were a part of an unfortunate parade that saw the hosts being reduced to 99/5.

Indian vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana continued to fight a single-handed war against the mighty Protean bowling unit while she got the first substantial support from Deepti Sharma who scored a warring 37 off 48 balls. The duo added 81 runs for the sixth wicket before Mandhana continued to showcase her brilliance alongside Pooja Vastrakar.

The RCB-W captain blasted her sixth ODI century, spearheading the Indian battery. She was a part of another half-century partnership with Pooja before falling for 117 against Masabata Klaas. India would eventually finish their innings at 265/8 as Vastrakar stayed unbeaten for 31 while Asha Sobhana anchored the other end.

Much to the woes of the South African batters, the Indian bowling unit hit the pedal from ball one and they were swarming over the visitors even before they could get themselves in the stance to shoot down the mammoth numbers on the board.

Renuka Singh struck the opening blow as she claimed the big wicket of the Protean captain, Laura Wolvaardt (4) while Vastrakar claimed Anneke Bosch (5) as South Africa wobbled at 21/2.

To make matters worse Deepti Sharma struck in quick succession as Tazmin Brits (18) couldn’t scratch the surface of resistance either. Teetering on the brink of a mortifying decline, South Africa started fighting back through Sune Luus and Marizann Kapp.

Luus (33) and Kapp (24) added 39 runs for the fourth wicket, steadying the Protean ship. It was the introduction of Asha Sobhana that completely shifted the dynamics. The leg-spinner got the better of Kapp while the Indian captain removed an incoming Annerie Deckersen without troubling the scorers much.

Deepti Sharma removed Sune Luus while Radha Yadav produced an absolute belter to get the better of Nodumiso Shangase. As South Africa was reduced to 103/7, it was just a matter of time before the hosts cleared up the remainder of the resistance.

Asha Sobhana was reintroduced into the attack and she wasted no time whatsoever. The leggie finished with figures of 4/21 as South Africa got skittled out for 122. India secured a staggering 143 runs win to go 1-0 up. Smriti Mandhana won the Player of the Match for her match-winning performance.