Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her deputy Smriti Mandhana scored a century and Pooja Vastrakar After the final, the Indian women’s rugby team defeated South Africa by four runs in in the second one-day international tournament that ended in a thrilling match, India was awarded the victory. win a comfortable win over M on Wednesday. The team leads the three-match series at the Chinna swamy Stadium 2-0.
Mandhana scored 136 off 120 balls, a century in her second innings, and shared 171 for the third wicket with Harmanpreet Kaur. In partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored an unbeaten 103 off 88 balls, India posted a massive score of 325/3 in the last 50 overs. Shafali Verma (20), Dayaram Hemarata (24) and Richa Ghosh (25 not out) were the other scorers for India, who were beaten by South Africa.
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt scored 135 runs while Marizanne Kapp scored 114 off 94 balls to keep South Africa in the lead. However, the visitors lost the last overs and were restricted to 321/6 in 50 overs, as India won the ICC Women’s Championship.
South Africa were struggling to score at 67/3, but a good partnership between Kapp and Walwat not only saved the game but gave them hope of winning this high-scoring match.
Chasing a massive score of 326, South Africa lost Tanzim Brits (5), Anneke Bosch (15) and Sune Luus (12) early on and struggled to reach 67/3 in 15th later Kapp and Walvat combined in the fourth quarter to put together 184 points. The 34-year-old Kapu saved his team by hitting 11 goals and three sixes as captain. With more confidence, Kapu completed a half-century off 53 balls and a century off 85 balls. Wolvaardt finished with 50 off 69 balls and 100 off 119 balls, allowing Vastrakar to catch Deepti Sharma. The catch helped South Africa score 23 runs off their last 12 deliveries heading into the final overs of the match.
Nadine de Klerk hit Arundhati Reddy for a six off the last ball as South Africa scored 12 runs in the 49th over. 11 runs were required from Vastrakar’s last six balls.
Despite being bowled by de Klerk for four for four, the Indian pacer was confident of leveling the score at six in four balls when he dropped Nadine on the third ball of the match to Arundhati took a long time. Vastrakar delivered a major blow by sending home Nondumisho Shangas caught by captain Harmanpreet. South Africa scored six runs from the last ball of the match but Walwat could only score two as India won the match by four runs.
Vastrakar finished with figures of 2-54 and Deepti Sharma finished with figures of 2-56 in her 10 overs. Smriti Mandhana added to her tally with figures 1-13.
Earlier, opener Mandhana etched her name in women’s cricket history by equaling former captain Mithali Raj’s Indian women’s record of centuries in ODIs. Mandhana’s 136 is an impressive score as she matches Raj.
After scoring 117 centuries in the series opener, the left-hander continued his remarkable run – centuries ago, becoming the first man to achieve this feat in ODI cricket for Indian women. Mandana was cautious at the start of the game and was shut out by the South African batsmen in the first innings. India lost Shafali Verma early, leaving Mandana to dominate the sessions. He picked up his innings, hitting 19 off 40 balls, and started dominating the bowlers. His calm approach paid off as he reached his century in just 103 balls, finishing with 136 off 120 balls.
Mandhana’s knock included 18 boundaries and two sixes, showing his ability to collect and accelerate runs. His performance helped India cross the 200-run mark in the last 40 overs, laying the foundation for an impressive run total.
Supporting Mandana on the other side was captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored a hundred off 87 balls. The duo’s partnership was crucial in keeping the momentum going and motivating the South African bowlers.
Instead, Mandana was dismissed in the 46th over for trying to hit Nonkululeko Mlaba on 136 from 129 deliveries in the cover zone.
India women’s 325/3 in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 136, Harmanpreet Kaur 103 not out; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-51) beat South Africa 321/6 in 50 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 135, Marizanne Kapp 114; 2-) 2-56) leads by four points.
