The 4th T20I between India Women and South Africa Women was a tale of dropped catches. Many catches were dropped and batters survived on the missed opportunities by the fielding side. In the end, India had a comfortable win over South Africa.
After 2 games being washed out due to rain, Surat finally got to witness the 4th game of the series. The match was reduced to 17 overs per side. Captain Sune Luus called right at the toss and South Africa chose to bowl first.
The Indian openers did not seem too comfortable in the initial overs with Smriti getting dropped and newcomer Shafali getting streaky boundaries.
The Lalbhai Contractor Stadium nonetheless had a packed crowd. They were cheering for India.
Shafali looking to hit almost every ball. This time it goes to Goodall who drops a sitter! The crowd cannot keep silent.
Smriti finally scores runs in the last ball of the second over. It’s a boundary.
Let’s take a moment and appreciate this gutsy knock of 46 runs in just 33 balls by young and sensational batter – Shafali Verma against SA women today. #INDWvSAW #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/PjqbyWOU2p
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 1, 2019
Smriti again hits in the air, the timing is not great. But she gets dropped again! This time by Nadine de Clerk. Unbelievable scenes from Surat.
After another couple of dropped catches and missed inside edges, Smriti falls to de Klerk. The experienced Mignon du Preez holding on to the catch this time. Her poor form continues.
Shafali hit a couple of 4s and 6s before getting bowled to Sekhukhune after a well made 46.
Harmanpreet comes in. She hits a six and a couple of boundaries but then departs as Sekhukhune who makes no mistake in her catch.
Now it’s young blood Deepti on to the crease. Along with Jemimah Rodrigues, they stitch a partnership. A boundary comes and 100 on cards for India.
Beautiful shots from Jemimah in consecutive balls. She is in hot form coming right from a good season in KSL.
But Jemimah is unable to make a big impact. She departs on 33. After 17 overs, India put up a score of 140.
South Africa innings start. They make decent runs before Lizelle Lee gets run out courtesy Vastrakar’s brilliant direct hit. Wolvaardt comes to the crease. Along with Tazmin Brits, she stitches a decent partnership before Wolvaardt gets out to Radha Yadav as Jemimah takes a good catch. The crowd is excited.
Nadine de Clerk comes on to the crease next. We wonder why the experienced Mignon du Preez was not promoted up the order.
Spinners seal the series for 🇮🇳 #IndvSA #INDwSAW pic.twitter.com/yhjhkTERWD
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 1, 2019
De clerk seems to be aiming to hit every wide ball. She falls to Poonam Yadav and Shafali catches it. This delivery could have been well left. She was reaching for it.
India! India! The crowd keeps on chanting.
Next comes du preez. She tries hitting it over to the bowler’s head, but seasoned fielder Veda at long-on catches the ball. Preez out on duck. 2 wickets in 2 balls for Poonam. Again in this series, she is on a hat trick. Alas, the hat trick doesn’t happen.
This time it’s an Indian fielder who drops the catch. It’s Deepti Sharma. The ball slips in between her hands. Adds to the list of dropped catches of the match.
Poonam gets Luus with the wrong one. Half the Proteas back in the change room now.
13th over and Deepti bowls out Brits. The crowd erupts. Asking rate is over 19 now. Only Dane Van can save South Africa from this situation.
Ismail on the crease. She scores a 4. This should have been stopped by Sikha Pandey.
Ismail tries to score big again. Deepti doesn’t drop this time. Another wicket by Radha. Pure joy on the faces of the ball kids outside the boundary ropes. The crowd is cheering.
The last over is given to Vastrakar. India wins the game by 51 runs. Poonam Yadav gets the Player of the Match award.
It was an easy game for India. South Africa faltered with their batting and had a very sloppy outing on the field. They dropped easy catches and gave India batters chances.
India has to work on their batting. Batters need to build partnerships on the crease. The bowling was good. It was the spinners who won us the game. Ahead of the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia, we need to prepare our pacers though. The pitches in Australia favor pace and bounce. Hopefully, our seamers will get enough match practice before the big tournament.
SERIES SEALED!
INDIA have outplayed South Africa in every departmenet. Win by 51 Runs. #INDvSA #INDwSAW pic.twitter.com/QtfmXSbpmm
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 1, 2019
One more match to go in this series. India has achieved an unassailable lead of 2-0 over South Africa. They have already won the series. The 5th T20 will be held on the 4th of October.
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