In lead-up to the upcoming, senior women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup, senior women’s teams of South Africa, India, and the West Indies are seen contesting in a Tri-Series that got underway on the 19th of January with hosts, South Africa and India locking horns at Buffalo Park, East London. Winning the toss, South Africa elected to field first against India.
1st innings : India – 147/6 (20.0)
India put in to bat first had a poor start as the side lost skipper, Smriti Mandhana early on 7(7). Opener, Yastika Bhatia while managed to hold on to an end, wickets continued to tumble on the other as Harleen Deol on 8(9) and Jemimah Rodrigues on 0(1) departed. A set Yastika was then accompanied by Devika Vaidya and the pair stitched a crucial 26-run stand that saw curtains with the wicket of Yastika on 35(34). It wasn’t too long before India lost its 5th wicket with 69 on board as Devika departed for 9(16) inside 12 overs. Deepti Sharma was then accompanied by debutant, Amanjot Kaur and the duo led an impressive fightback with a fine 76-run stand that pushed India to post a competitive total of 147. Deepti while off the penultimate ball departed for 33(23), and Amanjot Kaur remained unbeaten on 41(30).
Amanjot Kaur receives her debut cap from Smriti Mandhana 😍#CricketTwitter #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/EmMcvgKnhC
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 19, 2023
Leading the South African wickets column was Nonkululeko Mlaba with a couple to her name and had Delmi Tucker, Marizanne Kapp, and Ayabonga Khaka follow with a wicket each to their name.
Dream debut for Amanjot Kaur
Scored an unbeaten 41* in 30 balls when India needed it the most.#CricketTwitter #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/tQZROKIrXa
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 19, 2023
2nd innings : South Africa – 120/9 (20.0)
South Africa in reply had a poor start as the side lost its openers, Laura Wolvaardt (6) and Anneke Bosch (2) early in the innings. The middle-order trio of Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, and Chloe Tryon kept South Africa in the game but timely wickets from India saw South Africa lose 3/10 as Marizanne Kapp on 22(22), Sune Luus on 29(30) and Delmi Tucker on 0(1) departed. Chloe Tryon then, alongside Nadine de Klerk stitched a 39-run stand that saw curtains with the wicket of Tryon on 26(20), and the latter too shortly departed on 16(11). Sinalo Jafta’s 8-ball 11, pushed South Africa to close out on 120 falling 27 short of the required.
India with the ball had Deepti Sharma lead the wickets column with 3 to her name and had Devika Vaidya with her couple and the trio of Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Sneh Rana, and Radha Yadav with a wicket each follow.
Winning start for 🇮🇳India as they beat South Africa by 27 Runs in the tri-series.#CricketTwitter #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/nlYBcvd3Fx
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 19, 2023
Result : India won by 27 runs
South Africa and India are both scheduled to next play against the West Indies on the 21 and 23rd of January respectively. While South Africa will wish for batters to convert starts, India will look to come better prepared for the Windies contest.