IND v SA | Third women's T20I in Surat washed out after another rain-marred day
The third of five T20Is between India Women and South Africa Women was abandoned without a coin toss due to a wet outfield in Surat on Sunday. This is the second time in three games - the first of which India won - in the series that the rain gods have had the final say on proceedings.
Having already cost more than half the games on the Vijay Hazare Trophy schedule, the rains are also playing spoiler in the much-awaited India-South Africa women’s T20 series. Both teams were looking at the series as a preparatory exercise ahead of the T20 World Cup - the seventh edition of the event - scheduled to be held in Australia between 21 February and 8 March next year.
India began the series on a winning note, defending their modest total of 130, courtesy of some brilliant off-spin bowling by Deepti Sharma. Deepti’s figures of three for eight from her quota of four overs — including three maidens - led India to an 11-run victory.
Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s T20 skipper and top-scorer in the game, had called for the batswomen to step up the game in the subsequent matches, both of which have now been abandoned without a toss. The fourth and fifth games of the series will also be played at the same venue on October 1 and 4 respectively.
