IND-W vs SA-W | Explosive Proteas open tour account with convincing high-scoring win in Chennai

‌Brief score: SA 189/4 (20) [Brits 81(56), Kapp 57(33); Vastrakar 2/23(4)] defeat IND 177/4 (20) [Jemimah 53*(30), Smriti 46(30); Tryon 1/32(4)] by 12 runs

Asked to bat first, Laura Wovldaart came out swinging for the Proteas, striking three boundaries and two maximums in the powerplay to take the score to 44/0 even as Tazmim Brits played catch-up with a sluggish 16-ball 11. However, the imbalanced dynamic came to its inevitable end when Radha Yadav lured her experienced counterpart into a big shot only to strike her stumps, thus breaking the half-century stand in the eighth over. Nevertheless, Marizanne Kapp signalled her intent early with two fours off her first three balls while Brits began to step on the accelerator as well, stabilizing the score at 78/1 at the halfway stage. A slew of dropped catches did not help India's cause, and the scoring rate kept getting out of hand with both batters dealing in boundaries. By the time Yadhav broke through again in the 17th over to end Kapp's stay after a 30-ball half-century, the foundation was set at 146/2. Brits capitalized with three sixes and two fours across her next five balls but two quiet overs by Asha Shobhana and Vastrakar to cap off the score restricted the damage to 189/4.

Needing to pull off a record chase, an explosive start by Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma quickly had India on track by bringing up the 50-run mark within five overs. Ayabonga Khaka's 50th T20I scalp dispatched Shafali Varma for a 14-ball 18 in the final over of the powerplay but Mandhana kept playing the aggressor to keep the scoreboard ticking. However, Dayalan Hemalatha's struggles at the other end soon caught up to the Indian vice-captain and culminated in her wicket at exactly the halfway stage with the score reading 87/2. Hemalatha added the very next ball to compound the Women in Blue's misery, leaving two new batters Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur at the crease. The duo took their time to get going as the asking rate raced past 13 with just six overs to go and even though Jemimah switched gears accordingly, Harmanpreet failed to keep up with the requirement. Eventually, 21 was required off the final over and veteran Nonkululeko Mlaba got the Proteas across the line safely to bring up their first win across formats in the ongoing tour.

Brilliant knock

The gem

Well played

In the list

Lol

Injury again

Too sloppy

Thier partnership

Appreciation post