Ind W vs SA W | Spinners spin a web as India complete first whitewash since 2016

With the series already in the bag, the Indian Women’s team took on a South African team that was playing for pride. It was pace that did the damage early, with the trio of Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khakait running through the Indian batting order to restrict them to a meek total of 145. The only saving grace for India was the partnership of Punam Raut and Mithali Raj that tried to steer the ship after early inroads from the bowlers. But the main partnership was between Harmanpreet Kaur and Shikha Pandey. Their 49-run stand helped India somehow crawl to a total near to 150. 38 from Harmanpreet was the top score from the Indian side.

Ismail and Nundomiso offered an unexpected resistance to the Indian bowling attack as they threatened to take South Africa to an unlikely victory. But the golden arm of Harmanpreet Kaur removed Ismail, with the visitors needing nine runs to win with one wicket in hand. With the frontline spinners having finished their quota of ten overs, captain Mithali Raj took a gamble by throwing the ball to part-timer Jemimah Rodrigues. That proved to be a masterstroke as she grabbed her first ODI wicket by dismissing Tumi Sekhukhune, thereby giving India a thrilling victory. This will go a long way in boosting India’s confidence in defending low totals.