India Women vs South Africa Women 2021, 5th Women’s ODI: South Africa Women End This Series With Another Victory

The visitors South Africa Women ended the five-match ODI series against the hosts India Women with another five-wicket victory as they won the series by a 4-1 margin.

After the visitors once again sent the hosts to bat first, India Women scored 188 runs before getting all out in 49.3 overs. In reply, South Africa Women chased down the target in 48.2 overs after losing five wickets.

India Women vs South Africa Women 2021, 5th Women’s ODI

2nd innings (South Africa Women): Rajeshwari Gayakwad’ s incredible bowling went in vain

India Women got a brilliant start as South Africa Women were once struggling on 27/3 due to losing all their top three batters cheaply (Sune Luus 10, Laura Wolvaardt 0 and Lara Goodall 1). Rajeshwari Gayakwad dismissed Wolvaardt and Goodall, while Dayalan Hemalatha took the wicket of skipper Sune Luus.

But then Mignon du Preez and Anneke Bosch set up the 96 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. Both scored their half-centuries as Bosch scored 58 off 70 balls (9) before she became the victim of debutant Challuru Prathyusha while Preez scored 57 off 100 balls (4 fours) before Gayakwad took her wicket. Gayakwad finished that innings with incredible bowling figures of 10-4-13-3. But she didn’t get enough support from the other bowlers.

Marizanne Kapp (36*) and Nadine de Klerk (19*) built up another crucial partnership of 58 runs for the unbroken sixth-wicket as South Africa Women chased down the target with 10 balls remaining.

1st innings (India Women): Mithali Raj was the only fighter after Harmanpreet Kaur was retired hurt

Openers Priya Punia and Smriti Mandhana both failed to provide strong starts as both scored 18 runs each before losing their wickets. In-form Punam Raut was also dismissed for 10 runs as India Women were struggling on 53/3.

Then Harmanpreet Kaur and captain Mithali Raj handled the situation with the 71 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. But Harmanpreet Kaur was retired hurt on 30 runs after a cramp.

Then other batters hugely struggled as none of them reached the double-digit marks. However, skipper Mithali Raj continued his impressive batting and completed her 55th ODI fifty. Mithali was not out on 79 runs off 104 balls (8 fours and only six).

Among the South Africa Women bowlers, Nadine de Klerk (3/35) got three wickets while Nondumiso Shangase (2/43) and Tumi Sekhukhune (2/26) picked up two wickets each.

Brief Scores: India Women – 188 in 49.3 overs (Mithali Raj 79*, Harmanpreet Kaur 30 retired hurt; Nadine de Klerk 3/35)

South Africa Women – 189/5 in 48.2 overs (Anneke Bosch 58, Mignon du Preez 57; Rajeshwari Gayakwad 3/13)

Result – South Africa Women won by 5 wickets