India had a brilliant start to their defence of the target of 252 balls. South Africa lost 5 wickets and scored 91 runs at the halfway stage of 25 overs. India‘s bowlers hunted in a pack as skipper Laura Wolvaardt was fighting a lone battle. Laura Wolvaardt showed immense grit and determinantion and didn’t panic even when there was a batting collapse.
Kranti Gaud & Amanjot Kaur give momentum to India
Proteas had their task cut out as chasing 252 runs was not going to be easy, given India’s resounding comeback. It was quite critical and important that Tazmin Brits & Laura Wolvaardt give the team a decent start. The centurion, Tazmin Brits, got out to a golden duck in just 3 balls. Kranti Gaud took a stunning reflex catch whose reaction time was 0.5 seconds. South Africa’s score was 6-1 in 2.2 overs.
South African batters under the lights weren’t able to pick the line & lengths that easily. Sune Luus fell in the trap of Amanjot Kaur in the 6th over as the two match winners, Tazmin Brits & Sune Luus, during the England match were out on single-digit scores. South Africa’s score was 18-2 in 5.2 overs. Kranti Gaud & Amanjot Kaur bowled quite wicket to wicket, which frustrated the batters.
Laura Wolvaardt, the skipper on the other was quite calm & composed in her approach. Marizanne Kapp was seen getting her eye in the game. In the 9th over, Laura Wolvaardt took down the speedster as she hit 2 fabulous boundaries. South Africa, most importantly, didn’t lose any wickets after the early 2 wickets being down. Proteas’ score was 34-2 at the end of 10 overs.
Sneh Rana & Deepti Sharma spin a web across South African batters
The post-powerplay overs phase was going smoothly for the Proteas. Marizanne Kapp smashed the tyro spinner Shree Charani in the 11th over for a six and a four. Sneh Rana & Deepti Sharma were bowling in tandem after Shree Charani’s expensive over. Just at the brink of the first drinks break, Sneh Rana in the 14th over, casetled Marizanne Kapp’s stumps as she stepped down the track and missed the ball. South Africa’s score at that time was 57-3 in 13.4 overs.
Deepti Sharma, in the very next over, took a breathtaking return catch and sent back Anneke Bosch for 1 run in 2 balls. South Africa,a ll of a sudden, was seen struggling. The roteas’ score at that time was 58-4 in 14.1 overs. The surface was spinning drastically as Sneh Rana & Deepti Sharma gave extra flight to the ball, which enticed Proteas batters.
Laura Wolvaardt was quite dejected as South Africa’s top order again faltered. Jafta was dropped on 6 by Jemimah Rodrigues on the bowling of Deepti Sharma when South Africa’s score was 68-4 in 16.1 overs. Shree Charani was brought into the bowling attack after her opening over was expensive. The left-arm slow spinner deceived Sinalo Jafta as she went way across the crease & trapped her wicket LBW, and deepened the agony for South Africa. South Africa lost half of their side for 81 runs in 19.4 overs, which was quite shocking
India’s fielding was quite spot on in this match, and their reflexes were very fast and quick. We can say India completely dominated the first 25 overs as South Africa’s score was 91 runs in 25 overs for the loss of 5 wickets. India has got absolute control of the defense as the bowlers have dragged South Africa quite dark deep in the match
Who’s winning, India or South Africa
India undoubtedly are red-hot favorites to win the match, as a couple of more wickets can put India way ahead in the match. Shree Charani, Sneh Rana & Deepti Sharma not only spun a web but showed immense control over their line & length. India’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur would be aiming to win with a big margin.
South Africa, on the other hand, would be devastated by their performance. There is still hope that Laura Wolvaardt is at the crease but she needs Chloe Tryon to stay with her at the crease till atleast 35 overs of the match. Chloe Tyron can play the role of aggresor as required run rate is slightly above 6 runs per over. India though looks all set to win their 3rd consecutive match unless Laura Wolvaardt smashes a match winning ton as her score is 46 runs in 75 balls.
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