South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first. While the first powerplay went India’s way, South Africa struck back through their spinner and have reduced India to 100/5 in 25 overs. South Africa on top and it’s India with all to do in the back 25 overs. There is stunned silence at the ground.
Pratika Rawal & Smriti Mandhana get India off to a solid start in the powerplay
Put into bat first, Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana came out to bat for India while Marizanne Kapp had ball in hand for South Africa. Rawal made her intentions clear by glancing it fine as the ball ran away to the fine leg fence for a boundary. Rawal then punched Kapp off the back foot through covers and backward point for another boundary. Ayabonga Khaka came into the attack from the other end. Khaka bowled a decent first over. Kapp continued and bowled a miserly over.
Rawal broke the shackles as she hit Khaka by leaning into it and guided it behind square towards the third man fence. Kapp continued and almost got Rawal but she overstepped. The free hit yielded a boundary by going low and slogged it off the inner half through square leg region for a boundary. Rawal then hit a delightful square drive past backward point for a boundary. Khaka continued and bowled another tight over. Kapp continued and kept the scoring down to singles and twos.
Mandhana joined the party as she smashed Khaka for the maximum and broke the shackles by coming down the track and hammering it downtown for the maximum. Kapp continued and kept things under check. Nadine de Klerk came into the attack to bowl the final over of powerplay. She was greeted with a boundary by Mandhana with a boundary as Mandhana was quick to pick the length as she sat back and pulled it over midwicket for a boundary. The 50 came up for India and of the partnership as well. de Klerk bowled a decent over as India ended the mandatory powerplay at 55/0 in 10 overs.
Smriti Mandhana falls as South Africa put a brake on the scoring.
Nonkululeko Mlaba was introduced into the attack post the powerplay as spin was introduced now. She made an immediate impact as she removed the big first Smriti Mandhana for 23 off 32 balls with one four and one six to her name. Mlaba tossed it up nicely on the stumps, Mandhana tried to get underneath this one and tonk it over long-on but got it off the bottom of the bat. Luus stationed on the boundary came in a few yards to take the catch. Harleen Deol came out to bat next.
She got off the mark soon with a brace. Nadine continued and bowled another miserly over. Mlaba continued and kept a stranglehold of proceedings giving nothing away. Nadine continued as Deol broke the shackles finally by beating point fielder this time as she stayed back to a good length ball wide outside off-stump. Deol square drive her firmly past Bosch for a boundary. Mlaba continued and bowled another miserly over. After 15 overs, India were pegged back at 71/1 as the umpires called for the Drinks Break.
South Africa strike at regular intervals to put India firmly on the back foot.
Nadine de Klerk resumed after the Drinks Break. She bowled a miserly over. Mlaba continued and gifted 5 wides as a bonus to the batting side. Mlaba got her second wicket as she dismissed Deol for 13 off 23 balls with a boundary to her name. Mlaba bowled a good length delivery drifting back on the leg stump line and turned further away. Deol pressed forward pretty early playing the wrong line all over. She got beaten on the outside edge with the ball crashing onto the middle stump. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur came out to bat next.
Tumi Sekhukhune came into the attack next. She bowled a decent over. Mlaba continued and bowled another decent over. Sekhukhune struck for South Africa as she dismissed Rawal for 37 off 56 balls with 5 fours to her name. Sekhukhune bowled a fuller delivery much slower than the previous ones. Rawal leaned forward trying to flick the ball into the leg side but it stuck into the surface taking the top edge. The ball lobbed up to short midwicket region where Brits took the catch. Jemimah Rodrigues came out to bat next. India were 91/3 in 20 overs now.
Chloe Tryon came into the attack and she struck straightaway for South Africa as she removed Jemimah Rodrigues for a duck. Tryon bowled on a length at leg stump looking to go straight. Jemimah missed the sweep on the front pad. The umpire gave it OUT. Jemimah reviewed in hope and saw Umpire’s call on hitting the stumps. The decision stood and the review was retained. Deepti Sharma came out to bat next.
Sekhukhune continued and bowled a miserly over. Tryon continued and kept things under check. Sekhukhune too was not giving anything away. The 100 came up for India in 24 overs with the wide call. Tryon got her second wicket as she removed Kaur for 9 off 24 balls. She bowled on a length just outside the off-stump turning away. Kaur was down on one knee and lunged forward. She used her wrists to drive the ball through the off-side and ended up slicing it in the air. The ball went dipping to Kapp at backward point who was down on her knees and took the catch inches from the grass.
Amanjot Kaur earned a promotion and came out to bat next. She played out the over as India at the halfway stage of the innings were 100/5 in 25 overs and in serious trouble.
What Lies Ahead for India and South Africa
India is in serious trouble now with all their main batters back in the hut. Half the side is back in the hut in 25 overs. South Africa on top and will most likely roll India over for a score less than 200. India needs a miracle to play out 50 overs and get 200+. Advantage South Africa at the halfway stage. Can India bounce back? Only time will tell.
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