The Indian women's team scripted history beating South Africa to win the series 3-1. Indian women’s cricket captain and former T20I captain Mithali Raj led this winning story. On Saturday, she led the team to an assured 'historic double' as they silenced South Africa women by 54 runs in the fifth and final Twenty20 International at Newlands, Cape Town. Find below all the action as India beat South Africa.
Now the Indian women has claimed the ODI series victory with 2-1, having clinched a 3-1 series win in T20I. The trophy goes to team India. With this win, they become the first cricket team to win two formats in the Rainbow nation.
Mithali scored a splendid 62 off 50 balls. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's team trounced SA to enable India a triumph of 166 for four in 20 overs. The team displayed an all-round performance as they outclassed the Dane van Niekerk-led team. India bowled them out for 112 to lift the T20 series trophy by a margin of 3-1 in the five-match series. India, sent into bat, lost opener Smriti Mandhana cheaply for 13 as she tried to go for a six. But others took charge with veteran Mithali Raj and youngster Jemimah Rodrigues stablising the Indian side with excellent batting. The two kept the scoreboard moving with single runs with a boundary every now and then.
South Africa couldn’t match up to the dominance India had from the very beginning as they were all out for 112 in 18 overs.
This series also marks the return of veteran Rumeli Dhar (3/26 in 4 overs). It was her second match on her return to the side after six years.
Shikha Pandey bowled her best and took 3/16 in 4 overs. Praises also go to left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3/26 in 3 overs).
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The win also proves that Mithali Raj's potential has some way to go and that Harmanpreet leads the team brilliantly. Raj has been batting exceptionally well since the World Cup storm. The ICC ODI World Cup wasn't just a mere good luck but the women are actually showing notable improvement. The positive sign is that they won a T20 series -- a format where the Indian women have failed traditionally in the past.
"It was a two-paced track to bat on but it became easier to play shots at the later stages. But it's always nice to be among runs," Raj said after the match. She won both 'Player of the Match and Series' award for her consistent scores.
Skipper Harmanpreet said, "I thought we were 20 runs short but our bowlers performed exceptionally. I thought Mithali di and Jemi (Jemimah) batted well. I though Shikha and PY (Poonam Yadav) really bowled well.”
Now the team is ready to take on Australia and England at home in the next series through March and April.
Congratulations Team India!
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