MATCH RECAP
Follow UsIndian top order’s poor start
On a pitch with grip and seam movement with the new ball, the Indian top order struggled to keep wickets in their hands. Shafali Verma (7 off 12), Dayalan Hemalatha (12 off 16), Harmanpreet Kaur (10 off 11), and Jemimah Rodrigues (17 off 28) — all departed cheaply and India were 99/5 by the 22nd over.
Smriti and Deepti’s match-saving partnership
Allrounder Deepti Sharma (37 off 48) joined hands with opener Smriti Mandhana (117 off 127), batted for 92 balls, and scored 81 runs to stabilise the innings and give India a platform to cross 250.
Smriti’s record century
This was Smriti Mandhana’s first century in India, and it came at a time when her team needed her to bat throughout the innings and take them to a respectable total. She put on a glorious display of disciplined stroke play that had 12 fours and a six.
South African batting, where were you?
None of the Proteas batters except Sune Luus (33 off 58), Marizanne Kapp (24 off 39) and Sinalo Jaffa (27* off 30) were able to spend time on the crease or show some fight to chase down 266. Indian bowlers were all over them from the word go, and their chase never got going.
Asha is the hope and joy
Asha Sobhana was making her debut in WODIs and was absolutely spectacular with the ball. She bowled with a lot of drift and turn and picked up four Proteas wickets for just 21 runs.
If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.
