Harmanpreet Kaur lauds India, South Africa's batting display

As many as 646 runs were scored in the second One-Day International (ODI) between India Women and South Africa Women at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, which included as many as four centurions. For India, it was Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur who breached the three-figure mark, and for South Africa, it was skipper Laura Wolvaardt who led the way with a sublime 135*, and was well supported by Marizanne Kapp, who also hit 114.

In the end, South Africa fell agonisingly short. India skipper Harmanpreet was impressed with the way both the teams batted.

"Today, both the teams batted well, 650 runs is an achievement for women's cricket, happy with the way both teams played today. We were up to the mark with our batting, the ball did a bit in the first few overs, but when it got better, we batted really well. But as a bowling unit, we'll have to rethink, today was a batting track, but we can do better with the ball," Harmanpreet said after her side's four-run victory.

Despite going down, South Africa skipper Wolvaardt says she is proud of the fight shown by her team.

"I think four runs is heartbreaking, especially in a 300-run chase, but from the halfway mark, I'm extremely proud of the way we fought, especially the way Kapp played and at how the rest of the batters followed up in the chase. It was a bit difficult, the fielding wasn't great. You can look back at each little thing in a 4-run loss, it's annoying, but we can look back at one of the best batting efforts," she said.

India head coach Amol Muzumdar was all praise for Pooja Vastrakar for the way she held her nerve in the final over, where the Proteas needed 11 to win. The fast bowler eventually conceded just six.

"In the previous over, she had gone for runs, but she came back really strongly. It's very crucial to comeback, she proved she has a heart of gold. She bowled a spectacular final over and I am pretty sure that the bowling coach will be happy," Muzumdar said.

With this win, India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. South Africa will hope to pull one back when the two teams clash on June 23 (Sunday) at the same venue.

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