A dominant start and a neat death-bowling display helped the Proteas Women to an eight-run victory against the Indian Women on Wednesday.
This put an end to their three-match losing streak against the Indian side, after suffering defeats in their last encounter of this quadrangular tournament, as well as in the Super Sixes and the final of the World Cup qualifiers in February.
The Proteas Women had a very different start to their last outing, which saw them skittled for 119.
Despite losing the big-hitting Lizelle Lee for a golden duck, the Proteas recovered brilliantly through Andrie Steyn and Trisha Chetty. Both batters went past the 50-run mark in a stand of 151 for the second wicket, before losing their wickets on 83 and 76 respectively.
The hosts were on 183 after 41.4 overs when Chloe Tryon came to the crease. The 23-year-old held her nerve, despite her side being reduced to 223-5 by the end of the 46th over as she scored 77 off 39 balls (five fours and six sixes) to help the Proteas post 269-5.
This was the Proteas Women’s highest total against India and their second highest total against a tier one nation.
Deepti Sharma was once again the catalyst for her side as she made the run chase seem effortless, coming off her incredible 188-run knock against Ireland last time out.
Despite losing her opening partner Punam Raut (39) to a run-out in the 15th over, the 19-year-old looked comfortable on a 71-ball 71, before she was dismissed by South Africa’s Women’s Player of the Year, Sune Luus.
With India on 158-2, the skipper, Mithali Raj (54), managed a 45th career fifty to take her side to 179, before she too lost her wicket.
A double from Masabata Klaas (2-54) and a scalp from Marizanne Kapp (1-65) stunned India as they were starting to lose their grip on the game, the visitors reduced to 216-6 after 46.5 overs.
Shabnim Ismail (3-54) then put in a magnificent bowling display to take a double in the 47th over, and then another on the first ball of the 49th to throttle India and shift the momentum in SA’s favour.
With India needing 15 runs off the final over, Kapp managed to keep the visitors at bay on 261-9, conceding only a four and a single to claim an eight-run victory for the Proteas Women.
