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Lee, Wolvaardt seal first-ever T20 series win for SA over India

cricket21 March 2021 17:25| © Cricket SA
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Attacking half centuries by South Africa’s golden-girls Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt helped the Momentum Proteas secure their first-ever Twenty20 Series victory over India with a thrilling last-ball win in the second T20 International at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday.

Opener Lee recorded a swashbuckling 70 off 45 balls (11 fours, 1 six) to lead a big chase of 159, with Wolvaardt, who bats in the middle-order in 20-over cricket, then finishing the job with an unbeaten 53 off 39 balls (7 fours) - the tourists edging to a six-wicket triumph from the final ball of the innings.

Earlier it was Shafali Verma (47), Harleen Deol (31) and Richa Ghosh (44 not out) who helped the hosts amass a strong 158 for four after the South Africans won the toss and opted to field first.

But another fine batting effort by the visitors clinched a result that ensured South Africa beat the Indians for the first time in a series in what was their third attempt.

It also meant Hilton Moreeng’s charges had followed up their 4-1 ODI success on the tour earlier this week by moving into an unassailable 2-0 lead with one match to play on Tuesday.

Match two was undoubtedly one of the tightest yet, though, after a good showing with the bat by India.

After losing captain Smriti Mandhana (7) early to Shabnim Ismail (1/31), Verma and Deol put their side in a powerful position with their 79-run second-wicket stand.

Both did eventually fall in quick succession to Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/27) and Anneke Bosch (1-26), but Ghosh’s flying 26-ball knock left the home side well-poised at halfway.

Bosch (2), heroine of the first game, then fell early in the chase. But Lee and captain Sune Luus (20) added 58 for the second wicket, with the former following that up by putting on exactly 50 for the next wicket alongside Wolvaardt.

That took South Africa to 116 for three when Lee fell. Mignon du Preez (10) ensured the momentum continued for South Africa as she and Wolvaardt brought the equation down to 19 off 10 balls when she fell.

It was then all about Wolvaardt. She struck Deol for successive boundaries from the last two balls of the 19th over to leave nine from the final over.

After a good start to the over by Arundhati Reddy when only three came from the first four balls, she delivered a crucial no ball that turned the tie back in South Africa’s favour and Wolvaardt swooped to finish the job.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) congratulated the team on their historic white-ball double triumph.

“Our ladies continue to go from strength to strength,” commented CSA Acting Chief Executive Pholetsi Moseki. “Winning the series with a match to spare and making it five wins in a row across the two white ball formats is a huge achievement and reflects well on everybody involved.

“What has really stood out on this tour is the way we are building our depth which has enabled us to keep winning against one of the strongest teams in world cricket in spite of being without such stalwarts as our captain, Dane van Niekerk, and Chloe Tryon.

“Many of our players have become household names around the women’s cricket world and they are much in demand for domestic T20 tournaments abroad.

“Equally impressive has been the way that Sune Luus and Laura Wolvaardt have stepped into the main leadership role in Dane’s absence.

“Our head coach, Hilton Moreeng, is clearly running a very good ship at the moment that is riding the crest of the wave.

“We extend our heartiest congratulations to all our players, our coaches and support staff and also to all those at the Powerade High Performance Centre who have got them up and running again after the long delay caused by the Covid lockdown.

“It has been a real team effort both on and off the field,” concluded Moseki.

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