Women's T20I wash-out, SA lead series v India 1-0

Tazmin Brits scored her second consecutive half century to help South Africa post another competitive total of 177-6 in the second of three Women’s T20 Internationals against India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday before the match was rain-abandoned at the halfway stage.

Brits’ 52 from 39 balls with six fours and a slog-swept six was ably supported by Anneke Bosch’s skilful 40 from 32 balls with six fours after captain Laura Wolvaardt had once again given her team a flying start with 22 from only 12 balls (3x4) after once again being asked to bat first.

Marizanne Kapp’s 20 from just 14 balls (3x4) maintained that early momentum while Annerie Dercksen provided an explosive finish as she hit all three deliveries she faced to the boundary.

Wolvaardt’s rasping innings ended with a stinging catch at cover while Kapp spliced a running drive to mid-off and Bosch was bowled by offspinner Shreyankar Patil (1-37) after conceding four boundaries in her final over.

Brits was given a potentially crucial life on five when she was stumped by debutant ‘keeper, Uma Chetry, only for replays to show that her gloves were marginally ahead of the stumps when she gathered the ball and was consequently given not out.

She was, however, successfully stumped by Chetry for 52 off the bowling of offspinner Deepti Sharma who was the most successful bowler with 2-20 from her four overs.

Nadine de Klerk struck a brace of boundaries in her 14 from nine balls at the back of the innings.

South Africa posted their highest ever T20I total against India, 189-4, in the first game which was enough to earn a 12-run victory with Brits posting a career-best 81 and Marizanne Kapp a powerful 57.

The third and final match will take place at the same venue on Tuesday.

The series is particularly important for the teams as preparation for the T20 Women’s World Cup which will be held in Bangladesh in October in similar conditions to those expected in Chennai.

India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Deepti Sharma, Uma Chetry (wkt), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, S Sajana, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Derckson, Eliz-Mari Marx, Sinalo Jafta (wkt), Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba.