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Mandhana stars as India breaks Proteas' hearts

football19 June 2024 15:48| © MWP
By:CS Chiwanza
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Smriti Mandhana produced an outstanding all-round performance to lead India Women to a thrilling four-run win over South Africa Women in their second IWC ODI match, played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

The Indian opener registered her second ton of the series, an imperious 136 off 120 as she inspired her side to 325 for three.

In reply, the visitors fought their way to 321 for six, thanks to a pair of centuries from Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp.

Smriti Mandhana continued her great run of form with an outstanding 136 to set her side up for a great total.

The opener starred for the home team in the first ODI with a brilliant century, 117 from 127 balls.

In the second match, she smashed 18 fours and two sixes on her way to 136 off 120 deliveries.

Mandhana recorded her highest ODI score in the process, beating her previous best, which was 135.

Mandhana matched the weather, a glorious Bengaluru sunshine with an equally glorious century.

The 27-year-old became the first Indian batter to score back-to-back centuries in ODI cricket.

The opener faced 101 deliveries to reach the milestone. It is her seventh ODI ton.

Mandhana was also one of India’s wicket-takers. She dismissed a dangerous-looking Sune Luus before she made trouble for the hosts. She delivered a two-over spell that conceded 13 runs.

Mandhana and her captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, shared a match-winning third-wicket stand of 171 with Harmanpreet Kaur.

The Indian captain supported Mandhana brilliantly as she batted her way back to form with an outstanding unbeaten 103.

Her ton came off 88 deliveries and featured nine fours and three sixes.

Kaur came into the tie needing a decent score. Before this match, the Indian captain had recorded scores of 10, 3, 5, 9 and 14 in her last five outings.

The 35-year-old shrugged off the bad form with an imperious ton.

WOLVAARDT AND KAPP GO BIG

South Africa was not about to roll over and die after their 136-run defeat in the first match.

The visitors needed big totals to have a chance at chasing down the mammoth total and Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp obliged.

The South African captain struck 12 fours and three sixes on her way to an unbeaten 135 from 135, while Kapp smashed 11 fours and three sixes for her 114 off 94.

Wolvaardt became the first South Africa Woman cricketer to score 4000 or more ODI runs.

This was also her eighth WODI ton.

Kapp on the other hand, recorded a new career-best WODI score.

She came into the match with two centuries to her name and a best of 102*.

The pair came together after South Africa had found themselves in choppy waters early in their innings.

First, the visitors lost Tazmin Britz in the powerplay. The opener did not look settled during her 11-ball stay in the middle.

The visitors rebuilt and consolidated their innings through a 40-run opening stand between Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch.

The 30-year-old, who only moved up to the No 3 slot in 2022 scored a breezy 18 before she fell to Deepti Sharma's spin.

Wolvaardt watched another partner depart 2.5 overs later when Mandhana made her mark with the ball.

The 27-year-old who is turning everything she touches to gold, beat Sune Luus's outside edge to send the visitors reeling.

However, Wolvaardt found a willing and able partner in Marizanne Kapp.

Wolvaardt anchored the innings while Kapp fought fire with fire.

The South African captain faced 69 balls to reach her half-century. Thirteen deliveries later, Kapp registered her half-ton, which came off 53 balls.

The middle-order batter needed only 32 more balls to register her third century.

The duo shared an 84-run fourth-wicket partnership that threatened to wrestle the match from India.

South Africa's bowling attack missed Sinalo Jafta, who is out with an injury, and Kapp's bowling abilities.

The effect was seen when India upped the ante in the last 10 overs where they scored 118 runs.

Fifty-four of those runs came off Kaur and Richa Gosha's partnership which faced 26 balls.

With a top death bowler, the visitors could have snatched victory.

Pooja Vastrakar and Deepti Sharma led the way with the ball for India.

Both grabbed a brace, but it was Sharma who had the better day.

The spinner took two wickets for 56 runs in 10 overs.

Vastrakar, on the other hand, took two wickets for 54 runs in seven overs.

INDIA: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Asha Sobhana

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Meike de Ridder (wk), Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka

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