India-W go down fighting against South Africa-W in modest-scoring encounter
Team India tasted their first defeat of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup as they were beaten by South Africa in Manchester. In what was an early stutter with the bat for the Women in Blue, they went along in bits and pieces till the end of their innings. Their bowlers did get a solid start, but the joy soon turned into bitterness as South Africa wrested control.
Winning the toss, India opted to bat first. Smriti Mandhana (17) and Shafali Verma (31) did get off to a rollicking start. Verma led the charge while Mandhana was happy to keep the tempo intact. Marizanne Kapp dealt the first blow to the Indian side, removing Mandhana.
An incoming Yastika Bhatia (15) did get the start that she was looking for but couldn’t get going. India kept losing wickets at regular intervals as Verma, Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues (12) fell in quick succession. Wobbling at 83/4, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma (29) started the overhaul.
The duo added 33 runs for the fifth wicket before Shabnim Ismail razed through the defences of Kaur. Deepti did all she could before Richa took over the reins. Richa Ghosh could only get 15 by the time Marizanne Kapp got the better of her. India could only tot up 158/7 from their allotment of 20 overs.
Knowing well that they didn’t have too much in the bank and needed early wickets, Shree Charani rose to the occasion. She dealt a double whammy to remove Laura Wolvaardt (20) and Annerie Dercksen (0) early on. Just when it felt like India could take over the reins from there, an incoming Kapp calmed the frayed nerves for the Proteas.
Brits and Kapp added 97 runs for the third wicket, killing the game there itself. Shafali Verma eventually stepped up to deliver the breakthrough as she claimed Brits, while Charani struck again to remove Nadine de Klerk (5). But by then, South Africa had the game in complete control as Kapp commandeered the charge.
Kapp’s unbeaten 81 ushered the Proteas to the finish line without breaking a sweat. Charani was the pick of the lot for the Indian bowlers, registering figures of 4-1-24-3. India return to action on Thursday, where they take on Bangladesh.
