Deepti leads Indian women victory over South Africa by 11 runs

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Picture Courtesy: Hindustan Times

The Indian eves started the home season with a thrilling 11 run win in the first T20I played at Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat on Tuesday.

South Africa women captain Sunne Luus won the toss and decided to field first. The decision paid off as Shabnam Ismail got the early wicket dismissing Shafali Verma on the fourth ball of the innings. Smriti Mandhana played some lovely shots putting pressure on South Africa bowlers. Trying to hit the third successive boundary, Mandhana was dismissed by Shangase for 21. At the end of 6 overs, Indian eves were 34 for 2.

Jemimah Rodrigues struggled to score runs while Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur looked aggressive with her intent. Sekhukhune got the wicket of Jemimah Rodrigues for 19. Kaur and Rodrigues added 30 runs for the 3rd wicket. Deepti Sharma came to the crease to give support to Kaur. Indian captain Kaur took on South African bowlers adding 46 runs for the 4th wicket. Klerk got wickets of Deepti Sharma and Kaur to stall India’s progress. Tanya Bhatia scored a quickfire 11 off 5 balls. Indian eves ended at 130 for 8 in 20 overs. For South Africa, S Ismail was the pick of bowlers with 3 for 26.

Chasing down the modest target of 131 runs to win, Lizelle Lee began the South African innings off to a flying start scoring 16 off 11 balls. Shikha Pandey made the breakthrough for India dismissing Lee. Lee and Brits put on 25 runs for the 1st wicket in 2 overs. Deepti Sharma got two wickets in the same over to dismiss Britz and N de Klerk to bring back Indian eves back into the match. At the end of 6 overs, South African women were 35 for 3.

Poonam Yadav dismissed Wolvaadrt and South African captain Sunne Luus in successive balls to put South African women under pressure. M du Preez looked positive with her intent but the Indian spinners took control to keep picking wickets at regular intervals.
Du Preez kept the South African women in hunt with great hitting putting pressure on India bowlers. Shikha Pandey got the important breakthrough dismissing Khaka. Du Preez played a great knock to reach her fifty off 36 balls.

With 18 runs required off the last over, du Preez hit a six to give South Africa hopes of winning the match. Radha Yadav dismissed du Preez to end visitors hope of winning the match. Indian women bowled out South Africa for 119 in 19.5 overs. Deepti Sharma was the pick of bowlers for Indian eves with figures of 3 for 8, Radha Yadav and Shikha Pandey took 2 wickets each while Harmanpreet Kaur took 1 wicket.

The 2nd T20I will be played at the same ground on 26th September 2019.

Indian women 130 for 8 in 20 overs ( Harmanpreet Kaur 43, Shabnam Ismail 3/26) beat South African women 119 in 19.5 overs ( du Preez 59, Deepti Sharma 3/8) by 11 runs

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