India Women Set 158-Run Target for South Africa Women

India end up with 158 - The Women in Blue never quite managed to hit top gear, as every time they looked to build some momentum, South Africa hit back with a timely wicket. The finish, too, was not what India would have desired. It is a competitive total, but whether it will be enough, only time will tell.

An innings that never quite took off - After opting to bat first, India started promisingly through their opening pair, but South Africa fought back strongly to remove both openers and wrest back the initiative. The middle phase turned into a tug of war as both sides battled for control. South Africa carried the momentum from the back end of the Powerplay and continued to make inroads. At 83/4, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma came together and got a partnership going. However, true to the theme of the innings, neither batter was able to kick on and provide the finishing flourish India were after. Richa Ghosh, too, could not do much either.

Will 158 be enough? It was the pace bowlers who did most of the damage for South Africa, with the trusted pairing of Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail picking up two wickets each. Given the way the ball pinged off the bat early on, it initially looked like a very good batting wicket, but the slower balls have proved particularly effective. The Indian spinners will be keen to exploit these conditions. South Africa scraped their way past the finish line against Pakistan and will know they need to be far more convincing against this Indian bowling attack. It should be an interesting chase. Stick around.

4

Overs4.4

Score24 - 0

Shafali Verma to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Up and over! Shafali offers flight again, on off, on a length. Laura dances down the track and even though she does not get entirely to the pitch of the ball, she extends her hands and launches it over mid off for a boundary.

W

Overs5.2

Score25 - 1

Sree Charani to Laura Wolvaardt, OUT! CAUGHT! This was coming. You could sense the pressure building on Laura Wolvaardt after a sedate start, with India doing an excellent job of denying her scoring opportunities. Darted in from around the wicket, fuller and on off. Wolvaardt steps out and tries to go back over the bowler's head. She connects well but does not get enough elevation to clear the bowler. Sree Charani times the jump to perfection and takes a fine catch over her head. South Africa Women are 25/1, needing 134 runs in 88 balls.

W

Overs5.2

Score25 - 1

DRINKS BREAK! South Africa Women are under some pressure now. They are 25/1 after 5.2 overs, and they need 134 runs from 88 balls. India Women have got the all-important wicket of Laura Wolvaardt and they will try and keep on picking wickets. Let's see how it pans out. Annerie Dercksen is the new batter.

W

Overs5.4

Score25 - 2

Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, OUT! TIMBER! A double strike from Sree Charani. Floated up, landing in line with the leg stump. Dercksen clears the front leg and takes the risk of going against the turn. The ball lands and spins past the outside edge to clatter into the top of the off pole. A two-baller for Annerie. South Africa Women are now 25/2, needing 134 runs in 86 balls.

0

Overs19.6

Score158 - 7

Marizanne Kapp to Arundhati Reddy, Kapp finishes things off with a dot, and India Women finish with 158/7 on the board. Kapp nails the yorker on leg and gets it to just tail back in a bit. Arundhati Reddy gives herself a bit of room again and swings across the line but the ball sneaks under the willow. 6 runs and a wicket off the last over.

1

Overs19.4

Score156 - 7

Marizanne Kapp to Prema Rawat, An appeal for a run out, but Rawat seems to be safe. Kapp goes fuller now, Rawat drills it to mid off and sets off for the single. The fielder picks up the ball and throws it to Kapp, who whips off the bails, but replays show that Rawat was home safely. A direct hit would have done the job, though.