India Clinches Thrilling Last-Ball Victory Over South Africa in High-Scoring ODI

 

Photo: ESPB/BCCI

In a thrilling match in Bengaluru, spectators witnessed one of the most entertaining games of 50-over cricket, with India securing a last-ball victory over South Africa. This win clinched the series for India with a 2-0 lead and one match remaining.

Match Summary: The game saw an impressive total of 646 runs, featuring four centuries—a first in women's ODIs. India's Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur scored 136 and 103* respectively, leading India to their third-highest ODI total of 325 for 3. In response, South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp put up a fierce fight with scores of 135* and 114.

Photo: ESPN/BCCI

Key Moments:

• Pooja Vastrakar's Final Over: India needed to defend 10 runs in the last over. Vastrakar conceded five runs from the first two balls, but her next two deliveries took crucial wickets, leaving Wolvaardt, stranded at the non-striker's end. With five runs required off the last ball, Wolvaardt faced a back-of-the-hand slower delivery from Vastrakar and missed, securing India's win.

• India's Innings: After being asked to bat first, India started slowly, with Smriti Mandhana taking 18 balls to get off the mark. Shafali Verma was dismissed for a 38-ball 9. Mandhana and Harmanpreet's partnership of 171 runs off 136 balls was pivotal. Mandhana's century came off 103 balls, and Harmanpreet scored predominantly on the leg side, with 70 of her runs coming from there. A missed stumping chance allowed Harmanpreet to reach her sixth ODI century.

• South Africa's Chase: South Africa started poorly, losing three wickets for 67 runs. However, Wolvaardt and Kapp's 184-run partnership revived their hopes. Kapp's 114 off 94 balls and Wolvaardt's steady 135* kept South Africa in the game. Nadine de Klerk's quick 28 added to the tension, but they fell just short.

Harmanpreet Kaur Celebrate After Scoring a Blistering Century - ESPN/BCCI

Pitch and Conditions:

• The second ODI was played on a different pitch, featuring a patch of grass and visible cracks, which initially helped the bowlers. As the game progressed, the pitch eased out, benefiting the batters.

Notable Performances:

• India: Smriti Mandhana (136), Harmanpreet Kaur (103*), and Richa Ghosh's quick 25 off 13 balls.
• South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (135*), Marizanne Kapp (114).

Photo: ESPN/BCCI

Context and Significance:

• South Africa needed wins in this series for automatic qualification for the next World Cup. Despite their strong performance, they fell short, putting pressure on their upcoming home series against England.

This match showcased the resilience and skill of both teams, setting a high standard for women's ODI cricket.

India 325 for 3 (Mandhana 136, Harmanpreet 103, Mlaba 2-51) beat South Africa 321 for 6 (Wolvaardt 135, Kapp 114, Vastrakar 2-54, Deepti 2-56) by four runs.**