The recent trend in which South Africa Women had lost four of their previous six Twenty20 Internationals when they batted first was a major factor in India Women’s choice to field first in the opening T20I of the three-match series.
But on a Chepauk surface where the ball unexpectedly came to bat with more ease than it has been known to do so, the Proteas took advantage, spinning the strike with ease and occasionally hitting the boundaries on a regular basis during the powerplay.
Deepti Sharma’s 12-run over resulted in Laura Wolvaardt, the captain, clearing the long-off boundary by a significant margin on the last ball, setting her side up nicely at 44/0 at the end of the powerplay.
Moments later, Radha Yadav, a homegrown player, surprised everyone by outwitting an experienced Wolvaardt. The captain was caught off guard when the delivery drifted in and she leaned across too much, disturbing her timber for a promising 33 (22). But what followed was a commanding performance by the batters, led by Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp. They established their dominance over the Indians with a devastating partnership of 96 runs off just 56 deliveries for the second wicket.
Just when the seasoned cricketer looked about to step up her game, Radha claimed her second wicket of the match, knocking Kapp for 57 in the competition’s 17th over. Pooja Vastrakar, on the other hand, undid the British, giving up just 23 runs during her innings. This, meanwhile, came after the opener scored 81 runs from 56 deliveries, her highest-ever T20I score, a performance that featured three maximums and 10 fours.
There was never going to be anything typical about chasing 190. But India got off to a fast start, surpassing the visitors with 54 runs in the opening five overs. The hosts’ innings was greatly held down when the in-form Shafali Verma was dismissed in the powerplay’s last over. Smriti Mandhana, her opening partner, looked impressive with her 46-run innings but left the pitch just four runs short of her fifty and before the innings was halfway over. This gave Chloe Tryon, who was back, her first catch of the day and wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta her second.
Also read: During the first T20I against South Africa, Richa Ghosh sustains a concussion
Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain, had trouble getting off the ground even though there wasn’t a long stretch without any wickets falling. Jemimah Rodrigues proved to be a reliable batswoman during the run-chase. Despite needing 39 runs from the last two overs, both players gave it their all. They failed, though, as Nonkululeko Mlaba remained cool in the final over, keeping India at bay when they needed 21 to win. Jemimah’s undefeated thirty-ball fifty-three was eclipsed by a 12-run triumph, which gave South Africa their first win of the tour.
Here’s how X reacted to 1st T20I between IND-W and SA-W:
Excellent batting from Tazmin Brits 👏
8️⃣1️⃣ – runs
5️⃣6️⃣ – deliveries
1️⃣0️⃣ – 4s
3️⃣ – 6sBrits brings up her 10th half-century. ✨✨#INDWvsSAW pic.twitter.com/ktFSkhE9Gx
— 🅼🅺 🆅🅴🆁🅼🅰 🇮🇳 (@_mkverma) July 5, 2024
It’s the first time that three India Women bowlers have conceded 40 or more in a T20I.
Renuka Singh 0/42
Radha Yadav 2/40
Deepti Sharma 0/45#Mirzapur3 #Samantha #ShubmanGill #Hotstar #Zimbabar #AliaBhatt #INDvsSA #Khalistani #AmritpalSingh #NeerajChopra #INDWvsSAW pic.twitter.com/NAvehxOavh— Zafar Iqbal (@zafarlakarmar) July 5, 2024
Brits 🔥🔥#INDWvsSAW
— 𝗧𝗲𝗷𝘂 ♡︎ (@NerdyBoy024) July 5, 2024
@kappie777 is Hardik Pandya material in women’s cricket she’s just too good 🔥#INDWvsSAW
— 🆁🅾🅻🅴🆇ᶜʳⁱᶜᵏᵉᵗᵍᵉᵉᵏ (@RoshanSriram123) July 5, 2024
Pooja Vastrakar finishes as India’s top bowler with figures of 2/23 against South Africa Women. pic.twitter.com/6114Kc5olR
— The sports (@the_sports_x) July 5, 2024
Fifty partnership for Smriti Mandhana & Shafali Verma.
India 54/0 (4.5) off to a great start in pursuit of a record target.
136 off 91 required.#INDvSA https://t.co/zmsD4BEri7
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) July 5, 2024
The injuries continue
Tazmin Brits now being stretched off the ground because of possible cramps and dehydration#INDvSA
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) July 5, 2024
It’s a really Good fight , Hard Luck Team India women’s !
You beauty Jemimah ✨💙🫂
— Benjamin Bhuvanesh (@benjaminbb17) July 5, 2024
The Proteas Women have beaten the India Women by 12 runs in the 1st T20I to get the series off to a perfect start!
Laura Wolvaardt 33 (22)
Tazmin Brits 81 (56)
Marizanne Kapp 57 (33)
Chloe Tryon 12 (8)Well done ladies 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Tv1fyl7JQu
— Werner (@Werries_) July 5, 2024
The Proteas Women have beaten the India Women by 12 runs in the 1st T20I to get the series off to a perfect start!
Laura Wolvaardt 33 (22)
Tazmin Brits 81 (56)
Marizanne Kapp 57 (33)
Chloe Tryon 12 (8)Well done ladies 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Tv1fyl7JQu
— Werner (@Werries_) July 5, 2024
India
