One-off Test, Chennai, June 28, 2024, 09:30 AM
603/6(115.1ov) & 37/0(9.2ov)
266/10(84.3ov) & 373/10(154.4ov)
India Women beat South Africa Women by 10 wickets
The trophy has been handed over to Harmanpreet Kaur who joins her other teammates. India Women lead 4-0 in this tour. South Africa Women have come close on a couple of occasions but nothing yet convincing from them in this tour. That is all from this game. The action shifts back onto the white-ball cricket. The three-match T20I series will start on the 5th of this month at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT). Do join us earlier for the build up. Till then, Cheers!
Harmanpreet Kaur starts by saying South Africa Women batted really well. Tells everyone in the team contributed to the win, it was not hard to field for more than 100 overs under heat. Tells she had the trust of bowlers when she enforced the follow-on and even the management kept things positive throughout the match. Reckons the spinners were creating chances so she was forced to go back to them for wickets. Mentions they had just 100 runs under the pocket so they were looking for wickets, they planned well and stuck to that.
Sneh Rana wins the Player of the Match award. She says it's an amazing feeling to contribute to the team. Tells the pitch was difficult initially for the spinners but later on they was turn and spin, credit to South Africa who batted really well. Shares it's a special feeling to play Test cricket. Ends by saying people think it's easy to play off-spinners but they'll think otherwise after today.
Laura Wolvaardt says its incredible to see the character shown by her team in the last couple of days. Tells each and every batter felt they could have hung out there for a long time but she is happy with the mindset the players showed. Feels cricket is a funny game, what could have happened had they restricted India to slightly less on day one
... Presentation...
Amol Muzumdar, the Head Coach of India says they played well against England and Australia recently but this match was a real test of character for both the teams. Adds no better advertisement for cricket than this Test match. Shares they had a clue about the conditions, it was on the slower and lower side. Appreciates the way the Proteas batted and tells they applied themselves really well. Dillon du Preez, the head coach of South Africa Women is nearby as well. He is proud of the team. Tells their bowling let them down while the batters survived on a tough pitch. Credits the way her team played under difficult conditions.
It felt like South Africa Women will be rattled out in Day 3 itself however the skipper along with Sune Luus batted for more than a couple of sessions, scoring centuries respectively. More than the runs it was how the Proteas neglected the turn and made India work hard under favourable conditions. Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk played well too but once the latter fell after pushing the game into the last innings, it was all but over for the visitors. The victory was certain for India but it was a real show of grit by South Africa Women who turned up in the second innings and made India earn each and every wicket right till the end.
In reply, with the ball turning, South Africa Women found it difficult to adjust to the conditions. Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp played well for them but the visitors lost 6 wickets in 10 overs. They were spun into the web of Sneh Rana who ended with 8 wickets. She was the star of the innings. India later enforced the follow on and went for the kill with South Africa Women still trailing by more than 300 runs but the Proteas showed a lot of character in the second innings.
It all started with a massive opening stand between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana after India elected to bat first. The duo posted 292 runs on top with Verma scoring a double century while Mandhana departing one short of 150. It was not just about their contribution but valuable knocks from Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh meant India end with a mammoth total of over 600. A historic start to the Test match as it was the highest score in Women's Test cricket.
A comprehensive victory for India but boy they were made to toil hard. South Africa Women deserve the credit for taking the game till the last session but India deserve the appreciation for getting a result out of this game.
In over# 10
2
0
Delmi Tucker 19/0(4.2)
9.2
2
That will do! Fuller and outside off, Shubha plays with an angled bat and dabs it late through first slip and to third man for a couple. INDIA WIN BY 10 WICKETS.
9.1
.
Tossed up on off, Shubha pushes it to cover.
In over# 9
0
0
4
0
1
1
Nonkululeko Mlaba 18/0(5)
8.6
.
Full and down the leg side, Verma looks to sweep but misses.
8.5
.
Too full on off, Verma keeps it out.
8.4
4
FOUR! Tossed up on off, Verma prods to defend but gets an outside edge past the diving fielder at first slip and to the fence. Two runs needed.
8.3
.
Lands outside off, spins away and dies as well off the deck. Verma looks to punch but misses.
8.2
1
Another single as Shubha flicks it to square leg. India one hit away.