South Africa women defeat India by 5 wickets in fifth ODI, clinch series 4-1

The South African woman’s team registered a five-wicket win in the fifth and final One Day International (ODI) against India to clinch a 4-1 series triumph at Lucknow’s Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. 

Indian skipper Mithali Raj’s unbeaten 104-ball 79 helped the hosts reach a below-par score of 188 for the loss of nine wickets from 49.3 overs. 

In reply, the middle-order duo of Mignon du Preez (57) and Anneke Bosch (58) scored half-centuries to lead the Proteas to a comfortable win with five wickets and ten deliveries to spare. 

Nadine de Klerk was the visitors’ standout bowler, returning with figures of 3/35 from ten overs, with Tumi Sekhukhune and Nondumiso Shangase bagging two wickets each. 

Priya Punia (18) and Smriti Mandhana (18) were dismissed early before the experienced Harmanpreet Kaur retired hurt after a well-made 30 to leave the hosts in trouble. 

Raj struck eight boundaries and a solitary maximum in her innings with wickets tumbling at the other end as no other batter reached double figures for India. 

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But India got off to a dream start in the defence, with South Africa reduced to 27/3 in 10.2 overs. Rajeshwari Gaikwad, who ended the match with excellent figures of 3/13 from 10 overs, claimed two wickets after Dayalan Hemalatha removed skipper Sune Luus (10) to put the hosts in the driver’s seat. 

However, a 96-run partnership for the fourth wicket between du Preez and Bosch all but ended India’s hopes of winning the dead-rubber encounter. 

India got a glimmer of hope after dismissing both half-centurions in quick succession with South Africa still 58 runs away from victory, but Marizanne Kapp (38) and de Klerk (19) saw out the win with ease.