Brilliant fifties from opener Lizelle Lee and young batter Laura Wolvaardt helped South Africa register a six-wicket win in a last-ball thriller in the second of the the three-match T20I series against India on Sunday. The win gives the Proteas an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Also Read | 1st WT20I: Anneke Bosch stars in crushing South African victory against India
Chasing a 159-run target, the visitors were pegged back early with opener Anneke Bosch (2), who starred in the first encounter with an unbeaten 66, bowled by Rajeshwari Gayakwad in the second over.
Proteas skipper Sune Luus (20) forged a 54-run stand for the second wicket with Lee before a sensational direct-hit by Deepti Sharma, from the long-on boundary, resulted in her run-out.
Also Read | Road Safety Series: Yusuf Pathan blitzes to quickfire fifty in final
But Lee and Wolvaardt added another 50 runs to the scoreboard to take the pressure of the visitors, before the former, having struck eleven fours and a solitary six in her 45-ball 70, was caught and bowled by Radha Yadav.
With 19 needed off the final two overs, the momentum swinged India’s way after took a wicket and conceded just a two singles off the first four deliveries of the penultimate over.
However, Wolvaardt smashed consecutive boundaries off the final two deliveries to bring the equation down to nine from six, which the visitors achieved with a single off the final delivery.
Also Read | Yuvraj Singh scores half century against Sri Lanka legends in Road Safety Series final
Earlier, teenage sensation Shafali Verma top-scored for India with a 31-ball 47 and added 79 for the second wicket with Deol (31). A quick-fire 44 from Richa Ghosh pushed the hosts to a competitve score.