India are 3-1 down in the five-match series women’s ODI series against South Africa. But Team India skipper Mithali Raj put up a spirited display in the fifth ODI being played at Lucknow.

Mithali scored 79* off 104 balls as India ended with 188 after being put in to bat first. In India’s first series after the break forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mithali Raj put up scores of 50, 36, 45 and 79. She did not bat in the second match.

The 38-year-old was among the top run-getters in the series, behind only compatriot Punam Raut.

During the series, Raj also became the first Indian woman cricketer and second internationally to reach 10,000 runs.

India rested Deepti Sharma, Poonam Yadav, Mansi Joshi and Radha Yadav, bringing in Monica Patel, D Hemalatha, C Pratyusha and Jhulan Goswami in their places.

Playing XI

India: Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Punam Raut, Sushma Verma (wk), C Pratyusha, D Hemalatha, Priya Punia, Jhulan Goswami, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Monica Patel.

South Africa: Sune Luus (c), Laura Wolvaardt, Mignon du Preez, Lara Goodall, Anneke Bosch, Marizane Kapp, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Nadine de Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Tumi Sekhukhune.