Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Kimberley, February 5
India produced a clinical all-round performance to thrash hosts South Africa by 88 runs in the first ODI of the ICC women’s Championship at Diamond Oval here today. Opener Smriti Mandhana scored a strokeful 84 off 98 balls while the pace duo of Jhulan Goswami (4/24) and Shikha Pandey (3/23) shared seven wickets between them to emerge as the architects of India’s victory. Electing to bat, left-handed batswoman Mandhana hit eight boundaries and a six in her 98-ball innings and shared a 99- run stand with skipper Mithali Raj (45) to help India post 213/7 in their allotted 50 overs.
Chasing 214 for a win, South Africa failed to stitch partnerships and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Skipper D van Niekerk top-scored for South Africa with a 41.
Shikha rocked the hosts early by removing opener Lizelle Lee (3), wicketkeeper Trisha Chetty (5) and Mignon du Preez (0) to leave them at 23/3 in 9.2 overs. Spinner Poonam Yadav (2/22) then accounted for the other opener Laura Wolvaardt (21), while Goswami trapped Chloe Tryon LBW as South Africa lost half their side in 22.5 overs.
Goswami then mopped up the tail, dismissing three batswomen — Ismail (4), A Khaka (2) and M Klaas (1) — to complete the win.
Earlier, India lost their first wicket (Punam Raut) early but Smriti and Mithali steadied the ship.
Brief scores: India: 213/7 (S Mandhana 84, Mithali 45; M Kapp 2/26); South Africa: 125 all out in 43.2 overs (D van Niekerk 41; J Goswami 4/24, S Pandey 3/23).
