India vs. South Africa, Women’s World Cup 2022: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj hit fifties while Hamanpreet Kaurs 48 took India to 274 in the must-win match in Christchurch.
2022 Women’s World Cup: India sets South Africa 275-run target in do-or-die game (ICC Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- India women post 274 for 7 vs South Africa women
- The Indian women need a win to advance to the semifinals
- Shafali, Mandhana and Mithali Raj registered 1950’s
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Mithali Raj scored brave fifties to help India reach a competitive 274-run total in Sunday’s do-or-die match against the women of South Africa at the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup.
A win in the game will help India advance to the semi-finals, while a loss will see them on their way back home.
However, South Africa defended brilliantly in the death overs, using the short balls and slower ones to great effect to stifle the goal. At one point India looked good to finish with a score close to 300 points but South Africa managed to pull things off, giving away just 51 runs in the last 10 overs.
Earlier in the day, openers Shafali Verma (53) and Smriti Mandhana made their intentions early and the pair found the boundary with ease to help India reach their 50 without a loss.
Verma was knocked out in the 15th over to give South Africa some relief and Yastika Bhatia (2) was soon followed by Chloe Tryon (1/24) as India was quickly reduced to 96/2.
Mandhana and Raj looked confident into the crease before a moment of on-field brilliance ended the 78-run streak. The southpaw attempted to clear the field, but a stunning catch by Chloe Tryon, diving down her wrong side, ended Mandhana’s innings on the 71st.
Limits were elusive for India before Harmanpreet Kaur finally found her timing in the 48th over with back-to-back fours to add some momentum to the innings. The Proteas pulled it back in the final two overs with wickets from Richa Ghosh and Kaur to limit India to 274/7.
India were dealt a major blow before the game when veteran pacesetter Jhulan Goswami was out with a side strain. The team will miss their precious overs with the new ball as they try to stay alive in the tournament.
