Indian women's cricket team registered a huge 143-run win over South Africa in the first ODI match in Bengaluru on Sunday, June 16. The star batter Smirit Mandhana scored a brilliant hundred and ace all-rounder Deepti Sharma shone with both bat and ball to give India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at home.
Mandhana ended her international century drought after two years by smashing 117 runs off 127 balls as India posted a challenging total of 265/8 while batting first. Debutant spinner Asha Sobhana then bagged four wickets and Deepti claimed two for ten to bowl out the Proteas Women to 122 in 37.4 overs.
This victory also emerged as India's second-biggest win by a margin of runs and biggest on home soil. After winning the toss, India handed an ODI debut to leg-spinner Asha Sobhana who claimed four wickets while conceding just 21 runs to contribute to a memorable win.
Batting first, India lost youngster Shafali Verma with the wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta pulling out a stunning catch behind. India struggled for quick runs with a middle-order trio of Dayalan Hemakarha, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues failing to make an impact.
Smriti and Deepti brought India back into the game with a match-defining stand for the sixth wicket. Mandhana kept the scorecard moving with an impressive net run rate as she recorded 12 fours and smashed one six. The pace all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar added an unbeaten 31 runs off 42 balls as India managed to score 265.
Chasing a tough total, South Africa lost captain Laura Wolvaardt in the very first over. Renuka Singh Thakur produced a brilliant delivery to bowl out Wolvaardt as the Proteas conceded an early pressure. South Africa struggled to create any meaningful partnerships against India's strong spin attack as their innings collapsed to 122 in 37.4 overs.
Sobhana produced the best figures of 4 for 21 and Deepti Sharma bagged two big wickets while conceding just ten runs. Mandhana clinched the Player of the Match award for his memorable century.
South Africa Women Playing XI: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Annerie Dercksen, Nondumiso Shangase, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka.
India Women Playing XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Dayalan Hemalatha, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Thakur Singh.
