Indian eves beat S Africa by 16 runs

After losing the one-day series, the Indian women’s cricket team bounced back in the shortest version to outplay South Africa by 16 runs in the one-off T20 international, here on Sunday.

Put into bat at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium, the Mithali Raj-led India posted a respectable 146 for five in the stipulated 20 overs.

Mithali (40) gave the team a good start after fellow-opener Vellaswamy Vanitha (7) departed early.

But the veteran batswoman failed to capitalise on her own start and departed after facing 31 deliveries, hitting five fours and two sixes.

One-down Smriti Mandhana (52) then took over to manage a 63-run fourth-wicket partnership with Shikha Pandey (23) to give the team the much-needed fillip in the middle overs.

The left-handed Mandhana struck five fours in her 42-ball knock as Shikha also hit a four and a six in her 18-ball stay.

Proteas off-spinner Sunette Loubser returned with best figures of 2-29 in the Indian innings.

In reply, the visitors started well but Mithali ran the dangerous-looking opener Dane van Niekerk (46) out and the visitors never recovered after that.

Leg-spinner Poonam Yadav bagged three wickets and never allowed the South Africans any breathing space as the visitors could only manage 130 for nine.

Left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht was also effective with her two-wicket haul.

Only four South African’s reached double figures and Marizanne Kapp, with her 16-ball 33 that was laced with two fours and three sixes, was the next best after Dane.

India had lost the three-match ODI series 1-2. Brief Scores: India 146/5 in 20 overs (Mithali Raj 40, Smriti Mandhana 52; Sunette Loubser 2-29) South Africa 130/9 in 20 overs (Dane van Niekerk 46, Marizanne Kapp 33; Poonam Yadav 3-18, Ekta Bisht 2-20).