Fifties from Lizelle Lee and Dane Van Niekerk, coupled with deadly spin-bowling from Van Niekerk (4-22), saw the Proteas crush India by 115 runs. KHALID MOHIDIN reports.
The Proteas Women reversed their recent form against India, which has seen them win only one match of the last five meetings against them in 2017. This win was an inspiring victory in their World Cup clash at Grace Road, Leicester on Saturday.
Lizelle Lee gave the Proteas Women the perfect start, smashing 10 fours and seven sixes to reach a 65-ball 92.
This was the 25-year-old’s 12th half-century and covered up the collapses around her as she took her side to 134-2 before she was trapped lbw by Harmanpreet Kaur.
The rest of South Africa’s batters got off to good starts, but struggled to push on. Trisha Chetty (24), Mignon du Preez (22), Marizanne Kapp (19), Sune Luus (16) and Chloe Tryon (24 off 19) all lost their wickets as they were aiming to settle in.
India got off to the start they desired, striking early by dismissing the in-form Laura Wolvaardt on 1 after 1.2 overs. The fall of the top five was covered up by Lee’s destructive 50, as the Proteas found themselves rattled at 162-5 by the end of the 29th over.
Van Niekerk revitalised the Proteas’ innings to help them past 250 by scoring her fifth half-century, but she lost her wicket with SA on 265-7 in the 49th over.
It was pretty much over from there, as SA posted a decent total of 273-9 in their 50 overs.
The Proteas bowling display was exceptional. Kapp struck early to take the wicket of the dangerous Smriti Mandhana (4).
Despite India recovering well through a 43-run partnership between Punam Raut (22) and Deepti Sharma, India were rattled when Ayabonga Khaka bowled Raut on 22.
Van Niekerk then took a double in the 12th over to reduce India to 48-4, followed by another Khaka scalp and a third from the Proteas skipper to topple India’ top six for 56 runs (16.3 overs).
A run-out on the second last ball of the 30th over pegged them back at 65-7, summing up India’s day at the office.
Sharma continued to anchor her side’s inning by reaching her seventh career fifty and helped her side past the 100 mark, but her innings was ended by Van Niekerk on 60.
The Proteas skipper ended with figures of 4-22 in her 10 overs to go with her half-century.
A wicket-maiden from Luus in the 45th over saw India’s efforts fizzle out. Shabnim Ismail grabbed the final wicket and completed a 115-run win with 25 balls remaining.
Jhulan Goswami did well to finish on 43 not out, but could not prevent her side from being skittled for 158.
The victory pushes SA to fourth in the standings on seven points, drawing level with New Zealand with the same points in third, and one point behind Australia and India in first and second respectively. England have a game in hand and are one point behind South Africa.
Photo: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty Images
