Mithali, Jemimah sizzle as India beat SA by 54 runs to wrap up T20I series 3-1

Cape Town, February 24

The Indian women accomplished a historic double as they outclassed South Africa by 54 runs in the fifth and final T20I to clinch the series 3-1.

After Mithali Raj led the side to a 2-1 series win in the ODIs, it was Harmanpreet Kaur’s turn to lift the trophy as they became the first team to win two series (different formats) in the Rainbow Nation.

It was Mithali’s 62 off 50 balls complemented by the youthful exuberance of Jemimah Rodrigues (44 off 34 balls) that enabled India register 166/4 in 20 overs.

South Africa were skittled out for 112 in 18 overs with veteran Rumeli Dhar (3/26) making a mark in the very second match on her return to the side after six years.

Shikha Pandey (3/16) was the most successful bowler while left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3/26) had an easy job after South Africa's top half was blown away by the seamers. “It was a two-paced track to bat on but it became easier to play shots at the later stages. But it’s always nice to be among runs,” Mithali, who scored 192 runs in the four innings with three half-centuries, said after the match.  She won the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series awards for her consistent scores. 

Confidence booster

Skipper Harmanpreet on her part spoke about how the series win will bolster their confidence as they get ready to take on Australia and England at home. “I thought we were 20 runs short but our bowlers performed exceptionally well. I thought Mithali di and Jemi (Jemimah) batted well. Shikha and Poonam Yadav bowled really well,” the skipper said.

Mithali started with a couple of boundaries off seamer Shabnim Ismail before latching on to medium-pacer Masabata Klaas. She hit another couple of sixes — one off off-break bowler Raisibe Ntozakhe and the other off captain Dane van Niekerk — both over long-on. She first hit a boundary and then lofted her over long-off for the first six. Along with the 17-year-old Jemimah, Mithali added 98 runs for the second wicket. 

Jemimah also punished Ntozakhe, hitting her through cover for a boundary and also a six over mid-wicket. When Ismail came for her second spell, the teen sensation lofted her effortlessly over long-on for a six. 

Interestingly, Mithali had made her ODI debut (June 1999) 15 months before Jemimah was born in September 2000.

Brief Scores: India: 166/4 in 20 overs (Mithali Raj 62, J Rodrigues 44; M Kaap 1/22): South Africa: 112 all out in 18 overs (M Kaap 27, CL Tryon 25; S Pandey 3/16, R Dhar 3/26). — PTI 

15 Months before Jemimah Rodrigues was born in September 2000, Mithali Raj made her ODI debut (June 1999)