Indian juggernaut rolls on
Colombo, February 15
India defeated South Africa by 49 runs in a Super Six game of the women’s World Cup Qualifier here today. A 96-run second-wicket partnership between Mona Meshram (55) and skipper Mithali Raj (64) helped India post 205 in 50 overs. South Africa, in reply, were bowled out for 156 in 46.4 overs, giving India a big win that has put them on the verge of qualification for the World Cup to be held in England in June.
India lost Deepti Sharma (9) early on but Mona and Mithali then steadied the innings with the 96-run partnership. After making just 14 runs in the first 10 overs, the Indian innings gradually gathered momentum and the next 20 overs yielded 98 runs, with both Mona and Mithali posting half-centuries.
A flurry of wickets, including both the half-centurions, saw India slipping to 164/5 in 43.1 overs. At this stage, India needed some quick runs to post a reasonably good total. Devika Vaidya (19) and Shikha Pandey (21) provided the much-needed late flourish to help the team cross the 200-run mark.
The South African chase got off to a poor start as they lost two wickets with just eight runs on the board. Trisha Chetty (52) hit the only half-century of the innings, but that was not enough to see the team home. India’s Shikha Pandey (4/34) and Ekta Bisht (3/22) took seven wickets between them to bundle the opposition out for 156. — PTI
Brief scores: India 205 (Mithali Raj 64, Mona Meshram 55); South Africa 156 all out (Trisha Chetty 52; Shikha Pandey 4/34, Ekta Bisht 3/22)
