SA women hit back, win third T20I to stay afloat

Johannesburg, February 18 

India’s middle-order collapsed after a fiery start as South Africa won the third T20 International by five wickets to keep the five-match series alive here today. The Indian women, eyeing their maiden T20 series win in South Africa after winning the first two matches, collapsed to 133 in 17.5 overs from a comfortable 93/2 in the 12th over.

To their credit, the Indian bowlers dragged the match to the penultimate over, making South Africa work hard to overhaul the small target. The hosts lost opener Lizelle Lee (5) early but skipper Dane van Niekerk (26 off 20) and Sune Luus (41 off 34) steadied the ship. After Dane’s dismissal, Sune and Mignon du Preez (20) raised a 50-run stand for the third wicket to lay the base for the chase. Chloe Tryon (34 off 15) also made a vital contribution to the chase.

For India, medium-pacer Pooja Vastrakar picked up two wickets, giving away just 21 runs from her four overs. Off-spinner Anuja Patil, however, was totally off colour; she conceded 44 runs from her four overs.

Earlier, India looked on course for a big total with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (48) punishing the home bowlers with thunderous strokes. She smashed two sixes six fours in her 30-ball knock. However, once the aggressive skipper and left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana (37) were back in the dugout, the tourists lost wickets in a heap and were bowled out in 17.5 overs. 

The 55-run partnership for the second wicket between Harmanpreet and Smriti was broke by leg-spinner Van Niekerk when she had the latter caught by Moseline Daniels. Harmanpreet was caught behind off pacer Shabnim Ismail, who emerged as the wrecker-in-chief with a five-wicket haul, her career-best haul. Medium-pacer Masabata Klaas (2/20) also contributed in dismantling the Indian middle-order.

The fourth T20I will be played in Centurion on Wednesday. 

Brief scores: India 133 all out (Harmanpreet Kaur 48, Smriti Mandhana 37; Shabnim Ismail 5/30); South Africa 134/5 (Sune Luus 41, Chloe Tyron 34; Pooja Vastrakar 2/21)