Shafali, Rajeshwari star in Indian women’s consolation win

Lucknow: World No. 1 T20I batswoman Shafali Verma blasted 60 runs off 30 balls after left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s fine bowling display to power India to a consolation nine-wicket win over South Africa in the third and final match here today. Gayakwad picked up three wickets for just nine runs to help India restrict South Africa Women to 112/7 and then Verma and captain Smriti Mandhana (48 not out off 28 balls) shared 96 runs for the opening wicket to canter to an easy win with nine overs to spare. Shafali hit seven fours and five sixes during his blistering knock while Mandhana had nine boundaries in his unbeaten innings. SA Women clinched the three-match T20I series 2-1, having won the first two matches. PTI

Brief scores: SA Women 112/7 (Luus 28; Gayakwad 3/9, Reddy 1/18);

India Women 114/1 in 11 overs (Verma 60, Mandhana 48*)