Record breaking Smriti Mandhana and Jhulan Goswami star in India win to level the ODI series against South Africa

India Women made a strong comeback after losing the first ODI against South Africa Women. Having won the toss and elected to bowl, Indian bowlers were on the offensive with pacers Jhulan Goswami and Mansi Joshi removing openers Lizelle Lee (4) and Laura Wolvaardt (9) by 5.1 overs

Captain Sune Luus (36) and top scorer Lara Goodall (49) resurrected the innings before Mansi Joshi struck in her 2nd spell to remove Luus with the score at 80/3 in 20.4 overs.

Spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad suffocated the Proteas innings with 3 wickets which dented the middle overs period leading to wickets for Harmanpreet Kaur who picked the price wicket of Lara Goodall. Goswami picked 4 wickets including the price wicket of Marizanne Kapp for 10. South Africa bundled out for 157 runs in 41 overs.

Team India began their chase quite well but Shabnim Ismail struck in the 5th over when Jemimah Rodrigues pulled the short ball on to the stumps with the score at 22-1 in 4.1 overs. Punam Raut joined Smriti Mandhana and stabilized the innings before Mandhana established dominance.

Mandhana played some exquisite drives to bring up her half century in 46 balls. She shifted gears to score 80 runs in 64 balls with the help of 10 Fours and 3 Sixes including the winning boundary. Punam Raut stayed solid and scored 62 runs in 89 balls with the help of 8 Fours. The duo put on an unbeaten 138 run stand in 147 balls to take the home over the victory line.

Smriti Mandhana’s World Record

By scoring 80* in winning cause – Smriti Mandhana became the first ever player in International cricket to register 10 consecutive 50+ scores in a ODI run chase. Her last 10 innings: 80*, 74, 63, 90*, 105, 73*, 53*, 86, 52, 67

Match Summary

South Africa Women 157 all out in 41 overs
Lara Goodall 49 (77)
Sune Luus 36 (57)
Jhulan Goswami 10-042-4
Rajeshwari Gayakwad 9-0-37-3

India Women 160-1 in 28.4 overs
Smriti Mandhana 80*(64)
Punam Raut 62*(89)
Shabnim Ismail 6-0-46-1

India Women won by 9 wickets

Toss: India Women won the toss and elect to bowl

Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Player of the Match: Jhulan Goswami