Despite Simone Lourens’ incredible knock of 64 off 44 balls, South Africa lost to India by seven wickets with 21 balls to spare thanks to Shweta Sehrawat’s unbeaten 92 off 57.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat and that decision was vindicated early as the hosts raced to 50 runs within four overs.
Openers Elandri Janse van Rensburg and Lourens immediately took the game to the Indian bowlers, scoring 20 runs in the first over with the latter getting 18.
South Africa scored 64-2 inside the powerplay despite losing Janse van Rensburg (23 off 11) and Captain Oluhle Siyo for a duck, early.
After that the Indians took charge of the middle overs, thanks to some impeccable bowling from their spinners, assisted by fielders who put their bodies on the line.
At the halfway mark, South Africa was 80-2 but Shafali Verma grabbed the wicket of Kayla Reyneke in the 12th over.
The introduction of Vice-captain Madison Landsman saw a South African resurgence as the Benonian and Lourens scored at will to push their total to over 160.
Landsman raced to a quickfire 32 off 17 balls with five fours and one six before being trapped LBW by Parshavi Chopra in the 17th over.
Before Landsman was sent back to the shed, Lourens was run out by Gongadi Trisha but the job was done as South Africa posted 166-5 (19 fours and four sixes), setting India a target of 167.
India’s innings began steadily as Sehrawat and Verma scored 70 runs in the first six overs.
It was Verma who did the early damage as she scored 26 runs off the bowling of Nthabiseng Nini, recording five consecutive boundaries and a six.
Verma was then dismissed for a brilliant 45 off 16 by Miane Smit who struck with her first ball in the seventh over. But the damage was already done as India reached their 100 inside 10 overs.
Despite the wickets of Trisha, dismissed by Seshnie Naidu, and Soumya Tiwari off the bowling of Landsman, Sehrawat’s 92 not out helped India reach 170-3 (32 fours and one maximum) to claim a seven-wicket victory.
Bangladesh claim historic victory
Earlier Bangladesh caused a major upset after beating Australia by seven wickets with 12 balls remaining.
The Aussies’ Claire Moore’s hard fought 52 off 51 helped her team post a defendable 130-5, setting the Bangladeshi 131 to win.
Despite Australia’s perfect start when Rhys McKenna had Misty Ranu Saha caught behind from the first ball of Bangladesh’s chase, Dilara Akter (40 off 42) and Afia Prottasha wrestled back the momentum scoring several boundaries and two sixes, leaving their side needing 65 runs to win at the halfway mark.
Bangladesh’s victory was sealed by Sumaiya Akter in the 18th over as the Asian nation claimed a historic victory.
Other results:
- USA 96-9
- Sri Lanka 100-3
(Sri Lanka won by seven wickets)
- Scotland 99/9
- UAE 100-4
(UAE won by five wickets)
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