India loses steam against SA, crashes to first defeat in WC

Set to score 274 for win, India slumped from 47 for one to 65 for seven before Deepti Sharma and Jhulan Goswami (43 n.o.) put on 53 runs for the eighth wicket. But at no stage during the chase was India in the hunt. Deepti made 60 off 111 balls with five fours as India was all out for 158 in 46 overs. 

Earlier, South Africa opener Lizelle Lee hammered 92 off 65 balls before Dane van Niekerk played a captain›s innings to guide the team to 273 for nine. Indian bowlers bounced back after Lee›s brutal attack at the top of the order but South Africa captain Niekerk revived the South African innings with a crucial 57 off 66 balls. 

South Africa managed to post a challenging total after India opted to field at Grace Road here. Though India had got the better of South Africa in their recent battles, it would be interesting to see how they approach the chase. Their highest successful chase is 245, coming against the same opponents. 

A fifth win from as many games will virtually seal India’s place in the semi-finals while a South Africa win will keep them alive in the competition. India were put under severe pressure early on as Lee’s brutal attack propelled South Africa to 71 for one in 10 overs.

The conditions were ideal for batting and Lee made the most of it, hitting as much as 10 fours and seven sixes.

She missed out on a well deserved hundred after being trapped in front of the stumps by offie Harmanpreet Kaur (2/18), leaving South Africa at 134 for three in the 21st over. 

From there on, the Indian bowlers were able to contain the opposition batters by taking wickets at regular intervals. Pacer Shikha Pandey, brought back into the side in place of Mansi Joshi, was the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets for 40 runs from nine overs.

India’s most prolific spinner in the tournament, Ekta Bisht, proved expensive leaking 68 runs in nine overs though she did take a couple of wickets. She went for as much as 20 runs in the 46th over when Niekerk and Chloe Tyron whacked her for three sixes. India were well on course to restrict South Africa under 250 but Niekerk spoiled their plans with a timely half century. 

Brief scores: South Africa 273/9 in 50 overs (L Lee 92, van Niekerk 57, Tryon 24, T Chetty 24, S Pandey 3/40, H Kaur 2/18) beat India 158 all out in 46 overs (Deepti Sharma 60, Jhulan Goswami 43 not out, PG Raut 22, Jhulan 28, van Niekerk 4/22, A Khaka 2/33).