India defeated South Africa by 23 runs in the fifth match of the ongoing Women’s ODI Tri-Nation Series in Colombo. With this win, India now have six points from four matches and have confirmed their place in the final. South Africa, despite another fighting performance, remain winless with one game left against Sri Lanka. The final will take place on 11 May between India and the hosts, Sri Lanka.
Chasing a huge target of 338, South Africa suffered an early blow as Lara Goodall was dismissed for just four runs. Regular skipper Laura Wolvaardt missed the match due to illness, so Goodall was promoted to open the innings but fell early to Amanjot Kaur.
Miane Smit and Tazmin Brits added 63 runs for the second wicket before Brits was dismissed for 26 (42). Smit followed soon after with 39 (54). Annerie Dercksen and Nondumiso Shangase then tried to steady the innings. Shangase scored 36, while Dercksen once again impressed with a solid 81 off 80 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes.
Interestingly, South Africa sent Sinalo Jafta ahead of Sune Luus in the batting order. Jafta contributed 21 off 20 balls before falling to N Shree Charani. A crucial 72-run stand between Dercksen and stand-in captain Chloe Tryon for the sixth wicket brought South Africa back into the contest.
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Even after Dercksen’s dismissal, Tryon and Nadine de Klerk kept the chase alive with some powerful hitting. Together, they struck six sixes. Tryon, despite struggling with cramps and visibly limping, batted bravely and gave her all. The game was paused for 20 minutes after 48 overs due to bad light, with South Africa needing 39 runs and trailing the DLS par score by 15 runs.
After the game resumed, Tryon was dismissed for 67 (43), and South Africa eventually finished on 314/7 in 50 overs, falling short by 23 runs.
Earlier in the day, Jemimah Rodrigues scored her second ODI century with a brilliant 123 off 101 balls. She was well supported by Deepti Sharma, who made 93 (84), and Smriti Mandhana, who contributed 51 (63). The 122-run partnership between Jemimah and Deepti was India’s highest ever for the fifth wicket in Women’s ODIs.
India handed a debut cap to Shuchi Upadhyay, who had a decent outing. She bowled nine overs, conceding 59 runs without taking a wicket. Amanjot Kaur made a successful return to the side, taking three wickets for 59 runs in her nine overs.
Jemimah Rodrigues was named the Player of the Match. Speaking at the post-match presentation, she said: “I think the year has just begun for me. I just want to keep going. The main target is the World Cup. But yeah, I’m very pleased with the knock today. Even more special that my parents were here. They were not there when I scored my first international, but they were there when I scored the second, so I’m very happy with that.”
Also Read: IND-W vs SA-W, Tri-Nation ODI Series: Jemimah Rodrigues’ Second ODI Century Guides India to 337