India delivered a commanding performance against South Africa in the final match of the round-robin stage of the tri-series in Sri Lanka on Wednesday in Colombo. The Women in Blue rode on a sensational century from Jemimah Rodrigues and an 84-ball 93 from Deepti Sharma to post 337 – their fifth-highest ODI total – before securing a 23-run victory.
India finished the league stage of the tri-series with three wins from four matches, their only slip-up coming against hosts Sri Lanka in the second round on 4 May.
India will now face Sri Lanka in the final, as Wednesday’s defeat knocked South Africa out of the tournament. Chloe Tryon’s side lost to India twice and to Sri Lanka once, and even if they beat Sri Lanka in the final league match, they will remain rooted to the bottom of the points table.
On Wednesday, India recovered from early setbacks after in-form opener Pratika Rawal and No. 3 Harleen Deol fell for single-digit scores. India slipped to 50 for 3 after captain Harmanpreet Kaur departed for a quickfire 28 off 20 balls. However, opener Smriti Mandhana used all her experience to counter a testing new-ball spell from the South African pacers.
Smriti and Jemimah Rodrigues stitched together 88 runs for the third wicket. Both batters kept the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace, putting pressure back on the South African bowlers.
Smriti, who struck six boundaries in her 63-ball 51, was unable to convert her start into a big score as she was dismissed in the 24th over by Chloe Tryon.
Jemimah, however, carried on and brought up her second ODI century. She reached the three-figure mark in just 89 balls. The Mumbai batter struck 15 boundaries and a six, finishing with a brilliant 123 off 101 balls.
Jemimah looked poised to kick on and reach a 150-plus score, but she was dismissed in the 43rd over by Masabata Klaas.
“I think the year has just begun, want to keep going, the target is the World Cup, scoring in front of my parents is extra special. We lost three wickets, just tried to play simple cricket, but I was just trying to score runs, the partnerships with Smrirti and Deepti was good, she played really well. I think it’s just the confidence and understanding of the game,” Jemimah said after winning the Player of the Match award in Colombo.
Her 122-run partnership with Deepti Sharma proved to be match-defining. While Deepti started cautiously, she provided the late impetus, smashing 10 boundaries and two sixes in her 84-ball 93.
Richa Ghosh added a quick cameo, hitting a six and two boundaries for a brisk 20 off 12 balls.
Masabata Klaas and Nadine de Klerk were the pick of the bowlers for South Africa, claiming two wickets apiece. Captain Tryon bowled economically, conceding just 46 runs and picking up a wicket in her eight-over spell.
AMANJOT IMPRESSES WITH THREE WICKETS
In reply, South Africa lost Lara Goodall early to Amanjot Kaur, who was playing her first game of the series. Amanjot kept things tight in the powerplay, swinging the ball both ways. She ended with impressive figures, taking three wickets in nine overs, including that of Annerie Dercksen, who top-scored with a fine 81 off 80 balls.
While South Africa kept themselves in the hunt with valuable contributions from Nondumiso Shangase and Sinalo Jaffa, captain Tryon made a solid impact, smashing 67 off 43 balls. She hit five sixes and four boundaries, but her valiant effort was not enough to take South Africa past the finish line.
