3rd T20I: Indian Women beat South Africa by 9 Wickets
India’s women’s cricket team beat South Africa by nine wickets in the third and final T20 International on Tuesday.
India's left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad on Tuesday strangulated the South African batters with a miserly spell in which she captured three wickets for only nine runs in four overs to set up a nine-wicket win in the third and final T20 International on Tuesday.
After the Rajeshwari show, openers Shafali Verma 60 (30 balls, 7x4s, 5x6s) and captain Smriti Mandhana 48 not out (28 balls, 9x4s) guided India to victory with nine overs to spare at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
South Africa, however, won the three-match series 2-1.
After Smriti won the toss and chose to bowl, she opened the bowling with pacer Arundhati Reddy and Rajeshwari. While Arundhati bagged just one wicket, Rajeshwari even bowled a maiden and finished with brilliant figures of 4-1-9-3.
The top scorer for South Africa was their captain Sune Luus, who scored 28 off 25 (3x4s).
In reply, Shafali and Smriti provided a solid start by scoring 96 runs for the opening wicket.
After Shafari got out, Smriti and Harleen Deol (4 not out) saw India through.
Brief scores: South Africa: 112/7 wkts in 20 overs (Sune Luus 28; Gayakwad 3/9) lost to India: 114/1 wkt in 11 overs (Shafali Verma 60, Smriti Mandhana 48 not out) by 9 wickets
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