Chennai, July 1: Two days after Team India beat South Africa in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Fiinal in the Caribbean and lifted the trophy, back home, India women's team registered a massive 10 wicket Test match victory against visiting Proteas on Monday.
In the last seven months, India women have played three Tests at home and won all of them. Harmanpreet Kaur & Co have defeated the three formidable forces in women's cricket - Australia, England and South Africa.That certainly is a great boost to Indian women's cricket.
On Monday, chasing a meagre target of 37 runs, India women posted a memorable 10-wicket win against South Africa on Day 4 of the solitary Test, being played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, here.
Indian openers Shafali Verma (24*) and Shubha Satheesh (13*) achieved the 37-run target without separating from each other in India's second innings.
Shubha, who batted at No 3 in the first innings and scored only 16 runs, however opened the batting with Shafali in the second innings and ensured a huge win for the hosts.
Previously, asked to follow on in their second innings Proteas women were all out for 373 in 154.4 overs. That resulted in a slender 36 runs lead, which was too little for a strong Indian batting line-up to get.
In South Africa's second innings, their skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus hit centuries. But Indian bowlers dominated the proceedings on Day 4 as they grabbed remaining 8 wickets of the African innings giving away 143 runs.
Resuming from their overnight scored of 232/2, South Africa were all out for 373, with Indian pacers and spinners taking wickets at regular intervals.
But the highlight of the Proteas second innings was captain Wolvaardt's valiant 122 (314 balls). She was ably supported by top order batter Luus, who hit 109 (203 balls). The two shared a superb 190 runs partnership for the second wicket.
But apart from the duo, fast bowling all-rounder Nadine de Klerk was the only one who could put up a fight with a compact and impressive 61 in 185 balls.
Indian off-spinner Sneh Rana who grabbed 8 wickets in South Africa's first innings claimed two more in the second, to take her match tally to 10 wickets. She was adjudged the Player of the Match.
Earlier, replying to India women's massive first innings score of 603/6 declared, visitors South Africa were bundled out for 266 in 84.3 overs in their first innings.
India's mammoth first innings total was built with Shafali Verma (205) and Smriti Mandhana (149) toying with the African attacks. The Indian openers shared a 292 runs partnership for the first wicket.
Among others, keeper-batter Richa Ghosh hit a stroke-filled 86 in just 90 balls and her skipper Harmanpreet Kaur scored 69.
Brief Scores:
India: 603/6 (d) in 115.1 overs & 37/0 in 9.2 overs.
South Africa: 266/4 in 84.3 overs & 373 in 154.4 overs.
India won by 10 wickets.
Player of the Match: Sneh Rana.
