South Africa seal ODI collection 4-1, give India a lot to consider forward of World Cup

South Africa added salt to India’s wounds by registering a five-wicket win over the hosts within the low-scoring fifth and last ladies’s ODI to seal the collection 4-1 on Wednesday.
Mithali Raj performed a captain’s knock by hitting a well-crafted 79 not out however it was solely sufficient to take India to 188 all out.
South Africa then rode on Anneke Bosch (58) and Mignon du Preez’s (57) half-centuries to chase down the goal in 48.2 overs.
The collection marked India’s return to worldwide cricket after 12 months. They have been naturally rusty to begin with and by the top of the collection, it appeared that they’ve quite a lot of work to do in the event that they need to be title contenders for the World Cup early subsequent yr.
The batting wants extra firepower and bowling issues too should be addressed as spinners, historically India’s power, struggled towards South Africa.
Coming again after a protracted break, the India gamers had solely a handful of coaching periods forward of the collection as in addition they needed to endure a compulsory one week quarantine.
“Clearly, we do need some camps before series. We were underprepared, coming from a gap. The batting unit tried to improve consistently match by match. Our spinners need to improve,” stated Mithali on the post-match presentation.
“Other than the result, it’s been a good series for us. Exposure for the young players, and opportunity to those players looking for rhythm. Congratulations to South Africa for doing so well in our conditions,” she added.

5⃣5⃣th ODI fifty for @M_Raj03! 👏👏
2⃣nd half-century of the collection for #GroupIndia captain.👍👍 @Paytm #INDWvSAW
Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/HGSBgKF68c pic.twitter.com/RzGNTCqbum
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) March 17, 2021
South Africa’s chase acquired off to a disastrous begin because the guests misplaced their prime three batters together with skipper Sune Luus (10) for simply 27 runs.
Du Preez (57) and Bosch (58) the stabilised South Africa’s run chase with a 96-run partnership for the fourth wicket earlier than Indian bowlers pulled issues again, dismissing each the set batters in fast succession.
At that stage South Africa have been 131 for 5, nonetheless needing 58 runs in 13 overs for a win.
While Bosch’s knock was laced with eight fours and got here off 70 balls, du Preez was a tad slower as she took 10 balls for her innings and struck simply 4 boundaries within the course of.
Marizanne Kapp (36 not out) and Nadine de Klerk (19 not out), nevertheless, ensured there was no additional hiccups because the duo shared unbeaten 58 runs for the sixth wicket to information South Africa residence.
For India, left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad picked up three wickets conceding simply 13 runs off her 10 overs.
Earlier, Mithali steered India’s innings after India misplaced three early wickets with the scoreboard studying 53 within the thirteenth over.
Together with Harmanpreet Kaur (30), who retired harm on account of an harm, Mithali shared 71 runs for the fourth wicket earlier than the previous left the bottom within the thirty first over.

#GroupIndia ODI vice-captain @ImHarmanpreet has walked off the sector. @Paytm #INDWvSAW
We are hoping to see her again in motion quickly.
Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/HGSBgKF68c pic.twitter.com/ciOqOgA6Py
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) March 17, 2021
India misplaced opener Priya Punia (18) early earlier than India’s star batswoman of the collection Punam Raut (10) and Smriti Mandhana (18) departed in successive overs.
Dayalan Hemalatha (2) and Sushma Verma (0) failed to offer the much-needed assist to Mithali because the veteran Indian batter introduced up her second fifty of the collection and fifty fifth total in 78 balls within the thirty eighth over.
Jhulan Goswami (5) and Monica Patel (9) too didn’t bother the scorers a lot as Mithali stored India’s innings going single-handedly.
Debutant Challuru Prathyusha (2) additionally did not make a mark as India slumped to 176 for eight by the top of the forty seventh over.

Earlier Today:
The pleasure of receiving your #GroupIndia cap from the legendary @M_Raj03! 😀
Welcome to worldwide cricket, Challuru Prathyusha! 👍👍@Paytm #INDWvSAW
Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/HGSBgKF68c pic.twitter.com/sWyrgvje0R
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) March 17, 2021
Mithali was left stranded at one hand as India stored on dropping wickets at common intervals and have been bowled out in 49.3 overs.
Medium pacer de Klerk was the choose of the bowlers for South Africa with figures of three for 35. PTI