India lost the third game of the five-match T20I series by five wickets to South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team, however, lead the series 2-1. The Indian lower-order failed to build on the momentum set by Smriti Mandhana (37 off 24) and Harmanpreet (48 off 30) and the side were bowled out for 133. While Shabnim Ismail (5/30) wrapped-up the visitors' line-up, S Luus (41 off 34) and Chloe Tryon (34 off 15) helped the hosts clinch a win.
Asked to bat first, India lost Mithali Raj in the first over. The mainstay of the line-up departed edging M Kapp to the wicketkeeper without a run on the board. Mandhana however, counter-attacked in the second over. The stylish left-hand batswoman sent Ismail racing to the fence thrice as they picked 17 runs off the over. An over later, the Harmanpreet – Mandhana pair attacked Daniels for 14 runs to keep up the momentum.
While Kapp continued to bowl a miserly spell, the batters plundered runs off Tryon. Mandhana lofted the bowler over mid-off for an elegant six. However, the opener’s blitzkrieg ended for 37 as she looked for another big shot off Daniels leaving India on 55 for two.
With Jemimah Rodrigues, the captain then looked to carry the innings forward. She powered D van Niekerk for a straight six and collected 18 runs of R Ntozakhe as she kept the Indian innings on course. However, after taking India to 91 for two in 11 overs, Harmanpreet departed edging Ismail to the ‘keeper leaving India on 93 for three. A run later, the pacer accounted for Rodrigues. The double-blow by Ismail kept the innings evenly poised.
While Veda Krishnamurthy toiled to maintain the flow of runs, Ismail accounted for Anuja Patil in her next leaving India on 108 for five. Sixteen runs later, Krishnamurthy departed taking the aerial route and from there on it was downhill for the visitors. M Klaas followed up with the wickets of Taniya Bhatia and Shikha Pandey while Ismail claimed Poonam Yadav and Pooja Vastrakar to wrap-up the Indian innings for 133 with 13 balls to spare.
Vastrakar then returned to bowl a maiden first over and claimed L Lee in her next to leave SA on 12 for one and get India off to a good start. van Niekerk and Luus then added 22 runs to the total until the captain was dismissed by Rajeshwari Gayakwad. With M du Preez, Luus then stitched a 50 run stand until the middle-order bat sent back leaving the hosts on 84 for three.
Luus and Tryon then kept the chase on course and had taken SA to 111 when the top-order bat departed hitting Vastrakar towards the covers. With N de Klerk holding one end up, Tryon muscled her way forward. With 13 runs required off 12 balls, Tryon slammed Anuja Patil through mid-wicket for four and sent the next ball soaring over the fence. However, while looking for another big hit to finish the match she came down the track to the spinner and was stumped. Kapp and de Klerk then helped the Proteas Women to the finish line with six balls to spare.
Brief scorecard: India 133/10 in 17.5 overs (H Kaur 48, S Mandhana 37, S Ismail 5/30, M Klaas 2/20) lost to SA 134/5 in 19 overs (S Luus 41, C Tryon 34, P Vastrakar 2/21) by 5 wickets.
