India Women registered their fifth successive win in the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier as they beat South Africa Women by 49 runs. Post the win, India inched closer to a World Cup berth.
Captain Mithali Raj starred in the marquee clash as both teams had topped their respective groups and carried a maximum of four points from the preliminary league to the second stage.
Asked to bat first, India got off to a slow start, scoring only 14 off the first 10 overs but the complexion of the game changed once Raj came to the crease. She and opener Mona Meshram lifted the team with a fine 96-run second-wicket stand to help put up a competitive 205 for eight. Raj scored 64 off 85 balls with 10 fours and Meshram got 55 off 85 balls with five fours and two sixes.
South Africa’s reply suffered some early setbacks and it was reduced to 41 for three in the 19th. Shikha Pandey and left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht, who shared the new ball, finished with four and three wickets, respectively, as South Africa folded for 156 in 46.4 overs.
“The win today definitely eases the pressure on us, especially for the last match of the Super League against Pakistan. It also gives us time to assess what all we are not doing right so that we can improve on those aspects in the coming matches,” Raj was quoted as saying.
