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Sneh Rana looked spectacular with the ball for India Women against South Africa Women in the Sri Lanka Women’s One-Day International (WODI) tri-series in Colombo on April 29, and helped her team clinch a 15-run win. Defending a total of 276, India struggled to damage the Protea side for 27 overs as captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits stitched a 140-run stand for the opening wicket in just 157 balls. In the crunch situation, Deepti Sharma broke into the scene and got rid of Wolvaardt, who was heading towards her half-century. After Wolvaardt, Lara Goodall and Karabo Meso fell cheaply. Annerie Dercksen put up some fight with her 30 off 20 but couldn’t take his team home as she failed to counter Rana in the 48th over of the innings.
After Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk and Tazmin fell against Rana with tailenders Masabata Klaas and Nonkululeko Mlaba tasked to score 25 more runs to win in the last two overs. Both got run out while stealing runs and South Africa got bundled out for 261 in 49.2 overs. India prevailed by 15 runs and Rana concluded her spell with 5/43 figures. She also became the recipient of the player of the match (POTM) award. It was Rana’s maiden five-wicket haul in WODIs.
Tazmin Brits hit her third WODI century
South Africa failed to hold their nerves but Tazmin displayed her courageous side and racked up her third hundred. Her innings included 16 boundaries (13 fours and three maximums). It was her effort that helped South Africa to dominate more than the first-half of the second innings.
However, her team eventually got nervous and registered the defeat against the Women in Blue. India now have won two games in a row and are at the top of the points tally with four points. South Africa will next take on the hosts Sri Lanka Women at the same venue on May 2.
