Sune luus
Image Source: IANS
1st T20I: Harmanpreet Shines, But Late Collapse Leads To India Making 157/7 Against South Africa
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur: Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur excelled by hitting 47 and sharing a solid 71-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues, but a late batting collapse meant India managed to post only 157/7 in their 20 overs against South Africa in the women’s T20I series opener at the Kingsmead Stadium on Friday.
Sent into batting first on a very dry pitch, India got off to a flier thanks to Shafali Verma’s 20-ball 34, but the Proteas clawed back in the back end (including conceding 10 runs off the last two overs) through Ayabonga Khaka, who finished with stellar figures of 3-16 and found good support from Tumi Sekhukhune and Nonkululeko Mlaba.
Shafali was in her element from the onset, smashing Sune Luus for a six and a four in the opening over before taking the attack to Ayabonga and Tumi. But the momentum shifted when Tumi induced a mistimed heave from Shafali in the fifth over and was caught at deep midwicket. Smriti Mandhana (13) followed shortly after, driving Ayabonga straight to cover, leaving India at 48/2 at the end of the Powerplay.
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