India Women vs South Africa Women: Day 1 Dominance and Day 2 Resilience in the One-Off Test

India Women vs South Africa Women: Day 1 Dominance and Day 2 Resilience in the One-Off Test

Welcome to our comprehensive highlights of the one-off Test between India Women and South Africa Women at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The match has witnessed thrilling performances and significant milestones, setting the stage for an exciting continuation.

Day 1: India’s Batting Brilliance

Shafali Verma’s Record-Breaking Double Century

Day 1 belonged to India’s top-order batters, particularly Shafali Verma, who played a sensational innings. Opening alongside Smriti Mandhana, the duo set a strong foundation with both scoring centuries before lunch. Shafali’s aggressive play saw her reaching 150 off just 186 balls, and she eventually went on to score a double century, accumulating 205 runs before a run-out ended her stellar innings.

Solid Contributions from the Top and Middle Order

Smriti Mandhana’s 149 was a crucial part of India’s mammoth total, and she, along with Shafali, formed a formidable opening partnership. Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with a composed 55, further solidifying India’s position.

Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur continued the momentum in the middle order. Ghosh’s career-best 86 and Harmanpreet’s steady 69 were instrumental in taking India to a record-breaking total. India declared their innings at 603 for 6, the highest total in women’s Test cricket.

South Africa’s Early Response

Facing a daunting target, South Africa’s openers Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch managed to hold their ground in the six overs before lunch, with Wolvaardt playing some confident strokes. However, India’s bowlers were eager to make early inroads.

Day 2: South Africa’s Spirited Fightback

Resilience from South Africa’s Middle Order

On Day 2, South Africa showed great resilience, ending the day at 236 for 4. Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp were the stars of the day for South Africa. Luus scored a well-crafted 65, while Kapp remained unbeaten at 69, showcasing her skill and determination. Their 93-run partnership was crucial in stabilizing South Africa’s innings.

India’s Bowling Attack

India’s bowlers, particularly Sneh Rana, kept the pressure on South Africa. Rana’s 3 for 61 was a standout performance, and she was well-supported by Deepti Sharma, who provided timely breakthroughs. Despite the challenging conditions, South Africa’s middle and lower order managed to hold their ground.

Statistical Highlights

India’s record total of 603 for 6 is a testament to their batting depth and dominance. Shafali Verma’s double century was a historic moment, solidifying her place as one of the leading batters in the game.

Looking Ahead

As we move into Day 3, the match remains intriguingly poised. South Africa needs to close the gap to avoid the follow-on, while India will aim to exploit the pitch conditions, which have started to favor spinners, to press for a victory. South Africa’s middle and lower order will need to show similar grit and determination to extend their innings and potentially salvage a draw.

Stay tuned for more updates and detailed coverage of this exciting one-off Test between India Women and South Africa Women.

Reference

• Hindustan Times - India Women vs South Africa Women Test Match
• Sportstar - India vs South Africa Women's Test Match
• ESPNcricinfo - India Women vs South Africa Women Test Match Report
• The Telegraph India - India Women vs South Africa Women Test Match Day 1

Check out the above links for more details