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Smriti Mandhana Elegant 90 Leads India Women to Win Over South Africa Complete ODI Series Sweep

smriti mandhana

Smriti Mandhana’s Brilliant 90 Leads India to Victory

Smriti Mandhana‘s elegant 90 runs were central to India’s six-wicket win against South Africa in the third and final women’s ODI, securing a 3-0 series sweep. Smriti Mandhana’s 83-ball knock, featuring 11 fours, was supported by solid performances from Shafali Verma (25), Priya Punia (28), and Harmanpreet Kaur (42). India comfortably chased down the target of 216, scoring 220 for four in 40.4 overs. Despite a strong start by South Africa, they managed only 215 for eight, with Laura Wolvaardt’s 61 being the highlight.

Mandhana’s Dominance Throughout the Series

Smriti Mandhana has been a standout performer throughout the series, amassing 343 runs at an average of 114.33. Her graceful shots around the Chinnaswamy stadium and composed presence in the middle showcased her skill and confidence. The smooth pitch and lackluster South African bowling allowed Mandhana to play without pressure, displaying her trademark swivel pulls, cover drives, straight drives, and delicate taps to the boundary.

Contributions from Batting Partners

While Mandhana led the charge, her batting partners also made valuable contributions. Shafali Verma added 61 runs for the opening wicket in 11.5 overs, while Priya Punia, playing her first ODI since 2019, helped accumulate 62 runs for the second wicket. Harmanpreet Kaur’s fluent 42 in the unbeaten third-wicket stand of 54 runs further solidified India’s chase. The crowd, however, missed a Mandhana century as she was caught attempting a sweep shot against Nonku Mlaba.

South Africa’s Struggles and Indian Bowlers’ Discipline

Earlier, South Africa started strong, reaching 102 without loss in 19.5 overs. Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits (38) provided a solid foundation, but the Indian bowlers fought back to restrict the visitors. Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, and Deepti Sharma led the bowling attack, with Arundhati’s impressive caught and bowled efforts dismissing key players. South Africa’s downfall was also due to run-out errors by Brits and Nondumise Shangase, losing eight wickets for 113 runs, making it difficult for them to recover. The disciplined Indian bowling and South Africa’s mistakes ensured India had a manageable target to chase and clinch the series.

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