South Africa won a five-wicket win in the last ODI against India to seal a 4-1 series victory in Lucknow.
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The Indians were asked to bathe, and looked good to post a large number during a half-century partnership between captain Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur. However, a fall caused a subsequent injury helped South Africa back into the game when India were beaten for 188.
The Indian spinners then gave an optimistic outlook, but a calculated partnership from Anne Bosch and Mignon du Prez led South Africa to a 4-1 series victory. This was their 10th win in their last 11 ODIs, and the result lifted them to No.2 in the ICC MRF Tires Women’s ODI Team Rankings.
Despite being relegated, India started to make a steady start, with openers Priya Punia and Smriti Mandhana putting a couple of boundaries away in the early stages. However, Punia was completely beaten by Marianne Kapp in just the sixth time, leading to the center of the Punam Raut form.
Unfortunately for the Indians, their boots continued as Raut flew a man off Nondumiso Shangase straight to the ranger at the graceful leg. On the next ball, the dangerous Mandhana continued back to the pavilion after a slow shot ended with the midfielder in the middle of the wicket.
At 53/3 in 12.1 overs, India were in trouble. But Kaur and Mithali came together to revive the guts. Attacking, Mithali held up one end as Kaur disintegrated at the other, but just as their guts were gathering momentum, a catastrophe struck – Kaur let go injured by what happened as a hip-flexor injury, and South Africa had an opening.
Mithali tried to put the guts down afterwards, digging deep to make up the 55th half-century ODI. She established her way to 79 off 104 balls, but the rest of the line could not provide adequate support. India lost six wikis for 51 runs, and were fired for sub-par overall.
Nevertheless, Indian spinners gave them an early opening. South Africa got off to a rocky start with Rajeshwari Gayakwad hitting twice in a consecutive goal, eliminating Laura Wolvaardt (0) and Lara Goodall (1). Dayalan Hemalatha sent out South African captain Sune Luus with a normal delivery away from the spinner, and the visitors were 27/3.
Anne Bosch and Mignon du Prez came to the rescue of South Africa. The pair opted for the sustainable approach, stitching together a 104-run partnership to ride the storm and put South Africa in a steering position.
The two batteries ended their half-century on the way, but were unable to complete the task as Bosch sent a full throw to Raj off the first Challuru Pratyusha. Gayakwad kept India’s hopes alive shortly afterwards, picking up a wicket du Prez.
However, it came too little too late. Nadine de Klerk and Kapp could take the time to form an unbroken partnership of 58, both of which enabled South Africa to win successfully.