19|04|04

by Scent Senti

South Africa secured an 8-wicket victory in the second T20 match against India, propelled by a dominant batting performance from openers Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus.

 

Before the openers' heroics, the bowlers had set the stage by restricting India to 147 all out. India initially started with good momentum, but Chloe Tryon dismissed Smriti Mandhana for 12 in the third over. Tryon, playing in Durban, then claimed the next two wickets, removing Jemimah Rodrigues (2) and Anushka Sharma (28), which left India at 99 for three. Shortly after, Shafali Verma was dismissed by Nonkululeko Mlaba for 57, and thereafter India's innings subsequently collapsed. The visitors lost their remaining six wickets for just 38 runs, finishing with a total of 147.

 

Tryon ended with figures of 3 for 22, while Sekhukhune also impressed with 3 for 31. Mlaba and Nadine de Klerk each took one wicket.

 

South Africa once again opened with the Wolvaardt and Luus partnership, which proved successful as they posted 106 for the first wicket. Wolvaardt, the South African captain, was the first to fall, scoring 54 from 34 balls. Luus also reached her half-century before top-edging Shreyanka Patil and being caught by Kranti Gaud at deep square leg for 57. Tazmin Brits (20), despite being dropped twice, and Annerie Dercksen (12) saw South Africa to victory with 17 balls to spare.

 

The series now moves to Gauteng, with two matches in Johannesburg and one in Benoni.