The story was almost similar within the second warmup match for India forward of the ICC Ladies’s T20 World Cup. Requested to bat first, India misplaced early wickets, earlier than a middle-order restoration took them to 144/7, with contributions from Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma. It proved to be a adequate complete in opposition to 2023 runners-up South Africa who managed 116/6 as India made it two wins out of two earlier than the yr’s marquee match kicks off on Thursday.
The considerations for India will probably be concerning their batting order. Shafali Verma was out cheaply for the second straight match, this time for a duck within the first over. And as was the case within the match in opposition to West Indies, as soon as once more Harmanpreet Kaur walked in at No 3. As head coach Amol Muzumdar hinted within the pre-departure press convention in India, it will appear the skipper is the chosen one to bat one drop. However the return wasn’t there in opposition to South Africa both as Harmanpreet departed for a 11-ball 10. Harmanpreet has historically batted at No 4 — 107 instances in 153 T20I innings. She is just not recognized to be a quick starter and No 3 might require her to vary that particularly if she walks out to bat within the powerplay. It’s an attention-grabbing alternative that India appear to have made for the World Cup.
From 18/2 within the 4th over, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues laid the muse for a restoration with a 40-run stand. Rodrigues, who scored a half-century in opposition to West Indies, made a helpful 30 as soon as extra. The increase got here from Richa Ghosh within the center order, within the firm of Deepti Shrama who has just lately turned a nook along with her batting, with spectacular outings within the WPL and The Hundred earlier this yr. Richa’s 36 off 25 balls had 2 fours and a pair of sixes at a strike charge of 144 whereas Deepti made a strong 35 off 29 balls with 2 fours — their partnership of 70 off simply 50 balls powered India’s batting effort. Ayabonga Khaka picked up three wickets within the final over of the innings to register a 5-for and prevented India from getting previous 150.
#TeamIndia register a 28-run win of their second warmup fixture! 🙌
A strong bowling show as they efficiently defend 144 in opposition to South Africa 👏👏
📸: ICC
Scorcard – https://t.co/2bxYYzLGH1#T20WorldCup | #WomenInBlue pic.twitter.com/Bq9R2kCDeI
— BCCI Ladies (@BCCIWomen) October 1, 2024
South Africa’s run-chase by no means actually gathered any momentum. They’re often closely depending on captain Laura Wolvaardt on the prime, and Marizanne Kapp within the center order. The previous made 29 off 26 whereas the latter didn’t bat as they posted 116 of their allotted 20 overs. As soon as the match gave the impression to be beneath management on the midway stage of the South African innings, India resorted to giving bowling time for a majority of their squad with a complete of 9 bowlers used. Harmanpreet and Shafali Verma picked up wickets within the backend too, whereas leg spinner Asha Sobhana was the only bowler to select up two wickets. Probably the most essential breakthrough got here from Shreyanka Patil who had Wolvaardt out bowled.
Whereas the World Cup kickstarts on Thursday in Sharjah, India start their group-stage marketing campaign with an important match in opposition to New Zealand in Dubai on Friday.
Transient scores: India 144/7 (Richa Ghosh 36, Deepti Sharma 35, Ayabonga Khaka 5/25) beat South Africa 116/6 (Laura Wolvaardt 29, Asha Sobhana 2/21) by 28 runs