Smriti Mandhana continued her red-hot form with a classy 90, leading India to a resounding six-wicket victory and a 3-0 series sweep over South Africa in the final ODI at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. This emphatic win capped off a dominant performance by the Indian team throughout the series.
Mandhana’s knock was the cornerstone of India’s chase. She displayed exquisite strokeplay all around the wicket, capitalizing on some wayward bowling from the South African attack, particularly under lights. Her innings ensured India reached the target comfortably with overs to spare. Earlier, the Indian bowlers had produced a disciplined display, restricting South Africa to a paltry 215 for 8 wickets in their 50 overs.
Arundhati Reddy Sparks Bowling Revival
South Africa’s innings began brightly with openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits putting together a century stand. However, the introduction of the young pacer Arundhati Reddy proved to be a turning point. Reddy’s sharp bowling triggered a South African collapse, dismissing the well-set Wolvaardt with a clever short ball. This dismissal was followed by a comical run-out of Brits, which further dented the visitors’ momentum. The Indian spinners then took over, with Deepti Sharma claiming crucial wickets to restrict South Africa to a below-par total.
Mandhana’s Series Domination
Mandhana’s 90 continued her remarkable run of form throughout the series. She finished as the leading run scorer, amassing a staggering 343 runs at a phenomenal average of 114.33. Her twin centuries in the first two matches had laid the foundation for India’s series win, and her knock in the final was the icing on the cake.
Clinical Performance Seals the Series
This convincing victory over South Africa further underscores the growing maturity and depth of the Indian women’s cricket team. Both batters and bowlers displayed exceptional skills throughout the series, outplaying the visitors in all departments. With the Women’s ODI Championship points secured and a clean sweep achieved, India will be brimming with confidence as they look ahead to their next challenge.
