Dynamic Partnership of Brits and Kapp Breaks South Africa’s Losing Steak Against India

INDIA W VS SOUTH AFRICA W, 1ST T20I , 5TH JULY, 2024

In a closely contested opening T20I match in Chennai on July 5, the Indian women’s cricket team was edged out by South Africa by 12 runs. Standout performances from Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp propelled South Africa to a formidable score of 189. Subsequently, the South African bowlers effectively limited India to 177, securing a 1-0 series lead.

Brits delivered an impressive 81 runs from 56 balls, while Kapp contributed a rapid fifty, enabling the Proteas Women to amass a significant total at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Despite a strong start from India, with Smriti Mandhana hitting 46 off 30 balls and Jemimah Rodrigues scoring an unbeaten 53, they fell short of the target.

SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN-

Powerplay: Wolvaardt Sets the Tone for South Africa

Phase score – 44/0 [RR: 7.33, 4s/6s: 5/2]

Laura Wolvaardt kicked off the innings with a lofted four off Renuka Singh and continued her assault in the subsequent over, adding a six and two fours for a total of 16 runs. Despite a dropped catch by Shreyanka Patil, which could have cost Pooja Vastrakar a wicket, Wolvaardt and Brits managed to end the powerplay strongly. Vastrakar, however, was economical, conceding just three runs across her two overs.

Middle Overs: Kapp and Brits Build a Strong Partnership

Phase score – 87/1 [RR: 9.66, 4s/6s: 11/2]

After extending their partnership to 50 runs, Wolvaardt was dismissed for 33 by Radha Yadav. Kapp then joined Brits, and together they accelerated the scoring, pushing past 100 in the 12th over. Both players hit a six during the 7-15 overs period, setting a solid foundation for the final overs. Despite Asha Sobhana and Renuka being costly, with Renuka giving away 42 runs in her four overs, the partnership flourished.

Death Overs: Brits and Kapp Propel South Africa to a Strong Finish

Phase score – 58/3 [RR: 11.6, 4s/6s: 5/3]

Both Brits and Kapp reached their fifties in the 16th over, with boundaries off Vastrakar. An unfortunate incident occurred when Richa Ghosh was hit in the face by a deflected ball, leading to a concussion and her subsequent withdrawal from the game. Uma Chetry took over as wicketkeeper, with S Sajana coming in as a concussion substitute. Kapp’s innings concluded in the 17th over when she was dismissed by Radha, who also conceded two sixes to Brits, resulting in 14 runs from the over. Brits and Chloe Tryon continued the attack, with Deepti Sharma conceding 18 runs. The final two overs saw only 12 runs scored, but South Africa had already set a challenging total.

INDIA WOMEN-

Powerplay: Mandhana Propels India’s Strong Start

Phase score – 61/1 [RR: 10.16, 4s/6s: 7/2]

India kicked off the chase with vigor, surpassing South Africa’s powerplay total by 17 runs, largely due to Smriti Mandhana’s dynamic performance. She contributed 31 runs, including a six each from Nadine de Klerk and Eliz-mari Marx, along with four boundaries. Shafali Verma complemented well, helping to notch up a fifty partnership in just five overs. However, Verma was dismissed by Ayabonga Khaka in the sixth over.

Middle Overs: Setbacks Slow India’s Momentum

Phase score – 64/2 [RR: 7.11, 4s/6s: 9/0]

Mandhana and Dayalan Hemalatha established a solid partnership, though Hemalatha’s scoring rate was modest. Mandhana looked set for another significant score but was caught out by Tryon just four runs shy of a half-century, marking a crucial breakthrough for South Africa. Hemalatha was then bowled by de Klerk, attempting an aggressive cross-bat shot. Jemimah Rodrigues kept the scoreboard ticking with consistent boundaries, including three in one over from Marx, while Harmanpreet Kaur found the going tough.

Death Overs: South Africa Clinches Victory

Phase score – 52/1 [RR: 10.4, 4s/6s: 7/1]

Despite Rodrigues’s aggressive play, India faced a challenging task needing 65 runs in the final five overs. Khaka’s tight 16th over added pressure, limiting India’s scoring opportunities. Rodrigues and Harmanpreet each managed a boundary off Tryon, but the required rate escalated. Harmanpreet struggled with both the pace and the heat, managing only a boundary off de Klerk in the 18th over which yielded just eight runs. Rodrigues’s quick fifty off 29 balls kept hopes alive, but with 21 needed from the last over, the task proved too steep. Mlaba’s final over was decisive, conceding just eight runs and taking Harmanpreet’s wicket on the last ball.

Brief scores:

South Africa 189/4 in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 81, Marizanne Kapp 57; Pooja Vastrakar 2-23) defeated India 177/4 in 20 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 53*, Smriti Mandhana 46; Nadine de Klerk 1-30) by 12 runs.