Follow the 4th ODI live:
Hello and welcome to Sportstar's highlights of the third ODI between India Women and South Africa Women at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
Agonising end for the Indians after rallying back from a point of nowhere to push South Africa towards a stiff finish but the brilliance of a certain Lizelle Lee thwarted the host's plans.
In a newly set trend, the Proteas chose to bowl first on a prime batting track and to an extent restricted India to 248. Punam Raut's sublime 77 led the host while a trio of '36' cameos from Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma helped the cause.
South Africa began its chase in fine fashion with Lizelle Lee regaining her touch from the first ODI even as skipper Laura Wolvaardt fell early. Lee saw off the opening spell from Jhulan and Mansi and smashed the spinners with ease. A mammoth third-wicket partnership of 97-run between Lee and Mignon du Preez virtually took the game away before a mercurial Goswami and Rajeshwari Gayakwad struck twice in quick time.
The match was poised for a stiff, palpitating finish even as Lee kept one intact. The winds took a twirl and the clouds burst down quickly to play spoiltsport and the Indians found themselves on the wrong-side of the DLS margin and now, the Proteas have regained their lead with another fine display in Lucknow. India has its task cut out, heading into the fourth and we will see you there!
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And it's confirmed, folks. The Proteas have won the contest after play has been called off.
4:30PM: One of the broadcasters, Snehal Pradhan says - "It's over. SA win. It's still raining and there isn't enough time to ready the ground even if it had stopped"
4:25PM: Updates suggest that the rain has gotten heavier . Oh, not a DLS-ending for such an enticing contest.
South Africa needs 26 runs from 21 balls. But none of it would matter if play doesn't restart for the Proteas are six runs ahead of the DLS par score. Dark clouds gather at the Ekana Stadium as a drizzle continues to frustrate the Indians. Well, it would have been a palpitating period for both sides anyway but South Africa wouldn't budge about this stop in play.
SA 223/4 after 46.3 overs: Well, well! The umpires have called on for the covers as the drizzle continues. India has done well to bounce back to put SA under check but a stellar knock from Lizelle Lee still have the Proteas well ahead.
SA 221/4 after 46 overs: Shoddy bowling from Kaur as Lee sneaks in two crucial boundaries. Kaur strays onto the pads as Lee employs a fine sweep and a glance past Goswami at fine leg to the fence. SA needs 28 in four overs!
38 require off five and Harmanpreet Kaur returns to the attack.
Rain and a strong wind blows over the ground but the umpires continue to play on.
SA 204/4 after 44 overs: Lee slogs Yadav for a massive six over midwicket! And the momentum shifts once again in this nerve-wracking finish. SA needs just 45 in six overs.
SA 196/4 after 43 overs: Deepti aces a maiden over! And that comes against the well-set Lizelle Lee. Lee fails to read the flighted deliveries as she tries shots ranging from a drive to a weird ramp shot. She hits her pads in frustration as SA needs 53 runs in 42 balls!
SA 196/4 after 42 overs: Bosch breaks the shackles with a boundary off Yadav. Steps down and hits one against the spin over mid-on to the boundary. The games gets tighter with SA needing 53 runs in 48 balls.
SA 189/4 after 41 overs: Gayakwad concedes nine runs as Lee, Bosch rotate the strike well with a couple of singles and doubles. Wise play for the duo as they aim to take the game deeper.
SA needs 67 from 60 balls! A breeze of change embraces the Ekana Stadium and a tinge reflects on the scoreline as well.
SA 182/4 after 40 overs: A cracking over from Jhulan under pressure. Just two-runs conceded as India puts the pressure back on the Proteas to sneak in the boundaries.
SA needs 69 from 66! The nerves begin to show now!
SA 179/4 after 38 overs: Jhulan to Kapp. OUT! Jhulan picks her second as India gets two in quick time! A poor shot from Kapp under the conditions as she aims to hit a full and pacy delivery down the ground. She mistimes it and lends a simple catch to Mithali Raj at mid-on. India has quickly bounced back to pinch the Proteas as the pressure mounts on the centurion Lee. Marizanne Kapp c Raj b Goswami 0 (5b)
SA needs 71 from 78 balls.
SA 178/3 after 37 overs: Rajeshwari to du Preez. OUT! Mignon holes out after a needless shot against the turn. Gayakwad flights it well and gets the ball to turn away from the right-hander as she aims a loose slog towards midwicket and finds the thick edge that carries to covers. A wicket-maiden for the left-armer and the Proteas chase pretty much falls onto how Lizelle Lee shapes up from here on. Mignon du Preez c Raut b Gayakwad 37 (46b 2x4 1x6)
SA 170/2 after 35 overs: LIZELLE LEE gets to her 3rd ODI ton in style!! Tonks a meaty delivery over the long-off boundary for a cracking six and Harmanpreet's introduction to the attack also does not seem to be fruitful for India. The host is very much on the back foot now.
SA 155/2 after 33 overs: Lee and du Preez take SA past 150! India very much on the backfoot as Deepti Sharma leaks 12-runs at a crucial juncture. SA needs 94 runs in 17 overs and it gets easier by the minute for the visitor.
SA 143/2 after 32 overs: 106 runs needed in 18 overs. Du Preez gets into the act alongside Lee to seer SA towards 150. This has been an excellent display against the spinners and India is made to feel the pressure.
SA 128/2 after 30 overs: Jhulan drops a sitter! India would have had a massive hold on the game with Lee's dismissal. Agonizing for Poonam Yadav who continues to search for her first wicket of the series. A fine loopy delivery from Poonam outiside the off-stump and Lee heaves it through mid-on as Jhulan intercepts and holds her hands out to grab the ball but it slips away.
SA needs 126 runs of 126 balls with eight wickets in hand. Game on.
SA 117/2 after 28 overs: Poonam darts in an excellent over. Just one-run conceded and forces Mignon du Preez to play deep in the crease as she attacks the stumps. India needs a few quiet overs to restore pressure on SA here.
SA 116/2 after 27 overs: Lee smashes Mansi for two boundaries in a 16-run over! The control has shifted massively towards the Proteas as Mansi concedes a heap of wides in a 10-ball over as well. Pressure getting to the Indian bowlers.
SA 96/2 after 25 overs: Halfway stage, SA needs 153 runs in 25 overs! A biggie from Lee will be the cue for the Proteas as India is poised to employ spin for a large share of the remaining overs. du Preez has come into have her in slowly and could provide the perfect foil for an aggressive Lee.
SA 92/2 after 24 overs: Jhulan stuns Lee with a surprise short-ball that gets the leading edge. Unlucky for India as it falls between the keeper and midwicket as Lee moves quickly into the 60s.
SA 81/2 after 22 overs: Jhulan to Goodall. OUT! A yorker-length delivery outside the off-stump and Goodall tries to slice it over long-on but mistimes it altogether to gift a simple catch to Harmanpreet Kaur. The veteran finishes the over in style with a wicket-maiden! L ara Goodall c Kaur b Goswami 16 (41b)
SA 79/1 after 20 overs: FIFTY for Lizelle Lee! And it comes in quick time as well as she sets up the chase for the Proteas here. Excellent footwork spin while seeing off the threatening opening spell for pacers, Lee has come back from her blip in the 2nd ODI in fine fashion.
SA 69/1 after 18 overs: Rajeshwari and Deepti put Goodall under severe pressure. Goodall continues to employ the sweep against the spinners even off the fuller ball and has come close to be dismissed in a troubled period for her.
SA 60/1 after 15 overs: A relatively fine start for SA! Lee has maintained her composure even after Wolvaardt's dismissal while Goodall has had a tentative start against the spinners.
SA 55/1 after 13 overs: A massive loopy delivery first-up from Poonam and Lee creams it to the boundary through midwicket. The leggie is quick to regain control even as South Africa crossed 50 in its 249-run chase.
Poonam Yadav replaces Rajeshwari Gayakwad
SA 49/1 after 12 overs: Deepti on a roll! Follows up her wicket-taking over with a maiden over. Goodall is the new batter alongside Lee who has strode through the ranks pretty easily.
SA 41/1 after 10 overs: Deepti to Wolvaardt. OUT! Deepti hits the top of off! A genuine off-spinner snarls through Wolvaardt's defense to rattle the stumps and the Indians have their breakthrough. L aura Wolvaardt b Sharma 12 (29b 2x4)
Rajeshwari Gayakwad into the attack. Deepti Sharma replaces Mansi Joshi.
SA 34/0 after 8 overs: A 14-run over from Mansi undoes the good work done by herself and Goswami in tandem. An overthrow concedes five runs while Mansi's poor lines concede two more boundaries.
SA 20/0 after 7 overs: Lee lofts Jhulan down the ground for a boundary in first shades of aggression from the opener. Lee is accustomed to Jhulan's straight line and the pace of the wicket and graces a well crafted loft straight over mid-off.
SA 8/0 after 5 overs: Maiden over from Jhulan! Wolvaardt fails to tweak the straighter ball attacking the stumps and is forced to push down. Jhulan is keeping things tight first-up and the pressure might just get onto the openers here.
SA 8/0 after 4 overs: Goswami and Mansi begin well to keep the openers under the pump. The skipper Wolvaardt has taken 10 balls to make a mark as the pacers have kept it tight. Joshi has not been able to replicate as much as swing as she received in the last match, probably to do with the afternoon phase.
SA 5/0 after 2 overs: Mansi dishes the outswinging delivery to bowl a shorter delivery to Lee who swivel pulls it through square leg. Mansi is quick to correct her line and the hint of late swing forces Lee to play the ball late.
SA 1/0 after 1 over: Fine start from Goswami as she hits the deck well to keep Lee under check first-up. The contest between the openers and Jhulan will be crucial for either side.
Early contest on the cards.
We are back for the chase. SA openers Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt are at the middle as Jhulan Goswami takes the new ball for India.
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It was not a fine start for the Indians as South Africa sans skipper Sune Luus blew away opener Jemimah Rodrigues for a second-ball duck. However, opener Mandhana and Raut seemed to continue their breezy partnership with a spurt of boundaries to put India back on track. However, the Proteas under stand-in skipper Laura Wolvaardt bounced back quickly as they sent back Smriti Mandhana for 25. Skipper Mithali Raj joined forces with Punam Raut who looked in crisp form to set up her second fifty on the trot to lead the Indian innings.
India seemed to storm past 250 at one point but the South Africa bowlers deftly foiled the plans with an excellent phase of bowling towards the death. Wolvaardt continued to rotate her bowlers around with excellent tactics to negate the Indian batters to attack freely in the end and eventually restricted the host to 248 on a fine batting surface.
India 248/5 after 50 overs: Excellent over from Khaka as she finds the blockhole with ease to negate the batters off a boundary. India, however, finishes with a par total of 248 on board.
India 242/5 after 49 overs: 18 balls without a boundary! SA bowlers have put the stranglehold at the death as Deepti and Sushma fails to piece the gaps or take the aerial route. Interesting tactics from Wolvaardt as she uses eight bowlers in rotation for the last eight overs!
India 232/5 after 47 overs: Deepti Sharma struggles with her timing even as the occasional boundary cushions the numbers. India heads into the final stretch with Sushma Verma and Deepti Sharma pinned to take the side past 250.
India 221/5 after 45 overs: Ismail to Harmanpreet. OUT! A brilliant catch from Sekhukhune sends Kaur packing! Ismail gets the ball to stand up from the length and Harmanpreet fails to time the ball over mid-off. The ball lobs over Sekhukhune but she runs for it, back pedalling and completes a stunner to send Kaur on her way. India has been cut short of a good chunk of runs with sizzling grab from Sekhukhune. Harmanpreet Kaur c Sekhukhune b Ismail 36 (46b 4x4 1x6)
India 215/4 after 44 overs: 50-run partnership for Harmanpreet and Deepti with the former tonking Kapp for two boundaries. A flourishing over for the Indians with 13 runs coming off it. The duo with six wickets in hand will aim to go for the slogs from here on.
India 202/4 after 43 overs: India crosses 200 even as Harmanpreet and Deepti have got themselves into a short block with the SA bowlers putting up a good phase of defensive bowling. Wolvaardt has mixed her resources well to keep the batters on their toes.
India 195/4 after 41 overs: Khaka and Ismail run in for a fine spell to keep the runs under check once again. Deepti and Harmanpreet have been beaten on couple of occasions as the run rate slips below 5 once again.
India 188/4 after 38 overs: Harmanpreet is on the charge!
She has a change of her blade after a slow start ahead of the batting powerplay and pummels Sekhukhune for a whopping six over long-on for a six to get going. Kaur then bludgeoned Bosch for two boundaries to put India back on track as it eyes 250 from here on.
India 161/4 after 34 overs: In the air and gone! Kapp snaps Raut for 77. Another tame dismissal as Raut aims to loft one over covers. Kapp comes in with a slower that forces Raut to check her shot at the last moment and eventually holes out to a simple catch at covers. Raut has missed out on a massive chance for another hundred. Brilliant innings, nevetheless as she put India out of early danger. Punam Raut c Bosch b Kapp 77 (108b 11x4)
India 158/3 after 32 overs: Sensational timing from Raut as she slices one behind point as puts Khaka in a desperate drive at the boundary, but to no avail. Just a gentle push from Raut but her sense of timing has been impeccable today. India will eye a little more than 230 with seven wickets in hand and this pair at the midde will be crucial for the target.
Harmanpreet Kaur will be the key for India as she will be vital in easing the pressure of Raut who is primed to get herself to a ton here.
A marvel like no other!
India 141/3 after 28 overs: South Africa snaps Mithali right after she climbs MT.10000! Bitter-sweet moment for the Indians as the skippers holes out to a tame dismissal after the milestone. Anne Bosch gets the lucky break after she trays a low full toss to Mithali who chips it straight to du Preez at midwicket. The skipper lost momentum almost instantly after reaching the milestone even as she looked absolutely set for a big one. Mithali Raj c du Preez b Bosch 36 (50b 5x4)
India 132/2 after 27 overs: Raut and Mithali take on Shangase.
The offie is blunted with two nimble-footed boundaries by the Indian batters. A crisp sweep from Raut was followed by a delightful step-down cover drive from Mithali as India clearly show signs of aggression to up the scoring rate.
India 115/2 after 25 overs: Second fifty on the trot for Punam Raut! She has held fort at one end as she brings up her milestone off 80 balls. A fine run of form continues and India would hope Raut to raise the notch a bit higher from here.
India 112/2 after 24 overs: Fine start from the slingy medium pacer.
Bosch concedes just a single run in her first over as India's kryptonite continues to be the inability to rotate strike with singles.
Anne Bosch into the attack.
India 111/2 after 23 overs: Classic strokeplay from Mithali! Shangase is put under pressure as she fends one short to the Indian captain. Mithali rocks back and slashes it through covers with sheer disdain and India continues to chip in with the boundaries.
India 101/2 after 21 overs: India crosses 100 with Raut and Mithali notching up a fine partnership after Mandhana's dismissal. The South Africa pacers and medium pacer Sekhukhune has done well to keep the runs in check so far and the challenge will now fall to Wolvaardt as she imparts spin into the attack.
Shangase replaces Ismail.
India 99/2 after 20 overs: Testing over from Kapp. The pacer induces an inside-edge off Raut that nearly jags back to the stumps. Mithali retains strike and Kapp beats the outside edge as Mithali attempts to defend away from the body.
India 95/2 after 19 overs: Raut continues to march on while Mithali chips in with another boundary, streaky but the captain has looked in fine touch nevertheless.
India 80/2 after 16 overs: Mithali gets going with a flick to the boundary. Sekhukhune troubles the Indian skipper with her varying pace and Mithali takes a minute or so to regroup. She stays still as Sekhukhune runs in and times the flick with exquisite precision to get her first boundary of the innings.
India 73/2 after 14 overs: Drinks. Right when India hoped to set foot on the pedal, opener Smriti Mandhana holed out in rather wry fashion. Skipper Mithali Raj and Punam Raut have joined hands at the middle and with South Africa putting the slower bowlers through a roll, the batters will have to chip in continuously with the singles and doubles while piercing the gaps.
India 64/2 after 12 overs: Sekhukhune to Mandhana. OUT! Sekhukhune has deceived Mandhana with the slower one! Sekhukhune darted in the slower one to Mandhana's pads and she aimed for a flick over square leg but fails to power it over. The lack of pace on the ball has done the trick for Sekhukhune as Mandhana gives away after having seemed to be in her element from ball one.
Smriti Mandhana c Shangase b Sekhukhune 25 (27b 4x4)
India has crossed 250 batting first twice in the last three years in 13 occasions.
Good day to add a third to the list.
India 57/1 after 10 overs: Mandhana takes India over 50 with two exquisite boundaries. Sekhukhune's lack of pace nearly scalps Mandhana as she hits a check drive through covers through the air, but has it under control with her supreme timing. Mandhana takes it one up over the medium pacer with a one-legged flick through mid-wicket to settle in further.
Sekhukhune into the attack.
India 45/1 after 9 overs: Khaka begins with a maiden over! Raut is forced to fend off the probing delveries attacking the stumps and Khaka keeps it accurate throughout.
Ayabonga Khaka replaces Shabnim Ismail in the attack.
India 45/1 after 8 overs: India continues to rake in the runs through boundaries and Mandhana and Raut have put little effort to rotate strike with singles. Surely, a boundary per over is keeping the batters in check of the run rate for now.
India 35/1 after 6 overs: Raut has been optimistic with her batting today and has dealt in boundaries so far. Kapp attacks the stumps and Raut keeps it away well with her solid defence. Kapp misses her length a tad that bit, being too full and Raut prowls on it with a delectable straight drive down the ground.
India 28/1 after 5 overs: Majestic from Mandhana! A glorious cover drive off Ismail to sneak in the runs once again of the senior pacer. Ismail has been off her length ever since that first over and the Indian batters have not taken to her kindly. Kapp, however, at the other end has put both Mandhana and Raut on the backfoot, giving just two runs from as many overs so far.
India 21/1 after 3 overs: Raut takes on Ismail with three boundaries! A crisp cover drive first-up in the over unsettles Ismail pretty much. Bowls a no-ball next and concedes a sliced boundary down fine leg the next ball. Raut cashes in again as Ismail strays the ball waywardly towards the pads once again and the batter has no hesitations in guiding down the on-side.
India 0/1 after 1 overs: Ismail to Jemimah. OUT! And Jemimah is sent back second ball. An excellent delivery on the right spot outside the off-stump channel, swinging that bit away from Jemimah and she could not resist the temptation of an early cover drive. Edges it and carries straight to Jafta behind the wicket. Fine start for Ismail and SA as she aces a wicket-maiden first over!
And action begins! The Proteas take the wield as India openers Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues walk out to the middle. Shabnim Ismail picks up the new ball.
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Pitch report: A tinge of green on the surface and there might be just that bit for the pacers for the early 20 minutes. With the SA bowlers relying more on pace than swing, Mandhana and Rodrigues could have it easy just that bit. The rest of the day, would lay out well to present a batting belter.
On a fine batting surface, India wouldn't mind that South Africa has forced it to bat first. Moreover, the Proteas have rung in as many as four changes with skipper Luus missing out to illness as well and India could smell an early edge heading into the match already. All eyes will turn to Smriti Mandhana once again and fellow opener Jemimah Rodrigues receives an excellent chance to regain form.
India opener Smriti Mandhana has her say ahead of the 3rd ODI.
Mandhana, who has been sensational in run chases lately, on Thursday said it is "easier to calculate an innings" when a side is batting second with a target to achieve.
8:15 AM: Here's a look at the top-players to watch out for today - records from IND-SA contests.
8:10AM: We build up towards the all-important Toss.
Nothing much would change on the pitch with a creamy layer laid for the batters. Meanwhile, here are a few records in sight for today!
2nd ODI - review
In a stellar return to winning ways after a year's hiatus, Mithali Raj and Co. aced a cracking reply against the Proteas on Tuesday, to level the series one-all heading into Friday's third contest.
On a beautiful batting wicket, India surprisingly chose to bowl first and the skipper's call was backed by some excellent performances from the bowlers. Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami led the way with a incisive four-fer that broke the back of Sune Luus' South African side that inflicted a painful eight-wicket win in the first ODI. Jhulan was backed up by comeback pacer Mansi Joshi whose fine outswinging exploits snapped two crucial wickets first-up. The Proteas, bowled out for 157, had little resistance to offer in India's chase, for opener Smriti Mandhana and no.3 batter, Punam Raut made merry on a conducive black-soil surface.
Mandhana's dashing blitz put India on the roll while Raut had her eye in slowly before teeing off on the spinners. Without much ado, India had strode home to a nine-wicket win and had bounced back in style.
Heading into the third on Friday, the momentum has had a staggering shift of side with the host having an edge in the contest.
Milestones so far in the series:
WHAT THEY SAID
"It's very important as a player to know what we're going to look like for the World Cup. We all are working with the BCCI, they're really proactive in telling us now what series we will be having for the next one year. I think we'll have a pretty clear idea in some days. I think as a player, it's important to know what series you're going to play next or what the schedule looks like so we can prepare ourselves mentally, physically and even with the skill sets like which bowler you're going to face in the next two-three months. It gets easy if you know who you're playing against," Smriti Mandhana on the BCCI's involvement with the women's side.
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