India Women Seal 3-0 ODI Series Win Over South Africa As Mandhana Shines

IND-W vs SA-W: India Women secured a decisive 3-0 series victory over South Africa Women with a six-wicket win in the third and final ODI at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday.

The match was highlighted by Smriti Mandhana's exceptional performance, although she fell just 10 runs short of a historic third consecutive century. She set a record for the most runs in a three-match bilateral ODI series with 343 runs.

Chasing a modest target of 216, India started steadily with openers Mandhana and Shafali Verma. The pair laid a solid foundation, but South Africa's disciplined bowling kept them in check.

Mandhana showcased her class, driving and pulling with elegance. Shafali contributed 25 before being caught by Aneke Bosch off Ayabonga Khaka's bowling. Mandhana continued her fine form, reaching the 90s and inching closer to surpassing Mithali Raj's record for the fastest century in women's ODIs.

However, her dreams were dashed when she attempted a sweep off Nonkululeko Mlaba, only to top-edge it to Khaka, departing for a well-made 90. Despite missing out on the record, Mandhana's innings was pivotal in steering India towards victory.

Ensuring Victory

Following Mandhana's dismissal, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues ensured there were no further hiccups. Kaur played a composed knock of 42 before being run out in the final moments of the chase. Rodrigues remained unbeaten, guiding India to victory with a six, finishing with 24 not out.

India reached 220/4 in 40.4 overs, completing the clean sweep. Earlier, South Africa, opting to bat first, were off to a promising start with openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. They put on a 100-run stand before Wolvaardt fell to Arundhati Reddy for 49.

Indian Bowlers Take Control

The Indian bowlers then took control, with Deepti Sharma leading the charge. She scalped two crucial wickets in the 43rd over, dismissing Nadine de Klerk and Nonkululeko Mlaba in consecutive deliveries, finishing with figures of 2/24.

Despite a resilient unbeaten 26 from Meike de Ridder, South Africa could only manage 215/8 in their 50 overs. Pooja Vastrakar and Shreyanka Patil were also among the wickets, contributing to a disciplined bowling effort. The win marks another dominant performance by the Indian women's team, showcasing their strength in both batting and bowling.