1st ODI: After Men in Blue, Indian women thrash South Africa by 88 runs
Smriti Mandhana, Indian Women Cricket team, South Africa,
Opener Smriti Mandhana smashed 84 off 98 balls
After the Men in Blue took charge of the series with a 2-0 lead in six-match series, Indian Women cricket team produced a clinical all-round performance to thrash South Africa by 88 runs in the first ODI of the ICC Women's Championship at Diamond Oval here on Monday.
Opener Smriti Mandhana smashed 84 off 98 while the pace duo of Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey took 4 for 24 and 3 for 23 respectively.
The duo shared seven wickets between them to emerge as the architects of India's victory.
Electing to bat, left-handed batswoman Mandhana hit eight boundaries and a six in her 98-ball innings and shared a 99-run stand with skipper Mithali Raj (45) to help India post 213 for seven in 50 overs.
South Africa, meanwhile, chasing 214 for a win, failed to stitch partnerships and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Skipper D van Niekerk top-scored for South Africa with a 41.
Pandey rocked the hosts early by removing opener Lizelle Lee (3), wicket-keeper Trisha Chetty (5) and Mignon du Preez (0) to leave them at 23/3 in 9.2 overs.
Spinner Poonam Yadav (2/22) then accounted for the other opener Laura Wolvaardt (21), while Goswami trapped Chloe Tryon LBW as South Africa lost half their side in 22.5 overs.
The hosts were 125-all out after 43.2 overs.