Cape Town: Indian women accomplished a 'historic double' as they outclassed South Africa women by 54 runs in the fifth and final Twenty20 International to clinch the series 3-1.
After Mithali Raj led the side to a 2-1 series win in the ODIs, it was Harmanpreet Kaur's turn to lift the trophy as they become the first cricket team to win two formats in the Rainbow nation. It was Mithali's (62 off 50 balls) experience complemented by youthful exuberance of Jemimah Rodrigues (44 off 34 balls) that enabled India to register par score of 166 for four in 20 overs.
South Africa were never in the match as they were skittled out for 112 in 18 overs with veteran Rumeli Dhar (3/26 in 4 overs) making a mark in the very second match on her return to the side after six years. Shikha Pandey (3/16 in 4 overs) was certainly the best bowler on view while left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3/26 in 3 overs) had an easy job with the top half blown away by the seamers.
The win also showed that Indian women's performance in the ICC ODI World Cup wasn't a mere flash in pan and the women showed little rustiness even though they played their first series in seven months. The big positive was winning a T20 series -- a format where the Indian women have not done well traditionally.
"It was a two-paced track to bat on but it became easier to play shots at the later stages. But it's always nice to be among runs," Raj, who scored 192 runs in four innings with three half-centuries, said after the match. She won both 'Player of the Match and Series' award for her consistent scores.
Skipper Harmanpreet on her part spoke about how the series win will bolster their confidence as they get ready to take on Australia and England at home. "I thought we were 20 runs short but our bowlers performed exceptionally. I thought Mithali di and Jemi (Jemimah) batted well. I though Shikha and PY (Poonam Yadav) really bowled well," the skipper said.
Mithali started with a couple of boundaries off seamer Shabnim Ismail before launching onto medium pacer Masabata Klaas. She hit another couple of sixes -- one off off-break bowler Raisibe Ntozakhe and other off rival captain Dane van Niekerk -- both over long-on.
She first hit a boundary and then lofted her over long-off for the first six. Along with 17-year-old Jemimah, Mithali added 98 runs for the second wicket. The most talked about teenager in women's cricket circuit, Jemimah played her first innings of note at the international level and despite being pint-sized, she packed a punch in her shots.
Rodrigues also punished Ntozakhe hitting her through cover for a boundary and also a six over mid-wicket. When Ismail came for her second spell, the teen sensation lofted her effortlessly over long-on for a six.
Interestingly, Mithali had made her one day international debut (June, 1999), 15 months before Jemimah was born in September 2000.
Mithali was declared Player of the Series for her three match-winning half-centuries.
.@M_Raj03 is the Player of the Series for her three match-winning half-centuries in the T20I series #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/vXO2hNs6ND
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) February 24, 2018
India had also won the ODI series 2-1 and completed a double by claiming the T20I trophy as well.
Brief Scores
India: 166/4 in 20 overs (Mithali Raj 62 off 50 balls, Jemimah Rodrigues 44 off 34 balls, Harmanpreet Kaur 27 off 17 balls)
South Africa: 112 all out in 18 overs. (M Kapp 27, C Tryon 25; S Pandey 3/16, R Dhar 3/26)
