As the Indian eves head into this match now, they will need to make all-round improvements, starting right from the top of their batting order.
India Women will be looking to make a strong comeback as they take on South Africa Women in the second ODI of the ongoing five-match series, in Lucknow on Monday.
Women’s T20 World Cup Final on International Working Women’s Day
The first ODI turned out to be a disappointing affair for the Indian Eves, as they were thrashed by eight wickets. Batting first, India could manage a total of only 177/9. They lost both openers – Smriti Mandhana (14) and Jemimah Rodrigues (1) – by the sixth over of the innings, with just 18 runs on the board. Punam Raut fell for 10 as well. India were 40/3 at this stage.
India Women collapse as South Africa take 1-0 lead
Mithali Raj (50) then took control, adding 62 with Harmanpreet Kaur (40) and 52 with Deepti Sharma (27)for the fourth and fifth wickets respectively. However, India could manage only 22 in the last 10 overs after Raj and Sharma perished.
The Indian bowlers didn’t look threatening enough to challenge the South Africans either as Lizelle Lee (83) and Laura Wolvaardt (80) put on an opening stand of 169. Jhulan Goswami did pick up a couple of wickets towards the end but it was already too late by then.
As India head into this match now, they need to make all-round improvements, starting from the top of their batting order. Mandhana and Rodrigues need to get them off to a good start, and the middle-order needs to perform just like how they did in the last match. However, India’s biggest problem – of a vulnerable lower middle-order – remains unaddressed.
It will not be right to blame the Indian bowlers for being unable to defend a low score. Along with Goswami and a formidable spin attack, eyes will be on Monica Sharma, for left-arm seamers are a rarity in women’s cricket.
South Africa, on the other hand, have no evident problem. Their performance in the first ODI was near-flawless. They bowled tightly, fielded well, and dominated with bat. All they need to do is just repeat what they did in the last match and ride on the momentum.
Conditions: Clear and sunny weather with no chance of rain. The pacers will get some assistance in the morning as they did in the last match, so bowling first won’t be a bad option after winning the toss. The spinners will come into play as the match progresses but it will still be a good track for batting.
Probable Playing XI
India Women: Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, Punam Raut, Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Sushma Verma (wk), Jhulan Goswami, Monica Patel, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
South Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Trisha Chetty (wk), Mignon du Preez, Sune Luus (c), Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Lara Goodall, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Shabnim Ismail
Key Players
India: Harmanpreet Kaur
She played a good hand of 40 off just 41 deliveries in the previous match. Even though she couldn’t pick up a wicket, she bowled a disciplined spell of 4.1-0-15-0 as well. Her explosive batting and ability to chip in with wickets is going to be of utmost importance in the upcoming matches.
South Africa: Marizanne Kapp
Kapp didn’t get an opportunity to bat in the last match but she bowled an excellent spell of 9-1-25-1 to push India on the backfoot. She has the ability to add quick runs from the lower middle-order as well. That’s why her role is going to be very important for South Africa once again.