South Africa Women beat India Women by 7 wickets to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match ODI series. Asked to bat, India lost Smriti Mandhana early before Priya Punia (32) helped Punam Raut (104 not out) stage a recovery. Raut then added 103 with Mithali Raj (45) before Harmanpreet Kaur (54 in 35 balls) launched an onslaught to take India to 266/4.
In response, the top four South African batters – Lizelle Lee (69), Laura Wolvaardt (53), Lara Goodall (59 not out), and Mignon du Preez (61 in 55 balls) – all got fifties, while Marizanne Kapp (22 not out in 18) ensured an early finish to the match.
Ahead of the final match, here is a statistical preview.
1.5 win/loss ratio of India Women against South Africa Women (15 wins, 10 defeats).
1 dismissal needed by Sushma Verma (28 catches, 21 stumpings) to become the fourth Indian and 25th overall to 50 dismissals. Anju Jain (30 and 51), Sulakshana Naik (28 and 32), and Karu Jain (32 and 26) are the only Indians to have done this.
3 uncapped players in the Indian squad – Yastika Bhatia, Challuru Prathyusha, and Sweta Verma. One or more of them may add to the list of 129 Indian ODI caps.
3 wickets needed by Marizanne Kapp (128) to go past her wife Dane van Niekerk (130) and become the second-highest wicket-taker for South Africa Women. Only Shabnim Ismail (150) has more.
4 catches needed by Goswami (64) to go past Suzie Bates (67) and top the list for most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in Women’s ODIs.
4 wickets needed by Ismail (149) to become the third-highest wicket-taker in the format. Currently on 150 wickets, Ismail is behind placed seventh, behind Jhulan Goswami (233), Cathryn Fitzpatrick (180), Katherine Brunt (153), Ellyse Perry (152), Anisa Mohammed (151), and Sana Mir (151).
14 runs needed by Lee (2,986) to become the second South African (after du Preez) and the 14th overall to the 3,000-run mark.
19 runs needed by Kapp (1,981) to become the sixth South African and the 42nd overall to the 2,000-run mark. The top five are Mignon du Preez (3,386), Lizelle Lee (2,986), Trisha Chetty (2,599), Laura Wolvaardt (2,150), and van Niekerk (2,115). Kapp will also become the sixth (after Lisa Sthalekar, Sasikala Siriwardene, Ellyse Perry, Stafanie Taylor, and van Niekerk) to do the 2,000 run-100 wicket double.