South Africa go second in ICCWC table after series win against India

South Africa have completed a fantastic 2-1 ICC Women's Championship series win over India in India, and by doing so have moved themselves up to second in the ICCWC points table.

Teams	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
Australia Women	6	6	0	0	0	12	+0.952	1196/236.2	1130/275.0
South Africa Women	6	3	2	0	1	7	+0.334	852/216.1	796/220.4
West Indies Women	6	3	3	0	0	6	+0.584	1128/257.3	1111/292.4
England Women	3	2	0	0	1	5	+0.686	367/80.1	312/80.1
India Women	6	1	4	0	1	3	-0.371	793/224.5	855/219.2
Sri Lanka Women	3	1	1	0	1	3	-0.583	315/76.0	364/77.0
Pakistan Women	3	0	3	0	0	0	-1.357	467/125.0	477/93.4
New Zealand Women	3	0	3	0	0	0	-1.712	392/150.0	465/107.3

In the first match of the series they restricted India to just 114 thanks to four wicket hauls from Dane van Niekerk (4/9) and Marizanne Kapp (4/21). At 29/3 their reply looked to be in trouble, but a maiden ODI 50 from Chloe Tryon got the Saffers over the line, with just two wickets in hand. Veteran Jhulan Goswami held the Indian batting and bowling together with 33 and 3/22, but it was not enough to prevent South Africa claiming the two points.

In the second game India chased down South Africa's below par 186/8, in which Chloe Tryon again top scored with 49*, including 18 off the last over of the innings. With India at 73/3 the game seemed to be in the balance, but an 89 run partnership between Shikha Pandey (59) and Harmanpreet Kaur (42*) allowed India to level the series. It was Pandey's maiden ODI 50 as she emerged as a genuine all-rounder.

And so to the deciding game of the series. India were inserted by South Africa and were once again indebted to Pandey, who again made 59, as they struggled to 180 all out. Having been 176/6 it was a total that should have been higher. Harmanpreet Kaur also hit 42 off 39 balls after an extremely cautious start to the Indian innings from Poonam Raut and debutant Deepti Sharma, after Mandhana had gone early. Sunette Loubser (3/28) and Marcia Letsoalo (3/46) were the main wicket-takers, but mention should be made of opener Ayabonga Khaka who opened with five maidens on the trot and went for just 19 off her nine overs. Keeper Trisha Chetty also had a good day behind the stumps with five victims.

In reply South Africa again lost early wickets with Lizelle Lee and Chetty soon back in the hutch, but new girl Nadine Moodley (56) hit her maiden ODI half-century and skipper Mignon du Preez struck 46, before both were out in quick succession with 59 still needed for the win. The nerves will have been jangling as South Africa were without the injured Chloe Tryon, but with Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk they seemed to have the experience they needed. But when Kapp was run out for 14, the load seemed to be all van Nierkerk's. Thabethe came and went quickly, but the experienced Sunette Loubser (23*), better known for her loopy off-spin, used her experience wisely and became the South African aggressor as van Niekerk (20*) bunkered down. Together they added the 33 runs that South Africa so desperately needed.

India's one day woes continue (they only have 3 points from 6 games), but South Africa have taken another step towards being regarded as one of the top four sides in the world and qualifying automatically for the 2017 World Cup.

MD
28/XI/14