Will India be able to draw the 3-match women’s T20I series against South Africa?
After an exciting first T20I that was played between India Women and South Africa Women on Friday, the second T20I (Sunday) was a disappointment because of the rains that forced the match to be called off after the completion of the first innings. The three-match T20I series is led by South Africa with a win. The two teams will face for the one last time in this series on Tuesday for the third T20I to be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Head-to-Head
India and South Africa have played 18 T20Is, of which India have won nine and South Africa have won six, with three matches ending in “no result.”
Squads
India Women: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Uma Chetry (wicket-keeper), Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Jemimah Rodrigues, Sajana Sajeevan, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Asha Sobhana, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy
South Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Sinalo Jafta (wicket-keeper), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon.
Players to watch out for
Jemimah Rodrigues: India’s middle order batter started off the T20I series with a fluent half-century. In the first T20I against South Africa, she hammered an unbeaten 53 from 30, including seven fours and a six. It was her 11th half-century and is now just three runs away from becoming the fourth Indian batter to score 2000 runs in women’s T20Is.
Deepti Sharma: The right-arm off-spinner was the joint most successful bowler for India in the second T20I against South Africa. She snapped 2/20 in four overs, including the big wickets of Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp. She was also the most economical bowler for her side. Apart from her bowling, she can be useful with the bat in the middle order.
Tazmin Brits: The South African opener struck back-to-back fifties as she muscled another 50+ knock in the second T20I against India on Sunday. It was her 11th half-century in T20I cricket. After getting a reprieve on 5, this right-handed batter smashed 52 from 39, including half a dozen fours and a six.
Anneke Bosch: The 30-year-old South African all-rounder made a useful contribution with the bat in the second T20I against India. Batting at number four, she scored 40 from 32, including six fours. She held the South African innings together after having come into bat in the ninth over. Besides her batting, she can be handy with the ball.
Pitch
More than 350 runs were scored in the first T20I that was played on Friday. In the second T20I too, conditions looked favourable for batting, as the first innings score was 177 before rain forced the game to be called off. Expect another high-scoring contest on a pitch that has been nothing less than a batting paradise.
Weather
The weather is expected to be cloudy (98% cloud cover) with a couple of thunderstorms. The average temperature will be about 28 degrees Celsius. There is a 69% chance of rain.
Match details
Date: July 9, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM IST
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Live streaming: Jio Cinema app, Sports 18 network