ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: Team India make it two-in-two, beat 2023 runners-up South Africa in warm-up clash
Indian women cricket team continued their winning build-up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, posting their second successive win in warm-up matches – this time over Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 finalists South Africa. The Indians survived a five-wicket haul from SA’s Ayabonga Khaka to post a comprehensive 28-run win in the warm-up clash in Dubai on Tuesday.
Khaka picked up a five-fer as South Africa restricted India to 144/7 from their 20 overs. The seam bowler dismissed Shafali Verma for a duck, also removing the dangerous Harmanpreet Kaur (10) and Richa Ghosh, who top-scored with 36 from 25 balls.
#TeamIndia register a 28-run win in their second warmup fixture!
A solid bowling display as they successfully defend 144 against South Africa
: ICC
Scorcard – https://t.co/2bxYYzLGH1#T20WorldCup | #WomenInBlue pic.twitter.com/Bq9R2kCDeI
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 1, 2024
Ghosh was one of three wickets to fall in the final over as Khaka denied India the chance to capitalise in the death overs, with only Deepti Sharma only able to hang on, making 35 not out. However, South Africa were cautious in their reply, reaching the halfway stage having made just 56, with Laura Wolvaardt departing the 11th over for 29.
Deepti Sharma conceded just two runs from her two overs before Chloe Tryon and Annerie Dercksen provided some late hope with 24 and 21 not out respectively but could not stop India from winning by 28 runs.
Earlier, fine middle-order batting by Jemimah Rodrigues (30), Richa Ghosh (36) and Deepti Sharma (35 not out) and all-round good bowling helped India Women beat South Africa Women.
Asked to bat first after South Africa won the toss, India Women lost explosive opener Shafali Verma for zero and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur for 10 as they slumped to 18/2 in the fourth over. But Smriti Mandhana (21) and Jemimah took the score to 58 before the former was caught by Nadine de Klerk off Nonkululeko Mlaba.
Jemimah, who scored 30 off 26 balls, too departed as India slumped to 67/3 before Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh raised 70 runs for the fifth wicket. Richa struck 36 off 25 balls, studded with two fours and two sixes. Deepti hammered 35 not out off 29 balls, hitting two fours, as India posted a decent total.
Champions Australia fight back to win over West Indies
Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner were required to rescue Australia in a 35-run win over the West Indies. Having been put into bat, four of Australia’s top six scored single figures, but Gardner built steadily amongst the chaos as she and Sutherland added 56 for the sixth wicket with Sutherland departing for 38.
Gardner (31) was the final wicket of the innings to fall, with Alana King crunching 21 off 13 to end the innings and help Australia to 144 for eight. In response, Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph made 68 for the first wicket before Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle added 24 for the second.
From there, the wheels fell off the chase for the West Indies, with wickets coming in pairs in four of the final five overs, beginning with Campbelle (9) and Deandra Dottin (0) being dismissed from back-to-back Sutherland deliveries.
Matthews did what she could to resist, making 42 before she fell to leave Windies at 104 for 8. Only five runs were added before the win was wrapped up for Australia thanks to King, who ended with four for 30.