Mithali Raj’s women huddled together and let loose a guttural scream: “India.”
It happened during the innings-break and after being bowled out for 114 in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday, the host needed some extra energy.
Sadly, though India put up a fight, South Africa held its nerve and won by two wickets to gain a 1-0 lead.
Like India, South Africa too suffered the batting horrors and at one point, wobbled at 31 for five.
Dane van Niekerk and Chloe Tryon resisted but Jhulan scalped the former. Yet, South Africa stayed in the hunt, fours were struck and Tryon (50), who was dropped by wicket-keeper Sushma Verma, when on nought, ensured that there were no more alarms and the target was achieved. South Africa finished with 118 for eight in 41.1 overs.
Earlier, despite Harmanpreet and Jhulan’s partnership, India struggled as the rest crumbled. Openers V.R. Vanitha and Smriti Mandhana attempted to cope with the visitor’s seam attack. But the anchor was never dropped as southpaw Smriti reached out to Kapp’s (four for 21) delivery and the edge sailed to first slip. From that vulnerable 14 for one in 4.1 overs, India gasped as three more fell in the next six overs before Harmanpreet (31) and Jhulan (33) added 63 runs for the fifth-wicket.
The scores:India: V. Vanitha c Ayabonga Khaka b Chloe Tryon 11 (19b, 2x4), Smriti Mandhana c Dane van Niekerk b Marizanne Kapp 11 (13b, 1x4), Poonam Raut lbw b Kapp 3 (19b), Mithali Raj lbw b Kapp 4 (6b), Harmanpreet Kaur c Sunette Loubser b Dane Van Niekerk 31 (51b, 3x4), Jhulan Goswami st Trisha Chetty b Niekerk 33 (81b, 2x4), Sushma Verma (run out) 0 (8b), Poonam Yadav (not out) 13 (25b, 2x4), Ekta Bisht c & b Niekerk 2 (3b), Shubhlakshmi Sharma c Trisha Chetty b Niekerk 0 (2b), Rajeshwari Gayakwad b Kapp 0 (5b); Extras (b-2, w-4): 6; Total (in 38.5 overs): 114.
Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Smriti), 2-24 (Vanitha), 3-29 (Mithali), 4-30 (Poonam), 5-93 (Harmanpreet), 6-94 (Sushma), 7-105 (Jhulan), 8-112 (Ekta), 9-112 (Shubhlakshmi).
South Africa bowling: Marizanne Kapp 6.5-2-21-4, Chloe Tryon 5-1-18-1, Marcia Letsoalo 10-1-33-0, Ayabonga Khaka 6-0-17-0, Sunette Loubser 3-0-14-0, Dane van Niekerk 7-4-9-4.
South Africa: Lizelle Lee lbw b Jhulan 0 (3b), Trisha Chetty lbw b Shubhlakshmi Sharma 15 (32b) , Nadine Moodley b Jhulan 2 (8b), Mignon du Preez b Harmanpreet Kaur 11 (25b, 2x4), Marizanne Kapp b Harmanpreet 1 (3b), Dane van Niekerk lbw b Jhulan 14 (43b), Chloe Tryon (run out) 50 (80b, 7x4), Sunette Loubser c Smriti Mandhana b Shubhlakshmi Sharma 1 (24b), Yolani Fourie (not out) 12 (30b, 2x4), Marcia Letsoalo (not out) 0 (0b); Extras (lb-2, w-10): 12; Total (for eight wkts., in 41.1 overs ): 118.
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Lizelle), 2-7 (Nadine), 3-29 (du Preez), 4-29 (Trisha), 5-31 (Kapp), 6-68 (van Niekerk), 7-97 (Loubser), 8-113 (Tryon).
India bowling: Jhulan Goswami 7-1-22-3, Ekta Bisht 9.1-5-20-0, Shubhlakshmi Sharma 6-1-17-2, Harmanpreet Kaur 5-1-28-2, Rajeshwari Gaikwad 9-2-14-0, Poonam Yadav 5-0-15-0.