NEW DELHI: Smriti Mandhana‘s determined century and a disciplined bowling performance, spearheaded by spinners Deepti Sharma and Asha Sobhana, led India to a commanding 143-run victory over South Africa in the first women’s ODI in Bengaluru on Sunday.
India now lead the three-match series 1-0, with the second game scheduled for June 19.
Mandhana’s sixth ODI century (117 off 127 balls, including 12 fours and a six) was the cornerstone of India’s competitive total of 265 for eight on a sluggish Chinnaswamy pitch.
Indian bowlers then showcased their excellence by dismissing the South African team for just 122 runs. Debutant leg-spinner Asha took the spotlight with a miserly spell of 4/21, complemented by off-spinner Deepti, who took 2/10.
Pacer Renuka Singh provided India with an ideal start, dismissing the in-form South African captain Laura Wolvaardt in the first over.
Wolvaardt was bowled out by an exceptional nip-backer from Renuka that clipped the top of her off-stump.
The Indian bowlers quickly claimed the wickets of Tazmine Brits and Anneke Bosch, reducing the visitors to 33 for three.
Experienced batter Marizane Kapp (24 off 39 balls), who hit Renuka for consecutive four and six, tried to revive the innings with Sune Luus, who contributed a solid 33.
However, their partnership of 39 runs for the fourth wicket consumed 68 balls, making the required run rate climb above seven, and it never came down.
Asha ended this partnership when she had Kapp caught at covers by Harmanpreet Kaur.
At 74 for five, South Africa faced a steep uphill battle.
Earlier in the match, Mandhana’s innings was pivotal to India’s success, thrilling the home crowd with a well-paced century.
Mandhana formed two crucial partnerships, first with Deepti (37 off 48 balls, three fours) and then with Pooja Vastrakar (31 not out), rescuing India from a precarious 99 for five.
Mandhana and Deepti shared an 81-run stand from 92 balls for the sixth wicket. Pooja, who had to leave the field later due to a knee niggle, assisted Mandhana with a 58-run partnership off 54 balls for the seventh wicket.
Mandhana, known for her flair, chose a more cautious approach due to the team’s situation and the slow pitch, which top-order players like Shafali Verma (7), Harmanpreet Kaur (10), and Jemimah Rodrigues (17) struggled to adapt to, leading to their dismissals.
When India’s fifth wicket fell, Mandhana was on 33 and recognized the need to preserve her wicket.
She mostly accumulated runs through smart placements but didn’t hesitate to go for boundaries when opportunities arose.
An impressive pull shot off debutant pacer Anne Dercksen and a stylish advance down the track to hit off-spinner Nondumiso Shangase over mid-on highlighted Mandhana’s elegance.
Deepti played a key role in easing the pressure on Mandhana with a confident innings.
Deepti picked her bowlers well and found the gaps to accumulate runs. She particularly targeted Shangase, sweeping for all her three boundaries.
However, a low-bouncing delivery from pacer Ayabonga Khaka led to Deepti dragging a wide ball onto her stumps.
Mandhana continued her solid batting and reached 99 off 115 balls from 93 with a beautifully timed six off pacer Masabata Klaas over mid-on.
She then took a single off Klaas to notch her century in 116 balls.
Mandhana fell shortly after reaching her hundred to a delivery from Klaas, but by then, she had guided India to a formidable total.