Johannesburg, Apr 22 (PTI) Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opening batter Shafali Verma struck a half century each as India produced a far better batting performance to post 192 for 4 in the third women’s T20 International here on Wednesday.
Shafali continued his impressive form as she struck his second consecutive half century while it was the first half ton for Harmanpreet in the series. She had made 47 not out and 12 in the first two games which India lost to trail 0-2 in the five-match series.
Harmanpreet’s 66 came from 38 balls from which she struck seven boundaries and three sixes. Shafali, who has made 34 and 57 in India’s earlier two games of the five-match series, dished out a solid batting display as her 64 came from 46 balls from which she struck eight boundaries and two sixes.
She stitched 68 runs for the opening wicket with senior partner Smriti Mandhana (37 off 25 balls) and 73 runs with Harmanpreet for the third wicket. She miscued a Nonkululeko Mlaba short ball for Nadine de Klerk to take the catch in the 16th over.
Harmanpreet, who lived dangerously early on, then took charge and hit some lusty blows. She was run out in the final ball if the Indian innings.
Richa Ghosh remained not out on 18 off 10 balls.
Earlier, star opener Smriti Mandhana got the start but failed to score big yet again. Mandhana was going strong in the company of Shafali as the opening duo made 51 for no loss at the end of Powerplay.
But the complexion of the game changed in ninth over bowled by Mlaba with Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues (0) getting out in two consecutive deliveries.
Mandhana failed to clear the boundary as she got out for 37 off 25 balls. She and Shafali were together for 68 runs.
The next ball, Jemimah Rodrigues failed to control her sweep shot and got out for a duck as India suddenly slumped to 68 for 2.
India are trailing the five-match series 0-2 after losing the first two games.
Brief Scores: India: 192 for 4 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 64, Harmanpreet Kaur 66; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/31). PTI PDS PDS KHS
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