Revision as of 20:10, 2 June 2021

Brand endorsements

As in 2018

John Sarkar, Women cricketers score in brand arena, November 26, 2018: The Times of India

Ink Lucrative Deals, Endorsements With Cos

It’s not just the playing pitch that Indian women cricketers are making a mark on. Off the field, too, they are raking in the moolah. At least three top players — Mithali Raj, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur — have signed lucrative endorsement contracts. From peddling fruit juice and flaunting Australian diamonds to promoting cab aggregators and sporting shoe brands — they are doing it all.

Classy Raj has inked a deal with New Zealand-based bat maker Laver & Wood apart from playing brand ambassador for US cab-hailing company Uber and Rio Tinto’s Australian diamonds. Sources said the bat deal is worth Rs 20 lakh. Her teammate, 22-yearold Mandhana has the country’s largest bike maker Hero MotoCorp sponsoring her bat and European footwear retailer Bata has picked her as a brand ambassador. Mandhana, sources said, could be charging anywhere between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 50 lakh per year for an endorsement.

That’s not all. Kolkata-headquartered conglomerate ITC chose Indian T20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur as the brand ambassador for its juice brand B Natural to push deeper into Punjab. Kaur, who hails from Moga in the northern state, charges around Rs 10 lakh a day for ad shoots and Rs 15-20 lakh per year for endorsing apparel and footwear, sources said. Tyre maker Ceat, which is one of the heavyweight bat sponsors with top cricketers such as Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane on its payroll, has also signed up Kaur.

Even teenaged batting sensation Jemima Rodrigues has signed up with the Kiwi batmaker Laver & Wood.

“The team’s top-class performance at the global level has made women’s cricket popular among the game’s fans in the country,” said a Hero MotoCorp spokesperson. “Thanks to their consistent performances and the live telecast of the matches, players such as Mithali, Smriti and Harmanpreet have become household names, in the process immensely enhancing their brand value.”

There could be more deals in store. “We already have several individuals from the Indian team being recognised by brands as fit to endorse their products,” said Bunty Sajdeh, CEO, Cornerstone Sport, which manages Virat Kohli.

Companies are finding new ways of cashing in on the grassroots popularity of these cricketers. “A campaign featuring Kaur, which ran as a state-level contest, became a platform to identify and celebrate honest talent among girl children across Punjab in the cities of Bhatinda, Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Chandigarh,” said an ITC spokesperson. He added, “There was an overwhelming response with 6,431 students participating in events across domains like knowledge, arts and sports. Winners will now compete for becoming the final ‘Harman XI’ in the state-level finals to be held next year.”

The riches did not come overnight. In a country dominated by male cricket lovers who enjoy watching the men’s team play, these women had to up their ante to compete for eyeballs. “The girls have taken a lot of effort off the field,” said current fielding coach of the Andhra Pradesh team Munish Bali, who has spent time training the Indian women’s national cricket team. “They are much fitter now.”

International rankings

T20I

Winners, 2009-18

March 6, 2020: The Times of India

The Winners of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, 2009-18
From: March 6, 2020: The Times of India

Indian Women Make First-Ever T20 World Cup Title Clash After Washout In Semis; To Face Aussies

Sydney:

An unbeaten run in the group stage propelled India into their first Women’s T20 World Cup final after their last-four clash against England was washed out, prompting both captains to say that reserve days are essential for knockout clashes.

India will face Australia in the final. In the night semifinal at the same venue, Australia beat South Africa under the Duckworth-Lewis system after rain delayed the start of their match.

Persistent rain since morning delayed the toss and eventually the semifinal was called off without a ball being bowled, taking Indians into the summit clash and leaving England players in tears.

RESERVE-DAY CONTROVERSY

“Really frustrating. Not how we wanted the World Cup to finish for us. No reserve day, no chance of getting play, and ultimately that loss against South Africa cost us,” a dejected England captain Heather Knight said after the game was abandoned.

Her India counterpart Harmanpreet Kaur also agreed that the semifinals should have had a reserve day, a request which was made by host Cricket Australia but turned down by the ICC. “Unfortunate we didn’t get a game, but there are rules and we have to follow it. Having reserve days in the future will be a great idea,” said Kaur. Knight said her team paid the price for not starting the tournament well.

“It’s all very English isn’t it, talking about the weather and getting knocked out. It felt that we gained a bit of momentum in the last few games and we were pumped up for the semifinal,” she added.

“Lessons are to win the first game I guess (laughs). It’s become a trend, not to start well in tournaments, and that has cost us.”

‘EVERYBODY IN GREAT TOUCH’

India topped Group A with four victories in as many matches while England finished second in Group B with three wins and a defeat. “From day one, we knew we had to win all the games because in case the semis don’t happen, that would be hard for us. In that sense, credit to the team for winning all the games,” said Kaur.

“Everybody is looking in great touch — Shafali (Verma) and Smriti (Mandhana). They are giving us good starts, and that helps. Me and Smriti are trying to spend more time in the nets,” she said. PTI

From MAIDEN FINAL

2020 March: Shafali no.1, 3 Indians in Top Ten

March 4, 2020: The Times of India

2020 March: Shafali was the no.1 batswoman in T20Is, and there were 3 Indians in the Top Ten
From: March 4, 2020: The Times of India

Teenage Indian batting sensation Shafali Verma rose to the top spot in the ICC women's T20 International rankings, riding on her stellar run at the ongoing World Cup.

The 16-year-old Verma takes over from New Zealand's Suzie Bates, who had been the top batter since October 2018 after wresting the spot from West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor.

However, Smriti Mandhana has slipped a couple of rungs to sixth in the latest list.

Verma's explosive batting at the top of the order saw her score 161 runs in four innings, including knocks of 47 and 46 against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. It helped her become only the second India batter after Mithali Raj to top the women's T20I batting rankings, according to an ICC statement.

Among the Indian bowlers, Poonam Yadav is up four places to eighth after a good run in World Cup.

Some valiant performances from Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu have seen her move from 18th to 14th spot for batters.

Other bowlers to advance include new-ball bowler Diana Baig of Pakistan (up 34 places to 13th), Shashikala Siriwardena of Sri Lanka (up seven places to 14th), Anya Shrubsole of England (up five places to 17th), Dane van Niekerk of South Africa (up 12 places to joint-22nd) and Shikha Pandey of India (up 23 places to joint-22nd).

India's Deepti Sharma has advanced nine places to seventh, the first time that she is among the top 10 in the all-rounders' list after also moving up to 53rd among batters.

1976-2016: the 3 biggest wins

The Times of India, March 13, 2016

India's record in Women's World Cup, 1973-2013; The Times of India, June 24, 2017

Avijit Ghosh

Test

Teams: India vs West Indies

Venue: Moin-ul-Haq Stadium, Patna

Date: Nov 17, 18 & 19, 1976

It was a low-scoring Test and the scoring rate was excruciating slow. But on each day, Patna’s Moin-ul-Haq stadium was packed to its 25,000 capacity. In the end, India needed just 55 runs to win the game but were precariously perched at 25 for 5. Then women’s cricket legend Diana Edulji, then a debutant teenager armed with a devil-may-care attitude, took charge. Time and again she spanked the ball to the boundary. “I stepped out for the winning hit. But the ball was short and I swept it to the square-leg boundary,” recalls Edulji. Captain Shanta Rangaswamy vividly remembers the victory parade on a bus that crawled through the streets of Patna to the team hotel. “People were lined up on both sides, cheering us,” she says. For India, leg-spinner Shubhangi Kulkarni ended up with best match figures of seven for 57. Wicketkeeper batter Fowzieh Khalili’s 58 was the highest in the game. Brief scores: West Indies (127 & 88). India (161/9 dec & 55/5)

ODI

Teams: India vs New Zealand

Venue: Sedgar’s Park, Potchefstroom, South Africa

Date: April 7, 2005

Not many expected India to get past New Zealand, the defending champions, in an ODI World Cup semi-final. But there’s always a first. India put up a decent 204/6 in 50 overs with captain Mithali Raj leading from the front with an unbeaten 91 off 104 balls. Medium pacer Amita Sharma (3/24) and off-break bowler Nooshin al Khadeer (3/39) caused a Kiwi collapse for 164. “We got a lot of praise for that win,” recalls Raj. She has one regret though: There’s no video recording of that game. For the record, India lost in the final to Australia.

Brief scores: India 204/6 in 50 overs. New Zealand 164 all out in 43.4 overs

T20

Teams: India vs Australia

Venue: Adelaide Oval, Australia

Date; January 26, 2016

When Alicia Healey, niece of the great Australian gloveman Ian, launched a late blitzkrieg powering her team to 140, many thought the intervention was decisive. Only a record-breaking chase would have overhauled the target. But the Women in Blue had other ideas. Young Smriti Mandhana (29 off 25) and Veda Krishnamurthy (35 off 32) kept the target within sight. However, it required a special innings from Moga girl, Harmanpreet Kaur (46 off 31, strike rate: 148.38), to push the visitors past the total set up by the defending world champions. The win laid the basis for the 2-1 series triumph. If captain Mithali Raj’s Team India excel in the 2016 T20 World Cup, it would be fair to say, that’s where it all began.

2016

First T20 series win against Australia: I

January 29, 2016, was a historic day in India's cricket history and this time it was the women making the country proud. The Women in Blue defeated the defending World T20 champions Australia for the first time in a bilateral series in any format. The 2-0 win (in the three-match T20I series which ended 2-1) came at the MCG.

It took 30 years in the making and was much deserved for a team which hasn't looked back since. The progress, according to skipper Mithali Raj, is due to two significant developments in the women's game in India -the introduction of central contracts and television coverage of their first-class matches. “The contract system has played a huge role. The girls are more motivated now. The finances are taken care of and the BCCI also provides us good facilities in terms of the support staff and everything. Also, when domestic matches are televised, it's imperative to put up a good show,“ Mithali said.

Talents such as Smriti Mandhana, who is the first Indian to be selected in the ICC Women's Team of the Year, and Harmanpreet Kaur, who along with , Smriti became the first cricketers from India to play in a foreign T20 league, have brought much-deserved attention to women's cricket in India. The team proved their dominance with the sixth Asia Cup title in as many editions.

II

The Times of India, Jan 30 2016

Ehtesham Hasan

They waited for a central contract for long and when the BCCI finally obliged, the Indian women's team has started delivering great results. They clinched their first-ever T20 series against Australia, outclassing the hosts by 10 wickets (DL method) at the MCG. It was spectacular display by the Ladies in Blue as they not only outbatted, out-bowled but even outfielded the much athletic Southern Stars on their home turf. Two moments on the field typified their gallant display and it came from AnujaPatil. First was an outstanding catch she took of opener Beth Mooney by running backwards and then the run-out of Ellyse Perry when she swooped on the ball at mid-on and broke the stumps with a great throw.

2017

ODIs

May 16 2017, Indian women in record 320-run stand, The Times of India

The Indian women's crick et team scaled several new peaks when openers Deepti Sharma and Poonam Raut put on a world-record 320-run opening stand during a mammoth 249run victory over Ireland in the women's quadrangular series ODI match in Senwes Park, Potchesfroom.

It's the biggest opening stand in ODIs not just for women but even for men.

India scored 3582 and Ireland, in reply , were all out for 109 in 40 overs, handing India's women their biggest victory in terms of runs in ODIs.

Deepti took just 160 balls to score 188 runs -the secondhighest individual score of all time in women's cricket while Poonam scored 109 during their record stand, which lasted 45.3 overs.

Deepti, who hit 27 fours and two sixes, is now India's highest scorer in women's cricket, second only to the alltime highest of 229 not out, scored by Australia's Belinda Clark against Denmark.

Deepti broke the Indian record scripted by Jaya Shar ma, who had scored 138 not out against Pakistan women in Karachi in 2005.

The Indian women's cricket team had not breached the 300-run mark in an one-dayer before this, with their previous highest being 2982 against the West Indies in 2004.

Before Deepti and Poonam's marathon stand, the record for the highest partnership in women's cricket belonged to England's Sarah Taylor and Caroline Atkins, who had put on 268 for the first wicket against South Africa in 2008.

With four victories from four matches, India are now the only unbeaten side in the tournament with wins over South Africa, Ireland (twice) and Zimbabwe. Ireland never looked in the chase as they scored the first fifty in 18.4 overs, losing the wicket of opener Leah Paul (13) in the 17th over. From there on, Ireland kept losing wickets and lost half their side in the 30th over for 75 runs. Their slide continued as they managed to bring up the team hundred in the 37th over before India quickly mopped up the tail.

Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad (418) scalped four wickets, while Shikha Pandey (316), who had provided the late charge with a 14-ball 27 for India, took three wickets. Earlier, Rachel Delaney (144) claimed the only wicket by an Ireland bowler when she ended Deepti's innings by cleaning up the opener in the 46th over.

Poonam too retired out in the last ball of that over. Ire land's poor show was reflected in the number of extras they conceded -26.

2018

Bangladesh beat India, win Women's Asia Cup

Bangladesh beat India to lift maiden Women's Asia Cup T20 title, June 10, 2018: The Times of India

HIGHLIGHTS

Bangladesh reached the target of 113 off the final delivery of the match

This is Bangladesh's maiden Women's Asia Cup title

With this defeat, India's run of six straight titles has come to an end

Bangladesh stunned India by three wickets in a last-ball finish to win their maiden Women's Asia Cup T20 title at the Kinrara Academy Oval, Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. Chasing 113, Bangladesh reached the target off the final delivery to record a historic title win over the defending champions India.

Bangladesh began their chase on a solid footing with the opening pair of Ayasha Rahaman (17) and Shamima Sultana (16) adding 33 in the Powerplay overs. Poonam Yadav brought India in the contest with two wickets in two deliveries to dismiss both the openers. However, unlike India, Bangladesh managed to stitch together little partnerships to keep themselves in the fray.

The spinners, led by Poonam (4/9), did their best to keep the contest alive though. With 66/3 in 14 overs, India found themselves slightly ahead. But the 15th over, bowled by Jhulan Goswami, turned the tables as in it, Nigar Sultana creamed three successive fours to take 16 runs from it. With 31 needed off the final four, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur brought back Poonam into the attack and she delivered with the scalp of Nigar (27).

Injuries to first-choice Shikha Pandey and Deepti Sharma meant Harmanpreet took the matters in her own hands. Her first over, innings' 18th, resulted in a wicket but also brought Bangladesh 10 runs closer to the target. After an excellent 19th over from Poonam, Bangladesh needed nine from the last. Despite losing two wickets in the over, Bangladesh managed to reach the target in a thrilling finale.

That India were able to give Bangladesh a run for their money seemed a distant possibility when they were reduced to 32/4 after being put in to bat. It took a fifth-wicket partnership of 30 runs between Harmanpreet and Veda Krishnamurthy (11) to repair some of the damage. While Harmanpreet continued to wage a lone battle, as she reached a fifth T20I half-century, others failed to offer her any support.

Only four India batters touched double-figures and none barring Harmanpreet crossed 11. She eventually holed out on the final delivery of the Indian innings on 56 which had seven fours in it.

This was the second occasion that Bangladesh defeated India in the tournament after stunning them earlier in the league stage. Thus, India's run of six straight Asia Cup titles (four ODIs and two T20s) came to an end with Bangladesh claiming their first ever.

Brief Scores: India 112/9 (Harmanpreet 56; Rumana Ahmed 2/22, Khadija Tul Kubra 2/23) lost to Bangladesh 113/7 (Nigar Sultana 27, Rumana Ahmed 23; Poonam Yadav 4/9) by three wickets

Harmanpreet captain of World XI, 3 Indians in team

November 26, 2018: The Times of India

India’s women cricket players who signed brand endorsement deals, as in 2018.
From: November 26, 2018: The Times of India

India’s batting star Harmanpreet Kaur was named captain of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 XI, which also featured opener Smriti Mandhana and leg-spinner Poonam Yadav. A selection panel comprising former players and commentators Ian Bishop, Anjum Chopra and Ebony Rainford-Brent, journalist Melinda Farrell and ICC’s General Manager-Cricket, Geoff Allardice, picked the team on the basis of the players’ performances in the tournament. Three players from England, two from Australia and one each from Pakistan, New Zealand and the Windies have also been named in the eleven.

The team: Alyssa Healy (Aus), Smriti Mandhana (Ind), Amy Jones (Eng, wk), Harmanpreet Kaur (Ind, captain), Deandra Dottin (WI), Javeria Khan (Pak), Ellyse Perry (Aus), Leigh Kasperek (NZ), Anya Shrubsole (Eng), Kirstie Gordon (Eng), Poonam Yadav (Ind). 12th player: Jahanara Alam (Ban).

ICC Women’s ODI, T20I teams of 2018

3 Indian, one Bangladeshi and one Pakistani made it to the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I teams of 2018
From: Smriti is ICC Women’s Cricketer of Year, January 1, 2019: The Times of India

See graphic:

3 Indian, one Bangladeshi and one Pakistani made it to the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I teams of 2018

2019

Indian women lose T20 series to England

March 7, 2019: The Times of India

The Indian women's cricket team suffered a five-wicket defeat to England in the second T20 International, surrendering the series with a sixth straight loss in the shortest format. Chasing 112 for an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, England completed the task in 19.1 overs, holding nerves after losing a few quick wickets. England won the first match by 41 runs. Opener Danielle Wyatt was England's star performer with the bat, top-scoring with an unbeaten 64 off 55 balls.

Opting to bowl, England produced a brilliant performance to prevent the hosts from putting up a big score at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, with Katherine Brunt emerging as the most successful bowler.

Brief scores: India: 111/8 in 20 overs (Mithali 20, Deepti 18, Bharati 18; Katherine 3-17, Linsey 2-11) lost to England: 114/5 in 19.1 overs (Daniella 64n.o, Lauren 29; Ekta 2-23).

Lakshmi first woman on ICC referee panel

Krishnaprasad PV, May 15, 2019: The Times of India

From the dusty bylanes of Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh to becoming the International Cricket Council’s first woman match referee, 51-yearold Gandikota Sarva Lakshmi, has come a long way. Lakshmi was appointed to ICC's international panel of match referees on Tuesday and will be eligible to officiate in international games with immediate effect.

Lakshmi, who is currently the chief office superintendent in the public relations department of South Central Railway (SCR) in Secunderabad, has been on the domestic circuit for a long time. She had led Andhra and South Zone women’s teams apart from playing for SCR, Bihar and East Zone from 1986 to 2004. Lakshmi, who started her cricket journey at the U-19 level, was a right-handed batter and medium-pacer. She got her first major breakthrough when she was picked for the Bihar state team in 1986. After retiring from cricket, Lakshmi switched roles to become a match referee. She was also coach of the Hyderabad women’s U-19 team and a selector of the Hyderabad women’s team briefly.

Having made her debut as a match referee in a T20 match in Jaipur earlier this month, the ICC confirmation was icing on the cake. “In 2018, BCCI referred my name for the ICC match referees’ panel. I got the green signal from ICC earlier this month,” said Lakshmi.

She thanked her family — mother Vijaya Lakshmi, husband Jaya Prakash and daughter Pranati Sravani — for their support. “Without their support, I would not have reached this stage today,” she signed off.

South Africa series: India won 3-1

Indian women lose final T20I, but win series 3-1

Surat: India put up a shoddy display to lose by 105 runs to South Africa in the sixth and final women’s T20 International, but still managed to clinch the series 3-1 here on Friday. India cliched the six-match series 3-1 with two games being washed out due to rain. Electing to bat first, South Africa made a challenging 175 for three, riding on the batting heroics of openers Lizelle Lee (84 off 47 balls, 15x4s, 1x6) and Sune Luus (62 off 56 balls, 7x4s). The duo put on a sizzling 144-run stand for the opening wicket that came off 95 balls to set the tone for the challenging score. Chasing 176 for a win, India never got going as South Africa produced a lethal bowling effort to reduce the hosts to 13 for six after 6.2 overs. India crumbled against the South African bowling attack as they were bowled out for 70 in 17.3 overs.

2020

India beats Sri Lanka, enters SFs

Radha, Shafali star as Indian women march into semis with all-win record, March 1, 2020: The Times of India

Scoreboard, India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s T20 World Cup, 2020
From: Radha, Shafali star as Indian women march into semis with all-win record, March 1, 2020: The Times of India

Melbourne:

The Indian women continued their stellar form in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup as they registered a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in what was their final group game at the Junction Oval.

Radha Yadav and Shafali Verma were the star performers for India, who finished the group stage at the top of the table with eight points from four games.

Having already qualified for the semifinals, the Indian eves first restricted Sri Lanka to a below par 113/9 with left-arm spinner Radha scalping 4 wickets in her four overs, giving away just 23 runs.

Spin partner Rajeshwari Gayakwad returned with figures of 2/18 while Poonam Yadav, Deepti Sharma and Shikha Pandey all scalped one wicket each.

For Sri Lanka, skipper Chamari Athapaththu was the lone batswoman who could make some significant contribution of 33. Apart from her, Kavisha Dilhari made 25* down the order and helped Sri Lanka cross the 100-run mark.

During their chase, it was once again 16-year-old Shafali who starred with the bat. She along with Smriti Mandhana, shared a 34-run opening stand before the left-handed opener was dismissed for 17.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who has been struggling for form, promoted herself to No. 3. However, that didn’t make much of a difference as she could score only 15 runs before getting out. Shafali, however, continued from the other end and kept on scoring boundaries and looked all set to smash her first halfcentury of the ongoing tournament. But, she fell just three runs short as she got run-out and missed out on a well-deserved fifty.

Deepti then completed the formalities alongwith Jemimah Rodrigues as the duo helped India chase down the target with as many as 32 balls to spare. Radha was adjudged the Player of the Match.

India will now take the field when they play in the first semifinal of the tournament on March 5 in Sydney. AGENCIES

Australia beats India in the finals

March 9, 2020: The Times of India

Scoreboard, India vs Australia: Women’s T20 World Cup, 2020
From: March 9, 2020: The Times of India

India saved their worst for the last as a brutal Australian side outclassed them by 85 runs for an unprecedented fifth T20 World Cup triumph in a final that promised much but delivered very little.

Batting first after the coin landed in Meg Lanning’s favour, Australia came out in scintillating fashion with their openers Alyssa Healy (75 off 39 balls) and Beth Mooney (78 off 54 balls) laying the foundation with a 115-run partnership in double quick time.

Stirred up by the grand occasion, their onslaught fired Australia to a formidable total of 184 for four in the stipulated 20 overs. Overwhelmed by the occasion, India crumbled to 99 all out in front of a turnout of 86,174 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, a record in women’s cricket history.

What worked in the home team’s favour was that their openers easily neutralised the threat posed by the in-form spinner Poonam Yadav (1/30 in 4 overs) by playing percentage cricket while taking the likes of medium-pacer Shikha Pandey and Deepti Sharma to the cleaners.

Pandey was smashed for 52 runs in her four overs. Half the battle was won there for the formidable Australians, who, in stark contrast to India, saved their best for the last. The manner and magnitude of the defeat, including a few sub plots, were reminiscent of the 2003 men’s World Cup final when Ricky Ponting’s Australia thrashed Sourav Ganguly’s India in an anti-climactic title clash.

Like Zaheer Khan in his opening over at the Wanderers against Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, Deepti Sharma was overcome by nerves when up against Mooney and Healy, who blasted massive sixes as the beaming husband and Aussie left-arm quick Mitchell Starc watched from the stands.

The match was as good as over when India were 18/3 in the fourth over, which became four for 4/30 when skipper Harmanpreet Kaur departed and 58/5 when Veda Krishnamurthy was taking the long walk back.

Earlier, Mooney and Healy rode on dropped chances to smash blistering fifties and power Australia to a challenging 184 for four. Mooney topscored for Australia but it was Healy, who took to the attack after being dropped in the fifth ball of the innings by Shafali Verma off Deepti Sharma.

Healy’s 39-balls innings was laced with seven fours and five hits over the fence. Healy and Mooney shared 115 runs in 11.5 overs for the opening wicket to give Australia a flying start after opting to bat first.

Just like Healy, Mooney too cashed in on a dropped chance —caught and bowled opportunity by Rajeshwari Gayakwad in the fourth over — to punish India. Thankfully, for India, their slow bowlers pulled things back a bit and restricted Aussies. PTI

2021

South Africa vs India

ODIs

South Arica wins

South Africa seal ODI series 4-1: South Africa added salt to India’s wounds by registering a five-wicket win over the hosts in the low-scoring fifth and final women’s ODI to seal the series 4-1 in Lucknow. Mithali Raj played a captain’s knock by hitting a well-crafted 79 not out but it was only enough to take India to 188 all out. South Africa then rode on Anneke Bosch (58) and Mignon du Preez’s (57) half-centuries to chase down the target in 48.2 overs.

T20Is

Rajeshwari, Shafali help India women pull one back

Lucknow: Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s threewicket haul and Shafali Verma’s 60-run knock off 30 balls helped India defeat South Africa by nine wickets in the third and final T20I at the Ekana Cricket Ground. South Africa had already sealed the series after winning the first two T20Is, but the hosts gained a consolation win in the final game of the series. Chasing 113, India got off to a sensational start as opening batter Shafali Verma scored 18 runs in the very first over bowled by Shabnim Ismail. The righthander along with Smriti Mandhana continued the carnage in the first six overs and as a result, the hosts’ score read 71/0 after the end of six overs.

Brief Scores: South Africa Women 112/7 (Sune Luus 28, Lara Goodall 25 not out; Rajeshwari Gayakwad 3/9) lost to India Women 114/1 in 11 overs (Shafali Verma 60, Smriti Mandhana 48 not out).