India secured a thrilling 10-wicket victory over South Africa in the one-off Test, wrapping up the win in the final session of the last day at Chepauk, Chennai. Despite their defeat, South Africa showed extraordinary determination, pushing the game to its limits and demonstrating their resilience with minimal red-ball practice.
India 603 for 6 dec (Shafali 205, Mandhana 149, Ghosh 86, Harmanpreet 69, Rodrigues 55) and 37 for 0 (Shafali 24*) beat South Africa 266 (Kapp 74, Luus 65, Rana 8-77) and 373 (Wolvaardt 122, Luus 109, de Klerk 61, Gayakwad 2-55, Deepti 2-95, Rana 2-111) by 10 wickets.
Key Performances
India’s victory was highlighted by Shafali Verma’s double-century, Smriti Mandhana’s 149, and Sneh Rana’s outstanding 10-wicket haul. These performances, along with significant contributions from the entire team, played crucial roles in India’s success.
South Africa, trailing by 105 runs, started day four at 232 for 2 with Laura Wolvaardt close to her maiden century. She achieved it, scoring 122 off 259 balls. Despite losing Marizanne Kapp early in the day, South Africa fought hard with Sune Luus and Nadine de Klerk providing stability. De Klerk, usually an aggressive white-ball player, adapted her game to score her maiden Test fifty, batting for 213 minutes and facing 174 balls.
Final Day Drama
India needed five wickets for victory after a morning session that saw South Africa lose three key wickets. The afternoon session was quiet, with South Africa adding 34 runs in 29 overs. Sinalo Jafta, who had retired hurt, returned to bat and added some resistance. At tea, South Africa was 336 for 8, trailing by just one run.
Shafali Verma’s third over of the second innings turned the game as she bowled Masabata Klaas. Soon after, Rajeshwari Gayakwad ended de Klerk’s innings. South Africa managed to push into the lead but set India a target of only 36 runs, which they chased down in 9.2 overs.
Conclusion
This Test match, which marked the return of women’s Tests to Chepauk since 1976, was a testament to the quality and excitement of women’s cricket. The focus now shifts to the T20I series, but this game will be remembered for its competitive spirit and high-quality cricket.
With the T20Is on the horizon, both teams will quickly shift their focus, but this Test match at Chepauk has set a high standard for the series.
Leave a Reply