Sneh Rana shines with 10-wicket haul as India overcomes resilient South Africa to win by 10 wickets

India had to wait a little longer for the winning moment from centurion Laura Wolvaardt, but they finally crossed the line convincingly by 10 wickets on the fourth and final day of the one-off women’s Test against South Africa here on Monday.

India had to chase down a modest 37 after bowling out South Africa for 373 in their second innings and the hosts completed the task in 9.2 overs without losing a wicket. India had declared their first innings closed at 603 for six.

Opening duo Shubha Satheesh (13 not out) and Shafali Verma (24 not out) led their team to a comfortable victory.

This is India’s second 10-wicket win in a Test match, following a similar victory over the Proteas at Paarl in 2002.

After throwing 266 runs in their first innings, South Africa put up a strong fight against hundred-makers Wolvaardt (122, 314b, 16×4) and Sune Luus (109, 203b, 18×4) in the second innings.

Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp resumed the overnight 232 for two and were 105 runs behind India. They seemed to have a good contact.

The former hit her maiden Test century, becoming the first woman batswoman to score a Test, ODI and T20I hundred in the same year.

However, Kapp was soon trapped at leg by Deepti Sharma for 31, while Sneh Rana ousted Delmi Tucker for a duck as the tourists slumped to 266 for four.

With there still work to be done for the South Africans to take the lead, Wolvaardt tried to anchor the innings but was dismissed for 122 when Rajeshwari Gayakwad trapped her in front to reduce the visitors to 281 for five.

India overcame the challenge of South Africa in the third session

The Proteas marched on and crossed the 300-run mark, their highest team total in Tests against the Indians. The previous best was the 266 scored here in their opening innings.

South Africa needed less than 50 runs to take the lead at this stage. Nadine de Klerk and Sinalo Jafta stayed together until the lunch break and SA was then at 302 for five.

However, in the session after lunch, Jafta resigned due to cramps, when the visitors sent Anne Dercksen to De Klerk. But Dercksen departed for five runs and lost to Pooja Vastrakar, with SA trailing by 27 runs.

Meanwhile, the tourists went past 316 to register their highest score in Test cricket, surpassing the 315 they made against England at Shenley in 2003. Although the South Africans closed in on a lead, they struggled to get the partnerships going.

India conceded the lead against South Africa

The next match between De Klerk and Tumi Sekhukhune produced 14 runs, before the latter scored six.

Jafta came back to bat, but she could only score nine more runs and left for 15 runs. They went to tea at 336 to eight.

The hosts eventually gave away the lead in the final session. This was the third instance of India giving away the lead after forcing a follow-on and the fifth in total.

The partnership between De Klerk and Masabata Klaas produced 23 runs before the latter fell to Shafali, who dismissed her.

De Klerk, who was bowled out on fifty by Renuka Singh and Vastrakar in a misunderstanding, soon reached her half-century, but Rajeshwari Gayakwad knocked her out for 61.

Published: Monday, July 1, 2024, 7:18 PM IST