Mithali Raj performed a captain’s knock by hitting a well-crafted 79 not out as India struggled to 188 all out in opposition to South Africa in the fifth and last women’s ODI in Lucknow on Wednesday (March 17).
Put into bat, Mithali steered India’s innings after India misplaced three early wickets with the scoreboard studying 53 in the thirteenth over. Together with Harmanpreet Kaur (30), who retired harm following cramps, Mithali shared 71 runs for the fourth wicket earlier than the previous left the bottom in the thirty first over.
India misplaced opener Priya Punia (18) early earlier than India’s star batswoman of the sequence Punam Raut (10) and Smriti Mandhana (18) departed in successive overs. Dayalan Hemalatha (2) and Sushma Verma (0) failed to present the much-needed help to Mithali because the veteran Indian batter introduced up her second fifty of the sequence and fifty fifth general in 78 balls in the thirty eighth over.
Jhulan Goswami (5) and Monica Patel (9) too did not hassle the scorers a lot as Mithali stored India’s innings going single-handedly. Debutant Challuru Prathyusha (2) additionally failed to make a mark as India slumped to 176 for eight by the tip of the forty seventh over.
Mithali was left stranded at one finish as India stored on wickets at common intervals and have been bowled out in 49.3 overs. Mithali’s unbeaten 104-ball knock was studded with eight boundaries and one hit over the fence.
Medium pacer Nadine de Klerk was the choose of the bowlers for South Africa with figures of three for 35. Off-spinner Nondumiso Shangase (2/43), Marizanne Kapp (1/25) and Tumi Sekhukhune (2/26) additionally chipped in with helpful contributions to prohibit the Indians below the 200-run mark.
South Africa had already pocketed the five-match sequence with victory in the fourth ODI.
