A convincing 10-wicket win secured India in the one-off women’s Test against South Africa, although Laura Wolvaardt’s century made it a longer wait for them to celebrate.
After bundling out South Africa for 373 in their second innings, the hosts needed to chase a rather stiff target of 37 runs and they completed this task in just 9.2 overs without loss of any wicket, PTI reported.
Shubha Satheesh (13) and Shafali Verma (24) opened for India which led to an easy victory. It is India’s second victory ever by ten wickets in Test matches after another similar result against the same team at Paarl in 2002/03. The first innings ended at 603 for six wickets when India declared their batting.
South Africa had been bowled out for 266 all out during their first innings but put up a good fight during second innings courtesy of hundreds from Wolvaardt (122,314b,16×4) and Sune Luus (109,203b,18×4). However it was only an effort that delayed the eventual outcome as Indian bowlers and batters proved too strong for visiting side.
Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp resumed on the overnight score of 232-2 still 105 runs behind India. Both batters were looking in fine fettle with Wolvaardt going on to achieve a major milestone by scoring her maiden Test hundred. She also became the first female cricketer across all formats of the game to notch up three centuries within a calendar year.
The progress of South African team was briefly stopped as Deepti Sharma dismissed Kapp leg before wicket having made only thirty-one runs. Soon afterwards she was joined back into pavilion by Sneh Rana who claimed Delmi Tucker’s wicket without conceding any run. This reduced the visitors to 266 for 4.
However, her brave act only came to an end when she was trapped leg before by Rajeshwari Gayakwad and had made a fine century of 122. The dismissal left South Africa on 281-5 still requiring more runs to go past India’s total.
The Proteas endured through the setbacks and inched over the 300-run mark thus setting a new record for their highest team total against India in Tests beating their previous best of 266 made during first innings.
South Africa took lunch on 302 for five after Nadine de Klerk and Sinalo Jafta formed a good partnership that lasted until the interval with less than fifty runs needed to take the lead.
Jafta retired hurt due to cramps after lunch, forcing Dercksen to be sent as replacement by South African side. However, Dercksen fell for just five runs scored leaving Pooja Vastrakar with an opportunity to claim her wicket while South Africa trailed by only twenty-seven runs.
That meant they got beyond 316, their previous highest score in Test cricket which they recorded against England at Shenley back in August, 2003. However, building partnerships long enough to give them a lead has been difficult for South Africa this afternoon.
The next stand between De Klerk and Tumi Sekhukhune was worth fourteen before Sekhukhune was run out having scored six. Jafta returned but could only manage another nine runs before he went back being bowled out at fifteen making it three hundred thirty-six for eight at tea.
This marked third instance of Indian team giving away the lead after enforcing follow-on and fifth overall time when India had given up its advantage in Test matches.
However, De Klerk, who had capitalized on a miscommunication between Singh and Vastrakar to take her score to 50 runs, reached her 50-run mark before being dismissed by Gayakwad in the end for 61.
