Mithali, Mandhana power India to 9-wicket win over South Africa

East London (SA), February 17
Veteran Mithali Raj and opener Smriti Mandhana hit stylish half-centuries as India cruised to a comfortable nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the second women’s T20I today.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team is now 2-0 up in the five-match series, having won the opening encounter by seven wickets.
Chasing a modest 143, India cantered to victory in 19.1 overs as Smriti hit a blistering 57 off 42 balls while Mithali anchored the innings to perfection with her second successive half-century, remaining unbeaten on 76 off 61 balls.
Mithali was declared Player of the Match second time in the series. Smriti struck four boundaries and three sixes — one off leg-spinner Dane van Niekerk and another two off Raisibe Ntozakhe. It wasn’t exactly a flawless innings as she was dropped twice during her second half-century in the shortest format.
Along with Mithali, Smriti added 106 runs for the opening stand in 14.2 overs. Smriti was in her element, attacking the Proteas bowling from the word go and reaching her half-century off only 37 balls. Mithali, on the other hand, completed her 12th T20I half-century off 48 deliveries.
Only after Smriti was adjudged LBW did Mithali take charge, with 23 needed off the last three overs. She targeted medium-pacer Ayabonga Khaka, bowling the 18th over, hitting her for two boundaries to ease the pressure.
Mithali hit eight boundaries and the last was a thump over mid-wicket off Shabnim Ismail which brought India’s victory.
Earlier, leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (2/18) and off-spinner Anuja Patil (2/37) shared four wickets between themselves. The only notable partnership for South African women was between Sune Luus (33) and Nadine de Klerk (26), who added 43 runs for the fifth wicket after they were in a spot of bother at 58/4.
Brief Scores: South Africa: 142/7 (Sune Luus 33, Nadine de Klerk 26; Poonam Yadav 2/17); India: 144/1 in 19.1 overs (Mithali Raj 76*, Smriti Mandhana 57).