Vadodara:Riding on captain Mithali Raj's 66 off 82 and Punam Raut's 65 off 92, the Indian women's team beat South Africa by five wickets in the second ODI match, played here at Reliance Stadium on Friday. India restricted South Africa to 247/6 and chased the target down in 48 overs, to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing a target of 248 for victory, India lost openers Priya Punia (20) and Jemimah Rodrigues (18) early and slipped to 66 for two in 12.5 overs.However, Punam and Mithali batted sensibly and put the chase back on track, by having a 129-run partnership for the third wicket.
India were in complete control of the game, when Marizanne Kapp (1/29) broke the stand by removing Mithali in the 40th over. In the next over, Punam too got out to Kapp, leaving India at 196 for four in 40.1 overs.India suffered a mini collapse of sorts by losing two wickets in two overs, but Harmanpreet Kaur hit an unbeaten quick-fire 27-ball 39, laced with five boundaries and a six, to guide India to victory, with 12 balls to spare.
Earlier put into bat, openers Lizelle Lee (40) and Laura Wolvaardt (69) gave South Africa a solid start, taking them to 76 in 15.4 overs.It was Poonam Yadav, who gave India the breakthrough by dismissing Lizelle Lee in the 16th over. Once Lee was removed by Poonam, Trisha Chetty (22) gave company to Wolvaardt, adding 51 runs.
Meanwhile, Shikha provided India twin breakthroughs, dismissing Chetty and Wolvaardt, as South Africa slumped to 142 for 3. M du Preez (44) and Lara Goodall (38) took the visiting team past the 200-run mark, from there.
After Goodall's dismissal in the 43rd over, skipper Sune Luus (12) couldn't do much, while Du Preez took South Africa close to 250, before falling in the last over.Pacer Shikha Pandey (2/38), left-arm spinner Ekta Bist (2/45) and leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (2/42) were the pick of bowlers for India.
India will now play South Africa in the third and final ODI on Monday.
Brief scores:
South Africa- 247/6 (Laura Wolvaardt 69, Mignon du Preez 44; Shikha Pandey 2/38)
India- 248/5 (Mithali Raj 66, Punam Raut 65; Ayabonga Khaka 3/69)(UNI)
