The sequence already out of their grasp, the Indian ladies cricketers, who’re struggling to place collectively a cohesive workforce present, can have pleasure at stake after they conflict with South Africa ladies within the fifth and ultimate One-day International, right here on Wednesday.
Barring the convincing nine-wicket win within the second match, the Indian ladies have barely fired in unison whereas the South Africans, who’ve already clinched the sequence 3-1, have excelled as a workforce.
To be truthful to the house facet gamers, they have been a bit rusty as they’re taking part in their first worldwide sequence after greater than a 12 months as a result of COVID-19 pandemic whereas South Africa not too long ago beat Pakistan 3-0 at house.
The Indian workforce additionally missed the aptitude of younger Shafali Verma on the prime of the order and the expertise of Shikha Pandey in bowling division.
Indian spinners, save Rajeshwari Gayakwad (5 wickets from 4 matches), have been a giant let down on the gradual tracks and that has performed a giant half in India’s sequence loss when the South Africans chased down 249 and 267 within the third and fourth matches.
Senior leg-spinner Poonam Yadav couldn’t get a single batter out within the 4 matches she has performed to date. It stays to be seen if she retains her place within the taking part in eleven on Wednesday.
Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami continued to be the decide of Indian bowlers as she topped the bowling charts with eight wickets from the three matches she has performed however she didn’t get a lot assist from her colleagues apart from spinner Gayakwad. Goswami didn’t play within the fourth match.
Top-order batter Punam Raut has been in sensational type with scores of 10, 62 not out, 77 and 104 not out within the 4 video games.
The 31-year-old prime run getter among the many Indians wish to proceed from the place she left within the fourth match the place she hit an unbeaten century, although, in a shedding trigger.
Captain Mithali Raj and her deputy Harmapreet Kaur have been the opposite two constant batters whereas star opener Smriti Mandhana shone solely within the second match.
Opener Jemimah Rodrigues was additionally disappointing and he or she was overlooked of the fourth match after scores of 1, 9 and 0.Raj, who grew to become the primary Indian lady cricketer and second internationally to succeed in 10,000 runs throughout the sequence, had scores of fifty, 36 and 45 within the three innings she has performed to date. She didn’t bat within the second match.
The identical is for Kaur who had scores of 40, 36, 54. She additionally didn’t bat within the second match.
After smashing a match-winning 80 not out within the second match, Mandhana has not accomplished a lot within the different three matches with scores of 14, 25 and 10. With stress off within the inconsequential match, the 24-year-old left hander is due for a giant innings.
The South Africans, alternatively, have excelled in workforce work with their batters and bowlers performing in unison besides within the second match the place they have been blown away by the batting brilliance of Mandhana and Raut.
For them, opening batswoman Lizelle Lee has been in ominous type, topping the general batting chart with 288 runs with scores of 83 not out, 4, 132 not out and 69.
She single-handedly gained the rain-marred third match for South Africa with a scintillating unbeaten century. She has been ably supported by Laura Wolvaardt (154 runs) and Lara Goodall (124).
Pacewoman Shabnim Ismail has been the highest wicket taker for the South Africans with seven scalps from 4 matches — second general after Goswami.
Teams (from):India ladies: Mithali Raj (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Punam Raut, Priya Punia, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur, D Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Swetha Verma, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami, Mansi Joshi, Poonam Yadav, C Prathyusha, Monica Patel.
South Africa ladies: Sune Luus (captain), Ayabonga Khaka, Shabnim Ismail, Laura Wolvaardt, Trisha Chetty, Sinalo Jafta, Tasmin Britz, Marizanne Kapp, Nondumiso Shangase, Lizelle Lee, Anneke Bosch, Faye Tunnicliffe, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Mignon du Preez, Nadine de Klerk, Lara Goodall, Tumi Sekhukhune.
Match Starts at 9 am IST.