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 T20 International yesterday
Mithali Raj scored 76 not out
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 T20 International yesterday. 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 Mandhana hit a blistering 57 off 42 balls while Raj anchored the innings to perfection with her second successive half-century, remaining unbeaten on 76 off 61 balls. Raj was declared 'Player of the Match' once again.
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"The wicket was on the slower side and it wouldn't have been easy for a new batter to come in and start hitting straightaway. The century partnership [with Mandhana] was really important," Raj said at the post-match presentation ceremony. Her skipper Harmanpreet was equally ecstatic with the senior pro's performance. "We had discussed that if a player gets settled, she would have to bat through. It was a fantastic effort from Mithali di as she performed the role of a senior player," she said.
Mandhana 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 one day skipper Raj, Mandhana added 106 runs for the opening stand in 14.2 overs. Mandhana, who scored a century and a half-century in India's ODI series win, attacked the Proteas bowling from the word go and reaching her fifty off only 37 balls.
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