Smriti Mandhana’s splendid 117 (127b, 12×4, 1×6) — her sixth ODI century and first at residence — carried India to a thumping 143-run victory over South Africa within the first of three 50-over internationals on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium right here on Sunday.
Opting to bat first, India made 265, a fantastic restoration after being 99 for 5 at one stage. South Africa by no means seemed like chasing the overall, folding for 122 as debutant leggie Asha Sobhana completed with 4 wickets (8.4-2-21-4).
HIGHLIGHTS: India beats South Africa by 143 runs in first ODI, because it occurred
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt was dismissed within the very first over with Renuka Singh getting one to nip again and clip the highest of off-stump. Pooja Vastrakar trapped Anneke Bosch in entrance earlier than offie Deepti Sharma pressured Tazmin Brits to slice to level.
Marizanne Kapp resisted (24, 39b, 1×4, 1×6), however Asha floated one large and had her caught by Harmanpreet Kaur at cowl. Annerie Dercksen and Sune Luus (33, 58b, 4×4) quickly adopted Kapp and the competition was pretty much as good as over.
The lone little bit of fear for India would be the damage to Pooja, who went off the sphere within the 18th over after seemingly injuring her left knee.
Earlier, throughout a day when the solar performed disguise and search, the visiting bowlers discovered some swing within the air and a few buy off the wicket. And the trio of Shafali Verma, D. Hemalatha and Harmanpreet was duly out making an attempt the expansive.
Smriti, although, eschewed gushy shot-making and waited to execute some beautiful cover-drives, pitch-perfect pulls and a few sensible lofted strokes.
The 27-year-old placed on 37 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues (17, 28b, 1×4), 81 with Deepti Sharma (37, 48b, 3×4) and 58 with Pooja (31 n.o., 42b, 3×4). The half-century took 61 balls and the hundred 116, with the six over mid-on off medium-pacer Masabata Klaas to maneuver from 93 to 99 her finest shot.
South Africa didn’t assist itself with some shoddy fielding, with Nonkululeko Mlaba’s drop of Pooja when the batter was on 7 proving extremely pricey.