Mithali Raj, Punam Raut guide India to ODI series win over South Africa

Pacer Shikha Pandey (2-38), left-arm spinner Ekta Bist (2-45) and leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (2-42) returned with two wickets each to keep the visitors to a below-par score

Vadodora: Skipper Mithali Raj and Punam Raut smashed impressive fifties to guide the Indian women's team to a series-clinching five-wicket win over South Africa in the second ODI here yesterday. India first restricted South Africa to a competitive 247-6 after electing to field and then returned to overhaul the target with two overs to spare and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Pacer Shikha Pandey (2-38), left-arm spinner Ekta Bist (2-45) and leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (2-42) returned with two wickets each to keep the visitors to a below-par score. Chasing 248 to win, the Indian women lost openers Priya Punia (20) and Jemimah Rodrigues (18) early to slip to 66 for two in 12.5 overs. However, Punam (65 off 92 balls) and Mithali (66 off 82 balls) resurrected the chase by sharing a 129-run partnership for the third wicket.

Marizanne Kapp (1-29) broke the stand when she had Mithali caught by Laura Wolvaardt in the 40th over. In the next over, Punam departed when she holed out to Kapp off Ayabonga Khaka, leaving India at 196 for four in 40.1 overs. Harmanpreet Kaur then hit an unbeaten, quickfire 27-ball 39, laced with five boundaries and a six, to take India home 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. Once Lee was removed by Poonam, Trisha Chetty (22) gave company to Wolvaardt, adding 51 runs.

Brief scores

South Africa 247-6 in 50 overs (L Wolvaardt 69, M du Preez 44; S Pandey 2-38, P Yadav 2-42, E Bisht 2-45) lost to India 248-5 in 48 overs (M Raj 66, P Raut 65; A Khaka 3-69) by 5 wickets

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