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India Women are looking to bounce back from a 12-run defeat in the first T20 International against South Africa. The match, which will be played in Chennai on Sunday, is crucial for the Indian team as they seek to level the three-match series.
The first match saw India falter due to dropped catches and a lack of intent from their batters in the middle overs. Despite posting 177 for 4 in 20 overs, they fell short of South Africa's total of 189 for 4, which was powered by strong performances from Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp.
The loss marked South Africa's first victory on the tour, having previously suffered a 0-3 whitewash in the ODI series and a 10-wicket loss in the one-off Test. The tour has been ongoing for close to a month.
Both teams have injury concerns to deal with following the first match. Richa Ghosh of India sustained a concussion after a failed catch attempt, resulting in neck pain and dizziness. She was taken for scans, and the BCCI medical team is monitoring her progress.
Meanwhile, Tazmin Brits of South Africa suffered a severe contusion on her right lower leg, requiring her to be stretchered off the field. However, she reassured fans by attending the post-match press conference and confirming her availability for future games.
India's fielding performance was particularly disappointing in the first match, with three dropped catches and several mis-fields. Head coach Amol Muzumdar, known for his emphasis on fielding, will likely address this issue with the team.
While the Indian bowling performance was decent, the batting needs improvement, with the top order needing to display more flair beyond Smriti Mandhana's recent good form. The middle order has been efficient, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues delivering strong performances.
South Africa's batting clicked effectively in the first match, particularly their top order. Brits and Kapp, along with captain Laura Wolvaardt and Chloe Tryon, are expected to be key players again. Their bowling performance was also impressive, with contributions from four different wicket-takers.
Eliz-Mari Marx, however, may be under scrutiny after conceding 36 runs in her three overs in the first match. The Chepauk pitch, which played above par in the first game, is expected to be similar on Sunday. Despite low bounce and mild dew, the sweep shot is likely to be an effective strategy, as evidenced by South Africa's successful execution in the first match.
The teams are as follows: India Women: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Uma Chetry, Richa Ghosh, Dayalan Hemalatha, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Sajeevan Sajana, Deepti Sharma, Asha Sobhana, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Shabnam Shakil, Pooja Vastrakar, and Radha Yadav. South Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Mieke de Ridder, Sinalo Jafta, Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, and Tumi Sekhukhune.
Source: India Women look to bounce back in do-or-die 2nd T20I against South Africa