IND-W vs SA-W, Women's T20 World Cup Warm-Up: Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma Shine as India Outplay South Africa

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IND-W vs SA-W: India secured a convincing 28-run win over South Africa in their warm-up match ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in Dubai on October 1. The tournament begins on October 3.

Playing their last warm-up match, India posted a competitive total of 144/7 after being asked to bat first, with key contributions from Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, and a late blitz from Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma. South Africa struggled to keep up with the chase, finishing at 116/6 after 20 overs.

India's innings began shakily as Ayabonga Khaka struck early, dismissing Shafali Verma for a two-ball duck. Harmanpreet Kaur, who came in at number three, couldn't last long either, departing for just 4 runs after being caught at cover. With the team reeling at 20/2, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues attempted to steady the innings.

Mandhana, playing fluently, scored 21 off 22 balls before falling to Nonkululeko Mlaba's spin. Jemimah continued to anchor the innings, scoring 30 off 26 balls before being dismissed by Annerie Dercksen.

Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma then took charge in the final overs, propelling India's total with aggressive strokeplay. Ghosh's 36 off 25 balls, which included a six and four boundaries, was crucial in giving India the upper hand. Deepti also chipped in with an important 20 off 18 balls. Khaka was the star for South Africa, claiming an impressive 5/22, including three wickets in the final over, as she limited India's score with some brilliant death bowling.

South Africa's chase never really gained momentum. Laura Wolvaardt was the standout performer with 29 off 26 balls, but she received little support from the rest of the batting lineup. Tazmin Brits, who scored 22 off 25, was the only other player to make a significant contribution. India's bowlers kept things tight, with Asha Sobhana providing crucial breakthroughs, including the key wicket of Brits.

Renuka Singh Thakur and Radha Yadav were also economical, while Shafali Verma made a surprising impact with the ball, taking the vital wicket of Chloe Tryon, who had looked dangerous during her 24-run knock. Despite Dercksen's late flurry, hitting two boundaries in the final over, South Africa fell short of the target, managing only 116/6.

Overall, it was a comprehensive performance from India, showcasing their depth in both batting and bowling as they head into the World Cup with confidence.