Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

India women gear up for twin glory

- Press Trust of India sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

JOHANNESBU­RG: The India women are on the cusp of setting a rare benchmark for their male counterpar­ts as they eye a maiden double series win on South African soil when they take on the hosts in the third Twenty20 Internatio­nal here on Sunday.

Having won the three-match ODI series 2-1, India are currently leading the five-match T20 series 2-0.

A victory tomorrow will not only ensure an unassailab­le lead 3-0 lead but also make Harmanpree­t Kaur’s team first among equals to have won two series on a single tour of South Africa.

A win will also mean that the women’s team have now won T20 series in both Australia and South Africa.

With the men’s team also starting their T20 campaign at the same venue after the women’s match, the onus will be on Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj to set the bar high for Virat Kohli’s team.

The added incentive is that the series will be telecast live before the men’s matches.

The women have so far put up a near flawless show in both the T20 encounters, winning by seven and nine wickets respective­ly.

Veteran Raj, who no longer leads the side in the shortest format, has displayed her wealth of experience with successive halfcentur­ies -- 54 no off 48 balls and 76 no off 61 balls -- bagging ‘Player of the Match’ on both occasions.

Left-handed batter Mandhana, after a fantastic one day series, also played her part in the second game, scoring 57 off 42 balls that had three huge sixes.

The bowling unit has also performed admirably with Shikha Pandey leading the charge in the absence of an injured Jhulan Goswami. She has received able support from leg-spinner Poonam Yadav, off-break bowler Anuja Patil and all-rounder Deepti Sharma.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? ■ Mithali Raj (left) and Smriti Mandhana have been in fine form in the ODI and T20 series against South Africa.
GETTY IMAGES ■ Mithali Raj (left) and Smriti Mandhana have been in fine form in the ODI and T20 series against South Africa.

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