India stay 2-1 up after T20 washout but few takers for women’s game

›

Women’s cricket has improved. I see today’s cricketers have a lot of strength, they are better built. The reasons is they have contracts. KAREN SMITHIES, ex-Eng captain

›

I think Indian cricketers have shown potential. They need hefty contracts to become professionals so they can focus on game. On way forward for women’s game

CENTURION : Rain forced the abandonment of the fourth women’s T20 International at the SuperSport Park on Wednesday with the Proteas, down 1-2 in the series, looking set for a big total.

India’s fielding was poor while Lizelle Lee and Dane van Niekerk struck half-centuries before play stopped in the 16th over due to rain. With one match to go, India cannot lose the series now.

One decision sums up why women’s cricket is still subservient to the men’s game. Any request to team manager Tripti Bhattacharya for an interview with India women players on the growth of women’s cricket is diverted to the media manager of the men’s team. It is the protocol, says Tripti Bhattacharya.

This reluctance by the Indian women’s team comes at a time when the talk is of growth in women’s cricket, after Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Veda Krishnamurthy became household names following India’s run to the World Cup final in 2017.

Considering that the World Cup final between India and England was watched by over 20,000 people at Lord’s and millions on TV, especially in India, the reticence is odd.

Their last two T20 games make one thing clear — there aren’t many takers for women’s cricket. Though the officials have clubbed the games with the men’s fixtures, issuing a single ticket for the double-header, the stands are empty when the women play.

After Sunday’s game, skipper Dane Van Niekerk talked about how the game is changing.

She said a knock like Chloe Tryon’s -- she hit a six that cleared the men’s boundary by some distance -- will bring in a lot of fans. South Africa pace bowler Shabnim Ismail revved up pace claiming a fifer.

England, Australia, South Africa, India and Pakistan boards all give central contracts to women players.

Though there has been criticism that women get little compared to what men are paid, there is a feeling that complaint is unjustified as there isn’t much interest in the women’s game. The last three women’s games of this series were televised only because they were clubbed with the men’s.

Karen Smithies, former World Cup-winning England women’s captain, who works here with domestic side Titans, said: “Women’s cricket has improved. I see today’s cricketers have a lot of strength, they are better built. One of the reasons is that they have professional contracts, especially good ones in England and Australia. It allows them to focus on training and practice.”

In the game, Lizelle Lee hit 59 (38 b, 2x4), dominating a 103-run stand with skipper Dane Van Niekerk (55 - 47 b, 6x4, 2x6). The hosts were 131/3 in 15.3 overs after being put in to bat, when it started raining.

The final T20 will be played in Cape Town on February 24. Brief scores

South Africa 131/3 in 15.3 overs (L Lee 59no, D Van Niekerk 55). Match abandoned. India lead series 2-1.