Raj, Mandhana fire India to 9- wicket win over SA
East London ( South Africa), Feb. 16: Veteran Mithali Raj and opener Smriti Mandhana hit stylish half centuries as India cruised to a comfortable nine- wicket victory over South Africa in the second women’s T20 international here on Friday.
The Harmanpreet Kaur- led team are now 2- 0 up in the five- match series, having won the opening encounter by seven wickets.
Chasing a modest 143, India cantered to victory in 19.1 overs as Mandhana hit a blistering 57 off 42 balls while Raj anchored the innings to perfection with her second successive half- century, remaining unbeaten on 76 off 61 balls.
Raj was declared the player of the match.
“The wicket was on the slower side and it wouldn’t have been easy for a new batter to come in and start hitting straightaway. The century partnership ( with Mandhana) was really important,” Raj said at the postmatch presentation ceremony.
Her skipper Harmanpreet was equally ecstatic with the senior pro’s performance.
“We had discussed that if a player gets settled, she would have to bat through. It was a fantastic effort from Mithali di as she performed the role of a senior player,” she said.
Mandhana struck four boundaries and three sixes — one off leg- spinner Dane van Niekerk and another two off Raisibe Ntozakhe.
Scores: South Africa 142/ 7 in 20 overs ( Sune Luus 33, Nadine de Klerk 26, Poonam Yadav 2/ 17) lost to India 144/ 1 in 19.1 overs ( Mithali Raj 76*, Smriti Mandhana 57).