Tryon leads Proteas to victory in Tri-Series final
A maiden T20 international half-century by all-rounder Chloe Tryon (57 not out) ensured the Proteas Women beat India Women by five wickets with 12 balls remaining in the T20 International Tri-Series final at Buffalo Park yesterday.
Tryon’s unbroken 47-run partnership off only 29 deliveries with Nadine de Klerk (17 not out) for the sixth wicket saw the Proteas march to victory under difficult conditions.
She struck six fours and two sixes in her 32-ball innings.
SA will now head to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup starting in Cape Town next week brimming with confidence.
Chasing a tricky total of 110 to win on a spinning surface, the Proteas had a shaky start as they lost Laura Wolvaardt (0), Tazmin Brits (8) and Lara Goodall (7) within the first powerplay.
Skipper Suné Luus hit two fours in her 12 (13) before she was removed by Renuka Singh, leaving her side 47/4 after 10 overs.
But Tryon and De Klerk stood firm against a determined India spin attack to take the side across the line.
Sneh Rana took two for 21 while Singh, Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad picked up one wicket each.
Earlier, India won the toss and chose to bat.
SA made two changes, playing Goodall and Ayabonga Khaka in place of all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and seamer Tumi Sekhukhune.
They were forced to play without Kapp after she was afforded compassionate leave.
The Indians had a dismal start to their innings as opener Smriti Mandhana was bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba for a duck in the second over.
Jemimah Rodrigues (11) became Mlaba’s second victim of the day as wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta stumped her to leave India on 21 for two.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Harleen Deol resurrected the Indian innings.
They fashioned a run-a-ball stand of 48 before Kaur (21) was stumped by Jafta off the bowling of Luus.
Deol was involved in another stand of 39 (in 28 balls) with Sharma, with Sharma bowled by Khaka in the closing overs for 46 off 56 balls.
Mlaba was the pick of the Proteas bowlers with 2/16 .
The Proteas’ next game is against Sri Lanka at Newlands in the opening match of the T20 World Cup next Friday (7pm).