Ismail’s 5/30 puts skids under India

SHABNIM Ismail became only the second South African, after Sune Luus, to take five wickets in a Women’s Twenty20 International, setting up her country’s five-wicket win against India in the third match at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday.

Having lost the first two games of the five-match series, South Africa needed a hero, and fast medium bowler Ismail rose to the occasion with career-best figures of five for 30. India lost their last five wickets for nine runs to be dismissed for 133 in 17.5 overs.

Luus then scored a career-best 34-ball 41, and, after she was dismissed, Chloe Tyron took over the chase with a 15-ball 34 which included four fours and two sixes.

She was stumped with three runs needed, but Marizanne Kapp, who had set the tone of the game, hit the winning shot as South Africa chased down the target in 19 overs. It was their first-ever win in the format against India.

Mithali Raj was caught behind in the first over from Kapp.

The second-wicket stand of 55 between Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur was looking good when Mandhana, who scored a fluent 24-ball 37, failed to get under a short ball from Dane van Niekerk, the legspinner, and was caught at deep midwicket.

Kaur was in the groove by then, and, with the spin duo leaking 28 runs in the 10th and 11th overs, Van Niekerk brought back Ismail, who had conceded 17 runs, including four consecutive fours by Mandhana, in her first over.

Trying to guide a widish ball, Kaur was caught behind for 48 off 30 balls.

Three balls later, Jemimah Rodrigues failed to execute a lofted drive and offered an easy catch to Van Niekerk.

The onus was on Veda Krishnamurthy, Anuja Patil and Shikha Pandey to take charge of the innings. Only Veda passed the test partially, with a scoop for her fourth four standing out.

Masabata Klaas chipped in with the wickets of Taniya Bhatia and Pandey before Ismail wrapped up the job with the scalps of Poonam Yadav and Pooja Vastrakar.

South Africa lost Lizelle Lee early, but Van Niekerk took calculated risks to hit five fours in her 20-ball 26 to keep the chase on track.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad deceived Van Niekerk in the flight to have her stumped in the sixth over, but Luus and Mignon du Preez batted sensibly. Luus hit Pandey for consecutive fours in the 11th over.

In Gayakwad’s third over, Du Preez, who had two lives, was caught by Veda, ending their 50-run stand.

Luus and Tyron hit 18 runs off Patil in the 16th over and Vastrakar dismissed Luus against the run of play to end the 27-run stand in 2.4 overs. – wisdenindia.com