IND-W vs SA-W Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! STUMPED! South Africa Women get their first win on the tour! Mlaba bowls it full and it spins away, just outside off. Harmanpreet Kaur shimmies down to go big on the off side but misses. Sinalo Jafta fumbles on the first attempt but takes off the bails in the second. South Africa Women win by 12 runs and are off to a winning start in the three-match T20I series.

Flat and quick outside off. Harmanpreet Kaur charges down and slaps it straight to extra cover. Barring any extras, this should be South Africa Women's game.

Full on the middle and leg. Jemimah Rodrigues slogs it to the deep square leg region for a single. 13 needed off 2 balls.

Make that 14 needed off 3 balls! Mlaba fires it full and outside off. Kaur skips down and squeezes into the off-side for a single.

Edged but safe! Floated, around off, and spins away. Kaur shimmies down to hack it again but gets an outside edge that rolls through the short third region for a couple. 15 required off 4 for India Women.

FOUR! Just the start that India Women needed! Tosses it on the middle and leg. Kaur gets to the pitch of the ball and pumps it down the ground for a cracking boundary. 17 needed off 5 now.

SIX! Up and Away! India Women have taken 18 off the over and kept the chase alive. Full-length delivery, angling down the leg. Jemimah Rodrigues gets across the stumps and helps it over the long leg boundary for a maximum. Jemimah Rodrigues brings up her FIFTY with that hit.

Pitched full and followed the batter, outside leg. Jemimah Rodrigues makes room and swipes it through backward square leg for a couple.

Full and straight at the stumps. Kaur gets across and heaves it toward cow corner for a single.

Full on the leg stump line. Jemimah Rodrigues gets across to swipe it away but it comes off the glove and ricochets into the grill of the helmet. The batters cross for a run.

FOUR MORE! Wonderful batting! Low full toss outside off. Jemimah Rodrigues backs away and slices it over backward point for consecutive boundaries.

FOUR! SMASHED! Pitched on a fullish length, around off. Jemimah Rodrigues makes room and hammers it over point for a crunching boundary.

Fired in by de Klerk, on middle, Jemimah Rodrigues goes deep in her crease and sweeps it to the left of fine leg. Rodrigues wants to come back for the second but she slips at the bowling end and will have to be content with just one. The 18th over goes for just 8 runs, leaving India Women needing 39 runs from the last 2 overs.

Pitches it up and it is at the stumps, Harmanpreet Kaur makes room and drills it to deep cover for a single.

Drops it short, over middle, Jemimah Rodrigues uses her feet and pulls it through backward square leg for a single.

Full, outside leg. Jemimah Rodrigues makes room to heave it away but does not get any bat on it.

Full on the pad, whipped to fine leg for a single.

FOUR! Excellent placement by the Indian skipper! Short of a length, angling in. Kaur picks the length early and pulls it in the gap between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Flatter and slower through the air outside off. Kaur cuts it to point and collects a quick single. 12 runs from Tryon's last over as she finishes with figures of 4-0-32-1. India Women need 47 runs in 18 balls.

FOUR! BANG! Flatter, on the middle and leg. Kaur sits down and swats it to the right of the deep mid-wicket fielder for a thumping boundary.

Tad short, on the middle. Jemimah Rodrigues goes back and pulls it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Flighted, full, outside off. Jemimah Rodrigues drives it to wide long off for a couple.

Floated on off, driven to cover point region. A good stop by the fielder.

FOUR! Lovely stroke! Tosses it on off. Jemimah Rodrigues opens the bat's face at the last moment and lifts it towards the extra cover region for a glorious boundary. An excellent start to the over!

FOUR! Harmanpreet Kaur finally connects and gets the desired result. Pitched full, at the stumps. Kaur clears the front leg and drills it straight past the bowler for a cracking boundary to end the over. 59 needed from the last 4 overs for India Women.

In the air and safe! Pitched full, on the middle and leg. Jemimah Rodrigues lifts it off the cue end and it lands in front of long on for one.

Low full toss on the leg peg. Kaur slogs it to deep mid-wicket region for just a single.

Harmanpreet Kaur is struggling here! On a length, on middle. Kaur makes room and knocks it to point.

Nicely bowled by Khaka! Sees the batter move away and bowls it full and outside off. Kaur lets it go and cannot do anything about it.

Length delivery, angling into the leg stump line. Harmanpreet Kaur makes room to hack it away but gets an inside edge that rolls to the keeper.

FOUR! Poor delivery and these are easy pickings for Jemimah Rodrigues. 15 runs off the over. Short and down leg, Jemimah Rodrigues gets inside the line nice and early and helps it to the right of fine leg for the third boundary of the over. 65 needed off the last 5 overs.

FOUR! Nicely done! Marx takes pace off but serves it right in the slot, on off, Jemimah Rodrigues picks the change of pace and holds her shape to loft it over wide mid off for a boundary.

WIDE! Tries to target the leg pole does Marx but sprays it down leg on a fuller length for a wide.

Digs it in short, over off, Jemimah Rodrigues hops to play the upper cut but misses out.

Length delivery, at the stumps, Harmanpreet Kaur drags the shot off the inner half of the bat in front of deep mid-wicket for one.

On a back of a length, on middle, Jemimah Rodrigues pulls it through square leg and gets to the other end.

FOUR! A valiant effort but in vain! Fired in Marx, full and around leg, Jemimah Rodrigues gets inside the line and sweeps it fine towards deep fine leg where Nonkululeko Mlaba sprints and dives to her right to make the stop. The third umpire is called into action for a boundary check. The replays show that as Mlaba gets up and tries to pick the ball up, her back leg is touching the boundary cushions and it is given as a boundary.

FOUR! Misfield and it races away. Speared in by Mlaba, on a length, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur uses her feet and drills it towards extra cover where Laura Wolvaardt moves to her left but lets it slip through her legs. Still, 7 runs off the over, not enough for India Women as the required run rate now stands at 13.33.

Beaten! Fired in by Mlaba, outside off, on a nagging length, Harmanpreet Kaur slashes hard but fails to connect.

Coming in with the arm, short and on off, Harmanpreet Kaur chops it straight to backward point.

Keeps it full again, on off, Jemimah Rodrigues pushes it to the left of mid off and gets to the other end.

Offers flight, full and at the stumps, Harmanpreet Kaur uses her feet and drives it down to long on for a single.

Darts it in, flat and short, around off, Jemimah Rodrigues shuffles across a bit and tucks it on the leg side for a single.

Yes, she can. Just 4 runs off the over. Dug in short, at the batter, Jemimah Rodrigues mistimes the pull in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Aerial but safe! Banged into the deck, over middle, Harmanpreet Kaur shapes up for the pull and splices it in the air but well in front of mid on for a single. 3 runs off the over so far. Can de Klerk close it out?

A quiet over so far from de Klerk. Takes pace off again does de Klerk, on middle, Jemimah Rodrigues slogs it in front of deep mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller in length and slower as well, outside off, Jemimah Rodrigues gets low and drags the shot towards mid-wicket. It goes straight to the fielder stationed there and Kaur gets sent back by her partner.

At 109.9 kph, on off, on a back of a length, Harmanpreet Kaur clears her front leg and pulls it through square leg for a single.

Into the wicket by de Klerk, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur swings too hard and loses her shape. Mistimes the shot back to the bowler.

FOUR! Not in control but a much-needed boundary for India Women. A boundary off the last ball makes it a 9-run over for the hosts. Full and sliding on, middle and leg, Jemimah Rodrigues goes for the sweep but fails to control the shot. Gets a top edge that sails over short fine leg for a boundary.

Keeps it short and on off, Harmanpreet Kaur backs away and taps it in front of extra cover for a quick single.

Pushes it through, flat and short, on middle, Jemimah Rodrigues pulls it towards wide long on for an easy single.

Drags the length back and slants it in, on middle and leg, Harmanpreet Kaur goes back and turns it through square leg for a single.

Darted in, on a length, on off and middle, Harmanpreet Kaur uses her feet and knocks it back to the bowler. Tryon fumbles but it is backed up by the fielder at mid off.

WIDE! Loops it up but drifts down leg, Harmanpreet Kaur gets inside the line to tickle it fine but misses.

Tosses it up, full and on off, Jemimah Rodrigues sweeps it along the carpet to deep mid-wicket for one.

In the channel on off, on a short of a length, Jemimah Rodrigues punches it square and gets it past the diving fielder at backward point for a single. A wicket and just the 3 runs off it by de Klerk.

Attacks the stumps with a good-length delivery, Jemimah Rodrigues uses her feet and times the drive to cover.

This is on a hard length, over middle, Harmanpreet Kaur pulls it down to fine leg for a single to get off the mark.

At 106.8 kph, on off, on a back of a length, Harmanpreet Kaur hangs back and defends it beside the pitch on the leg side. Kaur wants a single but Rodrigues sends her back and rightly so.

Fuller and honing in at the stumps, Jemimah Rodrigues uses her feet and helps it down to fine leg for a single.

OUT! CASTLED! Double strike for South Africa Women! Nadine de Klerk gets into the act now. De Klerk bowls it with a scrambled seam, on a nagging length, on off and middle, Dayalan Hemalatha hangs back to work it across the line but plays all over it as the ball nips back in a touch and sneaks under her bat before rattling into the stumps. The visitors could not have asked for a better start after the break.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! The pressure gets to Smriti Mandhana and she perishes. Tryon bowls it flat and quick outside off. Smriti Mandhana advances to flay this through the off side but gets a feather on it. The keeper, Sinalo Jafta, behind the stumps, does the rest and India lose a big wicket of their vice-captain at a crucial stage. Mandhana departs for a sublime 46. India Women are two down.

Tad short, outside off. Smriti Mandhana cuts it to the cover point fielder.

Tosses it full, outside off. Dayalan Hemalatha steps down the pitch and lifts it off the toe end toward long off for one.

Three dots in a row. Flatter on off. Dayalan Hemalatha punches it to cover point.

Slower through the air and flatter, on off. Dayalan Hemalatha knocks it into covers.

Tosses it too full on the middle. Dayalan Hemalatha sweeps it to the square leg fielder.

FOUR! Excellent placement! Flatter, and turning into the middle and leg stump line. Smriti Mandhana goes back and pulls it in the gap between deep backward square leg and deep mid-wicket fielders for a boundary to end the over.

Shorter, on off. Dayalan Hemalatha goes back and pulls it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for one.

Flatter, around off. Smriti Mandhana looks to pull this but gets an inside edge onto the pad and the ball rolls into the short cover region for a single.

Shortish, around off. Dayalan Hemalatha pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Drops it short on the leg pole. Smriti Mandhana goes back and pulls it to the deep backward square leg region for a single. Excellent effort from Nadine de Klerk but it does not carry to her.

FOUR! BANG! Tosses it around off. Smriti Mandhana gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it toward the long off region. One bounce and over the ropes.

Serves a low full toss outside leg. Smriti Mandhana makes room and knocks it to mid on for a single.

Length delivery, angling on the pad. Smriti Mandhana looks to pull it away but misses and gets a thud on the pad.

Full and angling into the middle and leg stump line. Smriti Mandhana pushes it back at the bowler.

FOUR! Put Away! Short of a length, angling down the leg. Smriti Mandhana swivels and pulls it with control to the deep backward square leg region for another boundary.

Yorker length delivery, on off. Dayalan Hemalatha squirts off the toe end toward mid on for a quick single.

WIDE! Serves it on a length and way too across the tramline again. Another wide signaled by the umpire.

WIDE! Short and way outside the tramline. Dayalan Hemalatha slashes hard but does not connect. Wided.

Short of a length, outside off. Dayalan Hemalatha looks to play the upper cut but does not connect.

Tosses it on middle. Dayalan Hemalatha slogs it toward mid-wicket for a single.

Shortish, turning away, around off. Dayalan Hemalatha hangs back and guides it to backward point.

FOUR! BANG! Floated, full, on off. Dayalan Hemalatha shimmies down the pitch and lofts it handsomely over the mid off region for a thumping boundary.

Flatter, outside off. Dayalan Hemalatha steers it to backward point.

Tosses it full on off. Dayalan Hemalatha pushes it to extra cover.

Tad short and turning away outside off. Dayalan Hemalatha cuts it to backward point.

Full and at the stumps. Smriti Mandhana defends it watchfully on the front foot.

On a length, around off. Smriti Mandhana knocks it into covers.

On a length, outside off. Dayalan Hemalatha guides it to deep third for a single.

FOUR! What a way to get off the mark! Short of a length, outside off. Dayalan Hemalatha cuts it through the backward point region and it races away to the fence in a flash.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Ayabonga Khaka draws first blood! Bowls it full, around off. Shafali Verma goes hard at it and gets an outside edge that is taken neatly by the keeper, Sinalo Jafta. India lose their first wicket after getting off to a quick start.

Pitched full, around off. Shafali Verma lifts it off the cue end, toward the long off region for a couple.

Lands it on a length, on off, Smriti Mandhana goes for the drive but gets an inside edge that rolls towards mid-wicket.

SIX! Smriti Mandhana brings up India's 50 with a six. Marx angles it in trying to tuck the batter up for room, on a shortish length, Smriti Mandhana gets inside the line early and uses the angle to pull it over fine leg for half a dozen.

Banged into the deck, on middle, Shafali Verma pulls it in front of square on the leg side and gets to the other end.

Dishes out a length delivery, just outside off, Shafali Verma makes room to go through the off side but miscues it off the inner half of the bat back to the bowler.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Right in the slot by Marx, on off, Shafali Verma does not miss out as he confidently lofts it over mid off for a boundary.

Honing in at the stumps, on a length, on middle, Shafali Verma knocks it to mid on with a straight bat.

SIX! Hands on heads stuff as that was not much far away from the fielder in the deep. A cross-seam delivery, on middle and leg, on a back of a length, Smriti Mandhana picks the length early and brings out the pull. Hits it flat towards deep square leg and gets it just wide of Chloe Tryon in the deep who saw the ball sail just past her outstretched right hand for a maximum.

Bangs it on a hard length, on off, Smriti Mandhana stands tall and punches it sweetly but can't get it past cover-point.

FOUR! Poor delivery and it gets the treatment! Too straight by de Klerk, on the pads, on a short of a good length, Smriti Mandhana uses the angle to her advantage and helps it over short fine leg for four more runs.

FOUR! Glorious! Delivers it on a length and offers width on off, Smriti Mandhana holds her shape and with a still head, launches it over mid off for a boundary.

de Klerk persists with the plan of denying the batter room to work with. This is on a length, on the pads, Smriti Mandhana fails to clip it away and wears it on the pads.

WIDE! Tries to tuck the batter up for room again but slips it down leg on a fuller length for a wide.

Smartly bowled! Mandhana makes the movement to the leg side early but Nadine de Klerk spots it. Angles it in, on a nagging length and cramps the batter up for room. The ball rolls off Mandhana's pads to backward square leg.

Hurls it on a length, on off and middle, Shafali Verma swipes it off the inner half of the bat and it goes straight to mid-wicket.

Marx bends her back and dishes out a bumper, outside off, the ball gets a bit big on Shafali Verma as she takes the short ball on. Splices the pull aerially but it lands in the vacant region well away from deep square leg for a couple of runs.

This is on a shortish length, on off, Smriti Mandhana gets on her toes and glides it down to deep third on the bounce for a single.

Shaping in, on a good length, on middle, Smriti Mandhana loses her shape as she swings too hard and miscues the shot to mid on.

Aimed at the pads again, on a length, Smriti Mandhana goes for the flick but the ball brushes her pads and the keeper does well to make a diving stop to her right.

FIVE WIDES! That swung a long way! At 115 kph from around the wicket, tailing in, down leg, on a length, Smriti Mandhana misses the tickle. The keeper flings herself to her right but fails to cut it off as it races away for a boundary.

Going away from the batter, on a short of a good length, Shafali Verma runs it down to deep third and gets to the other end.

WIDE! Eliz-Mari Marx gets a good away shape but slips it beyond the tramline on off.

Goes wide of the crease does Tryon and slants it in, on a nagging length, on middle and leg, Smriti Mandhana flicks it but picks out the fielder at square leg. A brisk start for India Women.

Beaten! Pushes it through, short and wide on off, Smriti Mandhana shapes up to latch onto the width but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Drifting into the pads, full in length from around the wicket, Shafali Verma gets her bat out in front and turns it in front of square on the leg side for one more run.

Floats it up, a bit slower, on off, Smriti Mandhana presses forward and caresses it past cover for a single.

FOUR! Same shot, same result! With a square leg in place, Tryon lands it short again, on middle, Smriti Mandhana is quick to rock back and gets into the position to pull it over backward square leg for four more runs.

FOUR! Too short and punished! Tryon starts from over the wicket and serves a long hop, on middle and leg, Smriti Mandhana stays low and swivels to pull it over a leaping Laura Wolvaardt at square leg for a boundary.

Lands it on a back of a length, around off, Shafali Verma gets on top of the bounce nicely and punches it between cover and point for a couple of runs.

Fine effort! A bit fuller and in the channel on off, Shafali Verma leans on it and times the drive well towards cover where Laura Wolvaardt makes a good diving stop to her left.

Mandhana shows her cards early as she backs away. Khaka follows her on a hard length, Smriti Mandhana pulls it along the ground to deep backward square leg. Gets off the mark with a single.

Slips on the pads, on a short of a length, Smriti Mandhana swivels in the crease for the pull but the ball sneaks under the bat and thuds her front pad.

Shaping in, on a back of a length, on middle, Shafali Verma accounts for the inward movement and punches it with a straight bat to long on for a single.

FOUR! Shafali Verma and India Women are underway! Ayabonga Khaka starts with a short delivery from over the wicket, not short enough to trouble the batter, on off. Shafali Verma nails the pull to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary to get going.