India Women vs South Africa Women, 2nd ODI, Vadodara: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

As was expected, India Women won the first ODI of the 3-match against South Africa comfortably, by 8 wickets with more than 8 overs to spare. Their bowlers, spearheaded by Jhulan Goswami, were on target, while their batters were barely tested once they survived testing new-ball spells from Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail.

Jhulan Goswami added the zing the Indians lacked in the T20Is. She took a wicket with the first ball of the match, a blow from which the South Africans never recovered. Taniya Bhatia pulled off two incredible stumpings off Ekta Bisht; the tourists were deceived by Poonam Yadav’s flight and Deepti Sharma’s turn; and Shikha Pandey’s Protean love affair continued.

The batters were unaffected by the absence of Smriti Mandhana, ruled out at the last moment. Priya Punia stepped in with a patient 75 not out after Jemimah Rodrigues got a breezy fifty at the top, and that was that.

The South Africans, on the other hand, got starts they failed to convert. Six of their top seven batters reached double figures but only two made it past 25. They did not play themselves in, and took too many risks against the Indian spinners too early in the innings. The wicket is not difficult, and there are runs to be scored if the batters wait it out.

The bowling lacked sting once Kapp and Ismail were through. The current South African side do not have a world-class spinner, which was probably where the match was lost in the first place. Unless Tumi Sekhukhune and Nadine de Klerk step up, the Indians will once again be content to play out the new ball and focus on big scores.

Head to head

India hold an 12-7 lead here including a 2-1 win in South Africa last year. At home, India have a 3-2 lead.

Key players

Jhulan Goswami (India Women): Goswami rattled South Africa with the first ball of the series. She finished with 3/33, the best figures from either side in the match. Expect her to cause further damage in the series.

Marizanne Kapp (South Africa Women): Not only did Kapp bowl tightly with the new ball, she also top-scored with her maiden fifty. She will have to live up to the expectations again.

Likely XIs

India Women: Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Punam Raut, Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav.

South Africa Women: Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, Trisha Chetty (wk), Mignon du Preez, Sune Luus (c), Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Shabnim Ismail, Nondumiso Shangase, Tumi Sekhukhune, Ayabonga Khaka.

Prediction

India to seal the series with a win.