India secured a comprehensive six-wicket victory over South Africa in the final ODI, completing a clean sweep of the series with a 3-0 scoreline. The standout performances came from Smriti Mandhana, who showcased her exceptional batting skills, and Arundhati Reddy, who displayed her sharp bowling abilities. Mandhana, a beloved figure among the crowd, played a crucial role in India’s pursuit of 216 runs, falling just short of a century with a brilliant knock of 90 runs off 83 balls. Her outstanding performance throughout the series saw her accumulate a total of 343 runs, including two centuries in the previous matches. This remarkable tally set a new record for the highest number of runs scored in a three-match women’s series, surpassing Laura Wolvaardt’s 335 runs against Sri Lanka in April 2024. Mandhana’s innings was adorned with a variety of exquisite shots, particularly on the offside, where she managed to score seven of her 11 boundaries. Her partnerships of 61 runs with Shafali Verma (25) and 62 runs with Priya Punia (28) laid a solid foundation for India’s successful chase.
Harmanpreet Kaur (42 off 48) and Mandhana combined for a crucial partnership, adding 48 runs off 47 balls to blunt the South African attack with maturity and clarity. Despite Mandhana’s composed innings, she was dismissed in the 31st over with India requiring 45 runs from the remaining 19 overs.
Mandhana was caught at short fine leg off Ayabonga Khaka’s delivery due to a top edge. Nevertheless, India comfortably chased down the target with 9.2 overs to spare. South Africa, on the other hand, had a promising start but suffered a dramatic collapse, losing eight wickets for just 76 runs.
Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits got South Africa off to a quick start, putting on 46 runs in the first ten overs. Wolvaardt continued her fine form by scoring a 57-ball 61, registering her 32nd half-century in her 98th ODI.
Wolvaardt’s fluent innings included elegant cover drives and powerful pulls, indicating she was on course for a big score. However, her dismissal in the 20th over, thanks to an exceptional catch by Arundhati Reddy, led to South Africa’s downfall.
Brits was run out for 38 shortly after, following a mix-up with Marizanne Kapp, who was promoted to no.3 after her century in the previous match.
Reddy’s exceptional performance persisted as she executed another remarkable catch while bowling, resulting in the dismissal of Anneke Bosch. Shreyanka Patil, who substituted leg-spinner Asha Shobana, made a significant impact by cleverly altering her angle and successfully removing Kapp for a mere seven runs. Despite initially being in a commanding position with a score of 102 without any loss, South Africa encountered difficulties as they found themselves struggling at 120 for 4.