Jemimah Rodrigues takes a selfie with India Women gamers commemorating with the winners’ prize after beating South Africa on the 4th and last day of the one-off test cricket match in between India and South Africa at M.A Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk in Chennai on July 1, 2024.|Picture Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam Despite South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt’s (122, 314b, 16×4) worthy century, India romped home to a ten-wicket on the last day of the one-off Test at the MAC Stadium in Chennai on Monday. On an overcast early morning, South Africa resumed on 232 for 2 and required another 105 go to make India bat once again. The chances were stacked versus the Proteas on a fourth-day pitch with irregular bounce, the visitors revealed excellent character to take the match into the last session after yielding a 337-run lead on the 3rd day. Wolvaardt, batting on 93 over night, snapped Sneh Rana to the great leg fence to transfer to 99 and after that took a single through the leg-side off Renuka Singh to finish her first Test century. She began scratchily on Sunday, the 25-year-old right-hander stuck to her gameplan to score her 3rd century of the trip following her twin centuries in the ODIs. Deepthi Sharma provided India an opening at the other end when she had Marizane Kapp leg-before captured on the backfoot to an off-break. Quickly, Sneh got into the act, eliminating Delmari Tucker, who was dismissed for a set, captured at covers. The off-spinner got her 10th wicket of the match when she had Sinalo Jafta captured at slip. India’s Rajeshwari Gayakwad commemorates with colleagues after taking the wicket of South Africa’s Captain Laura Wolvaardt throughout the only test match in between South Africa and India at M.A Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk in Chennai on July 1, 2024.|Picture Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam Wolvaardt’s vigil ended quickly before lunch when she soft-pedaled the incorrect line to a shipment from left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad that kept low and was caught in front. Requiring simply 5 more wickets, India would have felt it was inching closer towards an innings win, however Nadine de Klerk (61) irritated the hosts with her gritty remain in the middle, scoring a client half-century. While India kept pegging away, taking 3 more wickets in the 2nd session, de Klerk held fort at the other end, grinding out the bowling attack, as South Africa handled simply 34 runs in 29 overs. In the last session, de Klerk let go, discovering a couple of borders by utilizing the sweep shot to get to her half-century and assisting her side eliminate the deficit. By the time Rajeshwari bowled her, South Africa had a lead of 35 runs, which appeared unlikely when India collected 603 for 6 in the very first innings. Indian openers Shefali Verma and Subha Sathesh then promptly knocked off the 37-run target to assist the home side to its 3rd straight Test win after success versus England and Australia in 2015.
Perky South Africa takes hearts, India wins Test – The Hindu
