ABOUT THE MATCH
India and South Africa will be hoping for better luck with the weather in Surat as they look again to try and rekindle their rivalry in this WT20i series. After the second game was washed out, the third match will take place at the Lalabhai Contractor Stadium on September 29.
It was frustrating for the hosts last time out, who were looking to press home their advantage after winning the first game. Deepti Sharma was their star of the show in that game – helping India end a run of seven straight WT20i defeats as she bowled three maidens and took 3-8, as the Proteas were all out for 119 in reply to 130/8.
South Africa will take heart from the fact they came behind to win their most recent WT20i series, however, against Pakistan. There were positives in the first game – Shabnim Ismail’s three wickets and Mignon du Preez’s half-century – but more bad weather could mean more frustration for both teams in Surat.
TOSS PREDICTION
India batted first at South Africa’s request in the first game. Harmanpreet Kaur is due this one, then, and may elect to bat first again after India’s victory.
PITCH AND CONDITIONS
The weather forecast in Surat is ominous again on Sunday. Thunderstorms are forecast all day and the chance of rain is still around the 50 percent mark into the evening. The outfield will be wet even if the rain has stopped by then so it could be another frustrating night.
Surat – India’s newest international cricket venue – seemed to serve up a grippy wicket in the first match and the recent weather conditions could mean it is a slow one again if there is play on Sunday.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF INDIA WOMEN
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Anuja Patil, Radha Yadav, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Poonam Yadav, Shikha Pandey
PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN
Lizelle Lee (wk), Tazmin Brits, Laura Wolfvaardt, Nadine de Klerk, Mignon du Preez, Sune Luus (c), Shabnim Ismail, Nondumiso Shangase, Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba
MATCH PREVIEW
INDIA WOMEN
- Pooja Vastrakar bowled just the one over in the first game conceding 18 from it and her place seems to be the one in the most danger, with both Anuja Patil and Arundhati Reddy waiting in the wings.
- Shafali Verma will be eager for another chance to impress too she made her WT20i debut last time out, but only lasted four balls.
- India came into this series on the back of seven consecutive WT20i defeats the World T20 semi-final, followed by series whitewashes at the hands of New Zealand and England.
- They wasted no time breaking that drought in this series, however posting 130/8 and then bowling South Africa out for 119 in reply thanks to Deepti Sharma’s excellent bowling to claim an 11-run win.
SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN
- Nonkululeko Mlaba made her WT20i debut in the first game and Ayabonga Khaka returned to the team too.
- The latter had the better game, bowling economically, but both could be retained for this third match.
- South Africa bowled well last time out, as they looked to push on from their series win against Pakistan in their most recent WT20i matches when Shabnim Ismail claimed 3-26 and Ayabonga Khaka conceded just ten from her four overs.
- It left them needing 131 to win, but Mignon du Preez’s half-century proved in vain as they fell short on 119.
PROBABLE WINNING TEAM:
India will want to press home their advantage and, if the rain allows, they showed the have the all-round strength to do just that.
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