Tazmin Brits' gusty 109 for Proteas Women in vain as India take the honours in Colombo
TRI-SERIES
Tazmin Brits' 109 was not enough to prevent the Proteas Women from slipping to a 15-run defeat to India. Picture: AFP
Image: AFP
India's bowlers held their nerve in the face of a supremely gutsy 109 from Tazmin Brits to steer their side to a thrilling 15-run victory over the Proteas Women’s team at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday.
Chasing a record 277 after India opener Pratika Rawal (78 off 91 balls, 7x4, 1x6) struck her fifth consecutive score in excess of 50, Brits along with her captain Laura Wolvaardt and a couple of middle-order cameos pushed India all the way.
In fact, prior to Brits retiring with cramps on 108 due to the excessive heat and humidity, the Proteas were handily placed at 170/2 after 33 overs with 107 required off the final 17.
The chase had begun in perfect fashion for the Proteas with Brits and Wolvaardt sharing a 140-run opening stand.
Brits (109 off 107 balls, 13x4, 3x6) was intent to take the attack to both India’s spinners and pacers, lofting the ball with great authority down the ground as she brought up her first 50 off just 45 balls. Her century only utilised 103 balls.
Wolvaardt, meanwhile, was content to rotate the strike, which she could possibly have done better though with her 43 ultimately coming off 75 balls at a below par strike-rate of 57.33.
This allowed India to remain in the game and never quite feel the pressure of the Proteas getting away with the run-chase, and even more so after the double loss of the returning Lara Goodall (9) and debutant Karabo Meso (7) in quick succession.
Former skipper Sune Luus (28 off 34 balls), Chloe Tryon (18 off 22 balls) and the very impressive Annerie Dercksen (30 off 20 balls) all tried to restore momentum to the innings with a few hefty blows, but all perished in the deep attempting a few more big hits.
Sneh Rana was the biggest benefactor with the off-spinner claiming 5/43, including the big scalp of Brits after the Proteas opener returned to the crease in the 47th over.
India’s superior fielding was also a major difference between the teams after the Proteas fumbled catches and missed a couple of run outs in a dismal effort earlier in the day.