Chloé Tryon starred with the ball before half-centuries from Laura Wolvaardt and Suné Luus guided the Proteas Women to an eight-wicket victory over India women’s national cricket team in the second T20 International at Kingsmead on Sunday.
Tryon claimed 3-22, alongside Tumi Sekhukhune’s 3-31, to help dismiss India for 147 in their 20 overs. Wolvaardt (54 off 34 balls) and Luus (57 off 47) then combined for a 106-run partnership to anchor the chase and secure a 2-0 series lead with 17 balls to spare.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, India made an aggressive start through Shafali Verma despite losing Smriti Mandhana (12) to Tryon in the third over.
South Africa struck again in the powerplay when Tryon removed Jemimah Rodrigues (2), restricting the visitors to 58-2 after six overs.
Verma, playing her 100th T20I, led the resistance with her 15th half-century, adding 53 runs with Anushka Sharma (28) as India edged towards 100. Tryon returned to break the stand, claiming her third wicket.
The pressure intensified when Nonkululeko Mlaba dismissed Verma, who was well caught in the deep by Nadine de Klerk, leaving India on 109-4 in the 14th over.
South Africa finished strongly with the ball as Sekhukhune added three late wickets, while de Klerk (1-14) and two run-outs ensured India were bowled out for 147.
In reply, Wolvaardt and Luus provided a commanding start, sharing 66 in the powerplay before extending their stand to 92 without loss at the halfway mark.
The pair brought up their 100-run partnership, with Wolvaardt registering her second half-century of the series before Shreyanka Patil struck to break the stand.
Luus soon completed her seventh T20I fifty, but despite losing both set batsmen, the Proteas comfortably reached the target with Tazmin Brits (20*) and Annerie Dercksen (12*) seeing the hosts home with ease.
The third T20 gets underway on Wednesday, 22 April at 18:00 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Photo: Gerhard Duraan/Gallo Images
