INDW vs SAW: India see off South Africa with 10-wicket win in one-off women's Test

Harmanpreet Kaur-led India saw off a resilient South Africa in the one-off women’s Test in Chennai, beating the visitors by 10 wickets on Day four of the match on Monday. Centuries from Laura Wolvaardt (122) and Sune Luus (109) had led South Africa to a fighting total of 373, but with India having scored 603 in their first innings, a lead of 36 runs was never going to be enough for South Africa. Shubha Satheesh (13*) and Shafali Verma (24*) guided the hosts home in 9.2 overs.

All over in Chennai!

The @ImHarmanpreet led side win the one-off test by 10 wickets 👏👏

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/4EU1Kp7wJe#TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/rV3fiCqZMS

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) July 1, 2024

More from First Cricket News

BCCI defends decision to play vs Pakistan in Asia Cup months after Pahalgam attack: 'If we boycott...' 'Indian players share compassion and feeling of majority Indian public': Ten Doeschate on IND vs PAK clash

This is India’s second 10-wicket triumph in Tests after a scoring a similar win over the Proteas at Paarl in 2002. After getting bundled out 266 in their first innings, South Africa fought well through hundred-makers Wolvaardt (122, 314b, 16×4) and Sune Luus (109, 203b, 18×4) in the second innings.

However, SA could only delay the inevitable. Resuming at the overnight 232 for two, and trailing India by 105 runs, Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp appeared to be in good touch.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜! 🤩

Captain @ImHarmanpreet receives the @IDFCFIRSTBank Trophy 🏆#TeamIndia win the #INDvSA Test by 10 wickets 💪

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/4EU1Kp7wJe pic.twitter.com/wXHDzn6ZSh

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) July 1, 2024

The former brought up her maiden Test century, also becoming the first woman batter to score a Test, ODI and T20I ton in the same year. However, Kapp was soon trapped leg-before by Deepti Sharma for 31, while Sneh Rana ousted Delmi Tucker for a duck as the tourists slipped to 266 for four.

With still work to be done for the South Africans to take the lead, Wolvaardt tried to anchor the innings but was dismissed for 122 when Rajeshwari Gayakwad trapped her in front to reduce the visitors 281 for five.

But the Proteas marched on and went past the 300-run mark, their highest team total in Tests against the Indians. The previous best was the 266 that made in their opening innings here. South Africa needed less than 50 runs to take the lead at this stage. Nadine de Klerk and Sinalo Jafta stuck together until the lunch break and SA were 302 for five then.

However, in the post-lunch session, Jafta retired hurt due to cramps, as the visitors sent Anne Dercksen to join De Klerk. But Dercksen departed for five, falling to Pooja Vastrakar with SA trailing by 27 runs.

Meanwhile, the tourists went past 316 to register their highest score in Test cricket, going past the 315 they made against England at Shenley in 2003. Although South Africans closed in on a lead they struggled to get the partnerships going.

The next stand was worth 14 runs between De Klerk and Tumi Sekhukhune before the latter was run out for six. Jafta returned to bat, but she could add just nine more runs and departed for 15 and they went to tea at 336 for eight.

The hosts eventually conceded the lead in the final session. This was the third instance of India giving away the lead after enforcing a follow-on and the fifth overall. The partnership between De Klerk and Masabata Klaas produced 23 runs before the latter fell to Shafali, who cleaned her up.

De Klerk, who was dropped on fifty by Renuka Singh and Vastrakar during a mix-up, brought up her half-century soon but Rajeshwari Gayakwad knocked her out for 61.

With PTI inputs