Cricket

Laura Wolvaardt, the South African captain, has faced challenges since taking over from Sune Luus. Despite her batting prowess, the team has struggled in T20Is, losing nine of their last 15 matches.Ahead of the T20I series against India, Wolvaardt emphasized that South Africa will field their strongest XI, which is likely to represent the team at the T20 World Cup in October. The series serves as a final dress rehearsal for the global event.Wolvaardt acknowledged that the team is close to finalizing their World Cup XI, with the return of all-rounder Chloe Tryon from injury. However, she remained uncertain about Marizanne Kapp's bowling availability due to a minor back injury.Under Wolvaardt's leadership, South Africa has sought to improve their batting output and consistency with the ball. They aim to score an additional 10-20 runs and be more clinical in their bowling.The conditions in Chennai, which favor spin, provide an opportunity for South Africa to experiment with their bowling strategy. Wolvaardt suggested that they may consider using spinners in the powerplay or at the death, which is uncommon for their team.India, on the other hand, enters the series with momentum after a 5-0 whitewash against Bangladesh. Wolvaardt expects India to rely heavily on spin bowling, which could provide a valuable learning experience for South Africa.

South Africa's tour of India has been a tale of dominance for the hosts, who have swept the ODIs and Test match. As the series shifts to the T20I format, South Africa will look to salvage some pride and pose a challenge to the formidable Indian team.The Unstoppable MandhanaSmriti Mandhana has been in scintillating form throughout the series, amassing a staggering 492 runs across formats. Her ability to convert starts into big scores has been a key factor in India's success. South Africa will need to find a way to contain her if they want to have any chance of winning.The Wolvaardt-Kapp ThreatLaura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp are South Africa's most dangerous players. Wolvaardt has been in excellent form with the bat, while Kapp is a threat with both bat and ball. India will need to keep a close eye on these two if they want to maintain their dominance.Tryon's ReturnChloe Tryon is back in the South African team after missing the ODI and Test legs of the tour. The all-rounder is a valuable asset to her side, providing both batting and bowling options. Her experience in Indian conditions could also prove to be an advantage.Radha's Road to RedemptionRadha Yadav has been a key performer for India in the shortest format. She has learnt to harness her aggression and has showcased better control and accuracy of late. With South Africa's batting line-up stacked with right-handers, Radha could be a threat on the spin-friendly Chepauk surface.Recent FormIndia come into the series on the back of a 5-0 sweep of Bangladesh, while South Africa have struggled to get more wins in this format. However, the T20I format is unpredictable, and South Africa will be hoping to upset the odds.Pitch and ConditionsThe MA Chidambaram Stadium has traditionally been a high-scoring ground, but the recent Test match saw the Indian spinners dominate. The pitch is expected to be spin-friendly, which could favor India's bowling attack.

South Africa's valiant effort in the recently concluded Test match against India has been lauded by captain Laura Wolvaardt. Despite conceding a massive 500 runs on the first day, the Proteas displayed remarkable resilience and determination to extend the match to the final session on day four.Wolvaardt praised her team's batting performance, highlighting the grit and determination of each batter who faced the Indian spinners. She emphasized the importance of their ability to navigate the challenging conditions and see out the match.Reflecting on her experience as captain in the last two Tests against Australia and India, Wolvaardt acknowledged the contrasting challenges posed by the different pitches. She noted the emphasis on pace and bounce at the WACA in Perth, while the Chennai pitch demanded a more nuanced approach to spin bowling.Wolvaardt expressed her admiration for the Chennai crowd, who provided enthusiastic support for both teams. She described the atmosphere as entertaining and motivating, with the crowd's songs and cheers adding to the spectacle.Despite the loss, Wolvaardt believes that the experience will be invaluable for her team's growth. She emphasized the importance of learning from the challenges they faced and using them to improve their performance in future matches.

India's women's cricket team survived a thrilling encounter against South Africa in the second ODI at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday. After posting a mammoth 326-run target, India held on to a four-run victory, taking a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur were the stars of the Indian batting innings. Mandhana smashed a career-best 136 off 120 deliveries, while Kaur remained unbeaten on 103 from 88 balls. The duo shared a 184-run partnership for the third wicket, laying the foundation for India's imposing total.South Africa's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost three wickets for 67 runs. However, a brilliant 184-run partnership between Laura Wolvaardt (135 not out) and Marizanne Kapp (114) brought the visitors back into contention.With just 11 runs needed off the final over, South Africa seemed poised for victory. But Pooja Vastrakar, who was entrusted with the responsibility of bowling the last over, held her nerve. She dismissed Nadine de Klerk and Nondumiso Shangase off consecutive deliveries, leaving Wolvaardt stranded at the other end.Debutant Arundhati Reddy, who replaced Renuka Singh in the Indian lineup, played a crucial role with the ball. She bowled a tight first spell and picked up the key wicket of Wolvaardt in the 15th over.India's victory was marred by some sloppy fielding, as they dropped three catches and missed two run-outs. However, their bowlers managed to restrict South Africa to 322 runs, securing a hard-fought win.

As the men's T20 World Cup concludes, preparations for the women's ODI World Cup next year are underway. South Africa, currently third in the championship table, aims to secure automatic qualification and gain experience by playing hosts India.India, as hosts, automatically qualify for the World Cup, but their ODI form has been inconsistent. After sweeping Sri Lanka and England in 2022, they tied a series in Bangladesh and lost 3-0 to Australia at home. However, they have over a year to improve their consistency.South Africa, on the other hand, faces a crucial challenge. They need to win four of their remaining six matches to secure automatic qualification. If they win fewer games, they may still qualify but will rely on other results.South Africa embarks on this journey without former coach Hilton Moreeng, who resigned in May. Assistant coach Dillon du Preez has taken over as interim coach, with Baakier Abrahams and Bongani Ndaba joining the coaching staff.Tazmin Brits returns to the South African squad after recovering from a knee injury. She will partner Laura Wolvaardt, the leading run-scorer in ODIs this year, at the top of the order.India's squad includes Jemimah Rodrigues, who missed the Bangladesh series with a back niggle. Pooja Vastrakar's availability is uncertain due to an undisclosed injury. Arundhati Reddy may be the second seamer in support of Renuka Singh if Vastrakar is unavailable.Rain could impact the series, as showers have been frequent in Bengaluru. If play is severely interrupted, it would disappoint the local crowd, who have shown strong support for women's cricket.India will look to improve their performances after disappointing showings against Australia. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur will be under scrutiny, while youngsters Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh will aim to make an impact.

South Africa's women's cricket team secured an unassailable 1-0 lead in their three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka after a dominant seven-wicket victory in Kimberley. Laura Wolvaardt's third century as captain, and sixth overall, propelled the Proteas to the highest successful chase in a women's ODI at the venue.Wolvaardt's 110* and Marizanne Kapp's 80* formed the backbone of South Africa's chase, as they shared a 143-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to contain the duo on a pitch with low bounce, allowing the Proteas to reach their target with 14 balls to spare.Earlier, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 229 thanks to Chamari Athapaththu's 51. However, South Africa's bowlers, led by Ayabonga Khaka (3-28) and Nadine de Klerk (3-23), kept the visitors in check.The victory not only gives South Africa a series lead but also solidifies their position in second place in the ICC Women's Championship standings. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, remain outside the automatic qualification zone for the 2025 World Cup.Wolvaardt's century was a significant milestone, making her South Africa's leading run-scorer in ODI cricket. The Proteas captain has now amassed 2,753 runs in 94 matches, surpassing Lizelle Lee's previous record.The match was also marked by a lightning delay, with the players taken off the field for a brief period due to approaching thunderstorms. However, the chase resumed shortly after, and Wolvaardt guided South Africa to victory.