Bengaluru: All-rounder Shikha Pandey struck an attractive 59 as India thrashed South Africa by six wickets in the second day-night one-day match played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium here to level the three-match at 1-1.
India had restricted South Africa to a modest 186 for 8 after medium pacer Shikha struck vital blows early to take 3/19 while leg spinner Ekta Bisht proved an able foil claiming 3/28.
Shikha was adjudged the woman of the match.
Middle order bat Chloe Tryon made a valiant unbeaten 49 for South Africa, while skipper Mignon Du Preez was run out for 36 to emerge as the most successful batswomen for the proteas. The two added a crucial 54 in 14.3 overs for the fifth wicket to the team’s score past the 100 mark.
Indians had lost the first of the three match series by two wickets.
Chasing modest total, India begann cautiously but the arrival of Shikha changed the momentum as she struck eight boundaries and a huge six in her 56-ball innings to power India to an easy win with 5.2 overs still left in the game.
Opener Poonam Raut (47) gave a solid start to the Indian innings earlier. At the end, Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten with 42 and V R Vanitha on 11 to take the home team to an easy win.
Brief scores: South Africa 186/8 in 50 overs (Mignon Du Preez 36, Chloe Tryon not out 49, Shikha Pandey 3/19, Ekta Bisht 3/28) lost to India 187 in 44.4 overs (Poonam Raut 47, Shikha Pandey 59, harmanpreet Kaur 42 not out). (PTI)
