India Women Outclass South Africa in Tri-Series as Sneh Rana's Five Wickets Turn the Tide

India Women Outclass South Africa in Tri-Series as Sneh Rana's Five Wickets Turn the Tide Apr, 30 2025

The Momentum Shifts: Sneh Rana Steals the Show in Colombo

Cricket fans got their money’s worth in the latest India Women versus South Africa Tri-Series clash at Colombo, where fortunes swung wildly before India sealed a gritty 15-run win. The scoreboard tells a story of runs and wickets, but the real drama unfolded through the nerves and clutch plays in the final overs.

Batting first, India cobbled together a solid total of 276 for 6, thanks largely to the calm presence of Pratika Rawal. She anchored the innings with a gutsy 78, piecing together partnerships just when wickets threatened to fall. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues, each adding 41, ensured the momentum never dropped entirely, even as South Africa’s bowlers kept probing in patches.

Early wickets eluded the Proteas, even with some sharp bowling from Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas. India’s ability to rotate strike and punish loose deliveries played a big part—Rawal especially showed maturity in pacing her knock, with a run-a-ball approach after her initial settling-in spell. As the innings wore on, boundaries dried up but singles and twos kept flowing, hinting at the discipline the Indian middle order brought to the contest.

Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt: A Threat Neutralized

Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt: A Threat Neutralized

If India thought their total of 276 would intimidate the South Africans, Tazmin Brits quickly changed that script. She came out blazing, matching Laura Wolvaardt stroke for stroke as the pair racked up a mammoth 140-run opening partnership. Brits was all class, powering to 109 despite the sticky conditions. Wolvaardt played the perfect foil, nudging and glancing her way to 43, letting her partner lead the aggressive push.

The big moment arrived when Brits, visibly struggling with cramps in the Colombo heat, was forced to retire hurt after her century. That was a turning point. The confident South African chase began to sputter as new batters struggled to find rhythm. Sensing the opening, spinner Sneh Rana pounced.

Before Brits left, South Africa were in control at 240 for 4, with a run rate on their side. But Rana spun a web, picking up crucial wickets just as momentum threatened to swing back towards the Proteas. Her figures—5 for 43—don’t do justice to the pressure she piled on. Chloe Tryon, always a danger late, fell to her guile, and in the 48th over, Rana delivered the knockout punch, bowling Brits as she attempted a comeback at the death.

The final collapse saw South Africa tumble from 240 for 4 to 261 all out within a blink. Deepti Sharma stamped the end with a smart run-out, sparking big celebrations as India registered their second consecutive win in this Tri-Series showdown. For South Africa, what looked like a near-certain chase unravelled dramatically in the space of a few overs, exposing the pressure of a tense ODI finish.

  • Pratika Rawal’s 78 laid India’s foundation.
  • Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues provided steady support with 41 each.
  • Sneh Rana’s fifer proved decisive, turning the game in the last ten overs.
  • Tazmin Brits’ 109, ended by cramps, shifted the contest’s momentum back toward India.

With two wins now in their pocket, India Women have firmly announced their title ambitions, while South Africa will be left to regroup and rethink their finishing strategy for the matches ahead. The Tri-Series just got a lot more tense.