Record stand by Thirushkamini and Punam
WOMEN'S CRICKET: India snaps up three quick South African wickets
A record 275-run stand for the second wicket between M.D. Thirushkamini and Punam Raut allowed India to declare its first innings at 400 for six — its fourth highest innings total — against South Africa in the four-day one-off women’s cricket Test here on Monday.
India then took further control of the match by snapping up three South African wickets for 85 by close on the second day at the SDNR Wadiyar Platinum Jubilee University grounds. Thirushkamini and Punam continued from where they had left on day one and easily negotiated the new ball taken in the first over of the day by South African captain Migon du Preez.
They bettered the previous record partnership of 235 set by Betty Snowball (189) and Molly Hide (110) of England against New Zealand at Christchurch in 1935.
India finally lost Punam (130, 355b, 18x4s) when she jumped out to leg-spinner Dane van Niekerk and was stumped by wicket-keeper Trisha Chetty. This was Punam’s highest individual score in Test cricket.
Runs continued to flow even after her dismissal and at lunch India was 339 for two.
The innings was further consolidated when Thirushkamini and skipper Mithali Raj (37, 51b, 7x4s), added 61 for the third wicket before Mithali was bowled by off-spinner Sunette Loubser. She also claimed the wickets of Harmanpreet Kaur (17) and Jhulan Goswami (3) and was the best South African bowler in action.
Thirushkamini’s 192 (430b, 24x4, 1x6s) was her career best knock and she missed out on a double century when her attempted cut off leg-spinner Yolani Fourie resulted in an edge to keeper Trisha Chetty.
The scores: India — 1st innings: M.D. Thirushkamini c Trisha Chetty b Yolani Fourie 192, Smriti Mandhana c Sunette Loubser b Chloe Tryon 8, Punam Raut st Trisha Chetty b Dane van Niekerk 130, Mithali Raj b Sunette Loubser 37, Harmanpreet Kaur c Marizanne Kapp b Sunette Loubser 17, Jhulan Goswami st Trisha Chetty b Sunette Loubser 3, Shika Pandey (not out) 6; Extras (b-2, lb-4, nb-1): 7; Total (for six wickets in 148.4 overs decl.): 400.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-283, 3-344, 4-384, 5-394, 6-400.
South Africa bowling: Marizanne Kapp 16-8-27-0, Chloe Tryon 19-4-55-1, Marcia Letsoalo 25-11-48-0, Sunette Loubser 32.4-5-90-3, Dane van Niekerk 37-8-90-1, Yolani Fourie 18-0-79-1, Migon du Preez 1-0-5-0.
South Africa — 1st innings: Nadine Moodley c Mithali Raj b Punam Yadav 40, Dane van Niekerk c N. Niranjana b Rajeshwari Gayakwad 15, Marizanne Kapp lbw b Rajeshwari Gayakwad 0, Migon du Preez (batting) 28, Marcia Letsoalo (batting) 0; Extras (b-1, lb-1): 2; Total (for three wickets in 51 overs): 85.
Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-37, 3-83.
India bowling: Jhulan Goswami 7-0-19-0, N. Niranjana 4-2-5-0, Harmanpreet Kaur 6-1-16-0, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 17-10-20-2, Shika Pandey 4-2-10-0, Punam Yadav 13-7-13-1.
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