CHENNAI: Half-centuries from Marizanne Kapp and Suné Luus helped the Proteas Women produce a valiant display with the bat following India’s record-setting innings on Day 2 of the one-off Test match at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.
Kapp ended the day’s play with an undefeated 69* off 125 deliveries (8 fours) after Suné Luus contributed a 164-ball 65 (6 fours, 1 six) to help propel South Africa to 236/4, trailing by 367 runs, in reply to India’s declared total of 603/6 – the highest innings total in Women’s Test cricket.
The second day got underway with the host nation on 525/4 after 98 overs, with Harmanpreet Kaur (69) and Richa Ghosh (86) resuming their half-century stand. The pair managed to add a further 68 runs to the score to see both batters reach their respective fifties before Tumi Sekhukhune (1/70) broke the 143-run partnership by dismissing Kaur.
The innings eventually came to an end, with India declaring on 603/6, following Ghosh’s wicket off the bowling of Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/122).
In reply to the hosts’ first innings score, openers Anneke Bosch (39) and Laura Wolvaardt (20) led South Africa to the lunch break unscathed on 29/0 before the latter became the first scalp to fall shortly after the interval.
Despite losing her captain, Bosch combined well with Luus for a crucial 63-run stand for the second wicket to take the Proteas near the 100-run mark prior to the departure of Bosch, who edged a Sneh Rana (3/61) for her second scalp of the afternoon.
With South Africa still behind by 507 runs, Luus was joined at the crease by the experienced Kapp as the duo collaborated for a 93-run partnership, with Luus reaching her maiden Test fifty before Kapp emulated the feat with her very own half-century in the final session of the day.
With the two batters looking settled out in the middle, India’s Deepti Sharma (1/40) made the all-important breakthrough to remove Luus LBW before Rana quickly picked up her third wicket to send all-rounder Delmi Tucker (0) back to the hut to leave the Proteas Women 198/4.
An unbeaten 38-run stand between Kapp and Nadine de Klerk (27*) then helped South Africa end the day’s play on 236/4, still trailing by 376 runs.
Day 3 will commence on Sunday, 30 June from 09h30 (06h00 SAST), with the match broadcast live on SuperSport Grandstand (Ch. 201).
Proteas Women ODI and Test Squad – Outbound Tour to India (16 June – 09 July)
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World LIons), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), *Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions) (ODI Squad Only), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), *Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), *Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Delmi Tucker (World Sports Betting Western Province)
Fixtures – Proteas Women’s Outbound Tour to India (16 June – 09 July)
One-off Test:
Friday, 28 June – Monday, 01 July @ 06h00: India vs South Africa (M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)
T20 International Series:
Friday, 05 July @ 15h30 – 1st T20I: India vs South Africa (M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)
Sunday, 07 July @ 15h30 – 2nd T20I: India vs South Africa (M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)
Tuesday, 09 July @ 15h30 – 3rd T20I: India vs South Africa (M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)
All times are South African Standard Time (SAST)
Source: cricket.co.za
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