Twitter Reactions: Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur smash tons as India win thrilling run-fest in 2nd ODI vs South Africa

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Team India
Team India. (Photo Source: BCCI)

India took a 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against South Africa after winning the second game by just four runs. Chasing a daunting 326-run target, the Proteas showed no signs of fear and almost got over the line to level the series.

Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to bat first at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday, June 19. Smriti Mandhana continued from where she left in the first ODI and played some delightful strokes inside the powerplay. Shafali Verma and Dayalan Hemalatha got starts but failed to make it count. India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur joined her deputy and the experienced duo added 171 runs for the third wicket off just 136 balls.

Smriti was dismissed after making a glorious 120-ball 136, her second consecutive century in the series. She belted 18 fours and two maximums in her commendable knock. After Smriti was dismissed in the 46th over, India promoted the hard-hitting Richa Ghosh up the order and the wicketkeeper-batter smashed an unbeaten 13-ball 25. Meanwhile, Harmanpreet batted till the end and eventually finished on 103 not out off 88 balls, hitting nine fours and three sixes. She reached her century off the penultimate ball of the Indian innings as she got to the landmark with a boundary. The hosts finished on 325/3 in their 50 overs.

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Centuries from Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp go in vain as Pooja Vastrakar shines in last over

South Africa lost opener Tazmin Brits in the fourth over before Anneke Bosch stitched a 40-run partnership alongside Wolvaardt. After Bosch departed for a 23-ball 18, Sune Luus perished three overs later as the tourists were in a spot of bother at 67/3. However, the experienced Marizanne Kapp joined Wolvaardt and the duo forged a huge partnership, much like Smriti and Harmanpreet. The two right-handed batters amassed 184 runs off 170 balls to set up an excellent platform for the lower-order batters.

Kapp departed for a blistering 94-ball 114 in the 43rd over, with South Africa needing another 75 runs off 44 balls. Wolvaardt played second fiddle when Kapp was at the crease but she cut loose after the veteran departed. Nandine de Klerk gave her captain good support as the duo added 69 runs off just 41 balls.

Pooja Vastrakar was entrusted to bowl the final over, with South Africa needing just 11 runs to win, with two set batters at the crease. Wolvaardt got off strike off the first ball but de Klerk edged the second ball to the boundary to bring the equation down to six required off four balls. South Africa were clearly in the box seat at this stage but Vastrakar took two wickets off the next two balls to bring India back in the game. Five runs were required off the final delivery as Wolvaardt was on strike. However, she failed to make any contact with a slower delivery outside off, that bounced through to the wicketkeeper. The South African skipper remained unbeaten on 135 off as many balls as India eked out a thrilling four-run win.

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