A day after South Africa men’s team missed out on a chance of winning their maiden World Cup trophy, the women’s team suffered a batting collapse at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Day 3 of the one-off Test. Sneh Rana turned out to be the wrecker-in-chief as she achieved her career best bowling figures of eight wickets for 77 runs. She became the third bowler in women's Test cricket history to take eight wickets in an innings.
Other bowlers with eight-fers in women’s Test cricket
The first bowler to achieve the feat was India's Neetu David who took eight wickets for 53 runs against England on November 24, 1995. Australian spinner Ashleigh Gardner is the other bowler who has eight wickets. She conceded 66 runs and took eight wickets against England at Edgbaston, Nottingham in 2023.
6 wickets in 17 runs
At the end of Day 2’s play, South Africa were in a good position with 236/4. Marizanne Kapp (69) and Nadine de Klerk (27) were on their way to stitch a frustrating partnership against the hosts.
In her second over of Day 3, she got the wicket of Kapp and Sinalo Jafta. Kapp got knocked over for a 141-ball 74. Then Jafta lost her wicket for a four-ball duck. Deepti Sharma joined the party by trapping Annerie Dercksen in front of stumps. In the next over, Rana ended Klerk's stay at the crease as Rajeshwari Gayakad took a stunner.
Rana continued to strike and bowled a wicket-maiden as Masabata Klaas looked clueless and got bowled while shouldering arms. She wrapped up the innings with the wicket of Nonkululeko Mlaba's wicket. South African openers had to walk out to bat as Harmanpreet enforced follow-on after visitors lost six wickets in just 12.2 overs in Day 3’s first session.
Harmanpreet’s India congratulate Rohit’s men
Before the start of Day 3’s play, Harmanpreet Kaur’s brigade congratulated Rohit Sharma-led team for their men’s T20 World Cup 2024 title win.
“We had a lovely time watching the final yesterday. Well done everyone. To the entire team, many many congratulations (in unison)!’ India women’ cricket team head coach Amol Muzumdar said in the video posted on X by BCCI Women.
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