Proteas Women can't stand the Colombo heat

THE Proteas Women's team were left to rue a couple of dropped catches and fielding mishaps with opener Tazmin Brits' 109 not enough to get them over the line in the Tri-Series opener against India in Colombo.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

Although Brits was also dropped on 51 by Deepti Sharma off her own bowling and 67 by captain Harmanpreet Kaur at mid-off, India's overall ground fielding in diving to save boundaries particularly during the death overs proved to be the difference in claiming a 15-run win. India had totalled 276/6 - which would have been a record chase for the Proteas - courtesy of opener Pratika Rawal's 78 - her fifth successive fifty-plus ODI score - and Laura Wolvaardt’s team leaking 82 runs in the last 10 overs.

This was partially due to fielders overrunning the ball on the boundary and the ill-discipline of the bowlers who sent down 13 wides in total.