Good day at office for De Klerk

No 8 batter's unbeaten 84 off 54 overshadows Richa's 94 as South Africa beat hosts India

- GOMESH S@Visakhapatnam

SNEH Rana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana were in a huddle near the bowling crease. It was the 43rd over of the South African innings and India were desperately searching for that one breakthrough. They had already reduced 81/5 first and 142/6 thanks to Laura Wolvaardt's resistance of 70 runs that came from 111 balls but Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk were threatening to take the game away from India. They had reduced the margin to 71 needed off 48, and it seemed like an even contest, especially with India playing only five bowlers.

Harmanpreet had already bowled four overs herself, and now she had to ration the remaining eight. First, it seemed like Rana would take the ball, but then Kranti Gaud was brought in. The youngster had bowled seven overs, removing both Tazmin Brits and Wolvaardt.