Off-spinner Harampreet Kaur, assisted well by Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Punam Yadav, put India in a commanding position against South Africa on the third and penultimate day of the one-off Test match at the SDNR Wadiyar Platinum Jubilee University grounds on Tuesday.
The South Africans, following-on after being bowled out for 234, were reduced to 83 for six in their second innings. Trisha Chetty and Chole Tyon were at the crease.
South Africa, overnight 85 for three, started badly with Marcia Letsoalo mistiming a lofted drive off part-time spinner Harampreet early in the morning.
Skipper Mignon Du Preez and wicket-keeper Trisha Chetty steadied the ship with some fine batting. Migon got to her maiden Test fifty (6x4), with a splendid cover drive off leg-spinner Punam Yadav. At lunch, South Africa was comfortably placed at 179 for four in 84 overs with Mignon (89 n.o.) and Trisha (22 n.o.) batting confidently.
After lunch, Mignon continued to dominate the Indian attack, scoring her hundred with a fine boundary off Harampreet.
Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari got the crucial breakthrough when she trapped the skipper in front. The South Africans offered little resistance, after the fall of the skipper, and folded up for 234.
Harampreet was the most successful Indian bowler, claiming five for 44. Rajeshwari Gayakwad took four for 54.
Following-on, South Africa lost openers in quick time with Jhulan Goswami doing the damage. The South Africans failed to rectify their mistakes and continued to lose wickets to spinners.
The scores:
India — 1st innings: 400 for six wkts. in 148.4 overs decl.
South Africa — 1st innings: Nadine Moodley c Mithali Raj b Punam Yadav 40, Dane van Niekerk c Niranjana b Rajeshwari Gayakwad 15, Marizanne Kapp lbw b Rajeshwari Gayakwad 0, Mignon du Preez lbw b Rajeshwari Gayakwad 102, Marcia Letsoalo c Mithali Raj b Harampreet Kaur 6, Trisha Chetty c Sushma Verma b Harampreet Kaur 56, Lizelle Lee lbw b Harampreet Kaur 4, Nonkululeko Thabethe c Mithali Raj b Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2, Chole Tryon lbw b Harampreet Kaur 0, Yolani Fourie c Sushma Verma b Harampreet Kaur 0, Sunette Loubset (not out) 0; Extras (b-1, lb-8): 9; Total (in 110 overs): 234.
Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-37, 3-83, 4-107, 5-209, 6-226, 7-234, 8-234, 9-234.
India bowling: Jhulan Goswami 14-0-36-0, Niranjana 10-4-22-0, Harampreet Kaur 16-5-44-5, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 37-16-54-4, Shika Pandey 6-3-15-0, Punam Yadav 26-11-46-1, Thirushkamini 1-0-8-0.
South Africa — 2nd innings: Nadine Moodley b Jhulan Goswami 9, Dan van Niekerk c Sushma Verma b Jhulan Goswami 7, Marizanne Kapp lbw b Rajeshwari Gayakwad 19, Mignon du Preez st. Sushma Verma b Punam Yadav 17, Trisha Chetty (batting) 6, Lizelle Lee c Nirupama b Punam Yadav 2, N. Thabethe lbw b Harampreet Kaur 0, Chole Tryon (batting) 15; Extras (b-6, lb-2): 8; Total (for six wkts. in 41 overs): 83.
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-26, 3-59, 4-59, 5-62, 6-67.
India bowling: Jhulan Goswami 9-4-18-2, Niranjana 2-0-7-0, Harampreet Kaur 12-4-21-1, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 10-6-14-1, Punam Yadav 8-3-15-2.
