India secured a hard-fought 23-run victory over South Africa in Colombo on Wednesday to book a place in the final of the Women’s Tri-Nation ODI series, where the team will face Sri Lanka.
Batting first, India posted a commanding total of 337 for 9, driven by Jemimah Rodrigues’ career-best knock of 123 from 101 balls, which included 15 boundaries and a six. She stitched crucial partnerships with Smriti Mandhana (51) and Deepti Sharma (93), laying the foundation for India’s imposing score. Mandhana and Rodrigues added 88 runs for the third wicket, while Rodrigues and Deepti combined for a 122-run stand.
Rodrigues was eventually dismissed in the 43rd over, but Deepti Sharma continued the charge with a well-paced 84-ball innings that featured 10 fours and two sixes. Deepti fell in the final over, having taken India to a dominant position.
South Africa's bowlers, despite the onslaught, had some individual successes. Masabata Klaas (2/51), Nadine de Klerk (2/54), and Nonkululeko Mlaba (2/71) were among the wicket-takers, while Annerie Dercksen chipped in with 1/36 and dismissed India captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
In reply, South Africa struggled to maintain the required scoring rate despite a valiant effort. After losing opener Lara Goodall early, Tazmin Brits (26) and Miane Smit (39) stabilised the innings with a 63-run partnership. The momentum, however, was never quite enough as India’s bowlers applied steady pressure.
Annerie Dercksen top-scored for South Africa with a fluent 81 from 80 balls and partnered with stand-in captain Chloe Tryon (67 off 43) for a 72-run sixth-wicket stand. Their efforts brought South Africa close, but the run rate kept climbing. With two overs left and the score at 299/6, poor light briefly stopped play. Once resumed, the South African batters added 15 more runs, ending their innings at 314/7.
India’s bowlers held their nerve under pressure. Amanjot Kaur was the pick with 3/59, while Deepti Sharma contributed with 2/57 to round off a stellar all-round performance.
India concluded the round-robin stage with six points from four matches, securing their spot in the final. Sri Lanka, with four points from three games, will face South Africa next to determine their final tally, though South Africa is already out of the title race after losing all three of their matches so far.
India will now look to carry this momentum into the final clash against hosts Sri Lanka.