Mithali Raj is seeming to be too hot to handle for the South African as she hit her second successive fifty to take India to a comfortable 9-wicket victory against the Proteas in the second T20 at East London. She was aptly supported by young sensation Smriti Mandhana on the day when the men’s team grabbed the ODI series 5-1 in another part of the African nation. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team is now 2-0 up in the five-match series, having won the opening encounter by seven wickets.
Coming into bat first, the South Africa built their 142-run innings mainly depending on the partnership of Sune Luus and Nadine de Klerk. Luus made 33 and de Klerk made 26. For India, spinner duo of Poonam Yadav and Anuja Patil took 2 wickets each.
Chasing a modest 143, India cruised to victory in 19.1 overs losing the wicket of Mandhana. But before getting out, Mandhana hit a blistering 57 off 42 balls with four boundaries and three sixes. Her experienced partner, Mithali Raj was at her best as she anchored the innings with her 76*. She completed her 12th T20 half century in 48 balls. Raj was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for the second successive time. Raj and mandhana put a partnership of 106 runs.
