India Dominates South Africa in One-off Women’s Test Match
India showcased their dominance in women’s cricket with a convincing 10-wicket victory over South Africa in a one-off Test match held in Chennai. Despite a stellar performance by centurion Laura Wolvaardt, India’s bowlers and batters proved too strong for the visiting side.
The hosts easily chased down a modest target of 37 runs in just 9.2 overs, thanks to a solid opening partnership between Shubha Satheesh and Shafali Verma. This win marks India’s second 10-wicket triumph in Tests, with the previous one coming against the Proteas in 2002. India had earlier declared their first innings at an impressive 603 for six.
Although South Africa put up a strong fight in their second innings, with centuries from Wolvaardt and Sune Luus, their efforts could only delay the inevitable. Wolvaardt’s milestone of scoring her first Test century and becoming the first woman to achieve a century in all three formats of the game in the same calendar year added excitement to the match.
Despite setbacks in the South African innings, including Wolvaardt’s dismissal for 122, the visitors surpassed their highest team total against India in Tests. The Proteas fought hard to build partnerships but fell short in the face of India’s determined performance.
With this victory, India demonstrated their strength in Test cricket and their ability to outplay challenging opponents. The match was a testament to the women’s passion and skill in the sport, highlighting the talent and determination of both teams on the field.