Maiden centuries by opener Thirushkamini (100 n.o.) and Punam Raut (100 n.o.) helped India finish day one of the four-day one-off women’s cricket Test on 211 for one against South Africa at the SDNR Platinum Jubilee University grounds.
Indian captain Mithali Raj did the right thing by electing to bat on a flat wicket which assisted the fast bowlers initially but eased out after the first hour of play.
South Africa’s fast bowlers started off well and had India in trouble, with Marizamme Kapp and left-arm medium-pacer Chloe Tryon bowling a steady line. Opener Smrithi Mandhana was dismissed early, her uppish drive going straight to Sunette Loubser at short covers off Tryon.
Thirushkamini and the next batter in — Punam Raut — batted cautiously. At lunch India had scored 59 for one in 32 overs.
India consolidated after lunch, with the duo batting more freely. Punam especially impressed with her crisp on-drives and flicks off the pads to both the quicks as well as the spinners while Thirushkamini excelled square of the wicket.
When the score was 102 for one, Punam (52) was dropped by Nadine Moodley at short-leg. Off the next ball skipper Migon du Preez dropped her once again at slip.
The bowler to suffer on both occasions was leg-spinner Dane va Niekerk, who extracted some turn.
The scores:
India — 1st innings: M.D. Trirushkamini (batting) 100, Smrithi Mandhana c Sunette Loubser b Chloe Tryon 8, Punam Raut (batting) 100; Extras (b-2, nb-1): 3; Total (for one wicket in 102 overs): 211.
Fall of wicket: 1-8.
South Africa bowling: Marizamme Kapp 11-6-7-0, Chloe Tryon 10-3-23-1, Marcia Letsalo 19-10-29-0, Sunette Loubser 20-5-49-0, Dane van Niekerk 30-8-54-0, Yolani Fourie 11-0-42-0, Mignon du Preez 1-0-5-0.
