Dubai: The Indian women’s cricket team played their 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup final warm-up match against 2023 finalist South Africa at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Academy Ground in Dubai. After tonight’s clash, both teams will kickstart their campaign on Friday (October 4). In that, India won their first warm-up fixture on Sunday against the West Indies by 20 runs, while South Africa lost their first warm-up clash against New Zealand by 8 wickets.

So, South Africa won the toss, and they decided to bowl first. So, Indian women’s team opener Shafali Varma takes a strike, and Smriti Mandhana stands on the non-striker’s end. But Ayabonga Khaka’s second ball of the match lost explosive opener Shafali Verma for 0 (2) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur for 10 (11), who will have to make the long walk back to the pavilion by Khaka.

After that, left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, who has sent back the Smrithi Mandhana after a scratchy 21 (22) runs, and Jemimah departed by Dercksen after scoring 26 (30) runs. Now, India is forced to go into the rebuilding phase again. For that, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma are trying to build a strong partnership before they can take on the South African bowlers.

Finally, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh raised a 70-run partnership. But Khaka dismissed Richa Gosh on the first ball, and she struck at 36 (25) runs, studded with two fours and two sixes. After that, Khaka got the wickets of Pooja Vastrakar 2 (2) and Shreyanka Patil 0 (1) on the third and fourth deliveries themselves. On the other hand, Deepti remains stranded on 35, not out of 29 balls, hitting two fours. At least the Indian Women’s team posted a decent total of 144/7 in 20 overs.

The opening partnership of South African players Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt has ensured that no wicket falls in this chase of 145. Both of them raised 37 runs for the first wicket partnership before Asha Sobhana gave India the breakthrough by dismissing Tazmin for 22 (25) runs.

After that, Deepti Sharma accounted for Anneke Bosch 3 (8) and Good length delivery from Shreyanka Patil, outside off, and Wolvaardt failed to make any connection. Finally, Wolvaardt departs for 29 (26) runs with 4 fours. Now Asha Sobhana struck again, removing Sune Luus for 3 (7) as South Africa stumped to 66/4 in the 12th over. Now, South Africa is looking totally out of place because they have lost their fifth wicket, Nadine de Klerk, 4(10) by Harmanpreet Kaur. After that, Chloe Tryon, who was trying to make runs, was dismissed by Shafali Varma for 24 (20).

At last, Annerie Dercksen’s 21 not-out 16 balls raised some hopes, but South Africa found the game going tough and were restricted to 116/6 in 20 overs. India have registered back-to-back wins in the warm-up games ahead of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. On the other hand, South Africa has been handed consecutive defeats in their warm-up fixtures.