Mithali Raj’s 79 in vain as India eves lose ODI series to South Africa

India skipper Mithali Raj celebrates her 50 yesterday

Mithali Raj played a lone hand with an unbeaten 79 besides leading the side well, but lack of support from other players led to India losing the five-match ODI series against South Africa 1-4, a telling blow to their preparation for the ICC World Cup.

To India's misfortune, their star player Harmanpreet Kaur (30 retired hurt) got injured, leaving India high and dry. Mithali batted till the end to help India post 188 after being put in. South Africa chased down the target comprehensively, registering a five-wicket win.

Though India picked wickets at regular intervals, they were a bowler short as debutant leg-spinner Challuru Prathyusha was very expensive, giving away 60 runs in her nine overs for a lone wicket. It's here that Kaur would have put pressure on the South Africans with her off-spin. Things did not look bright for the visitors when Laura Wolvaardt (0) and Lara Goodall (1) were out cheaply with South Africa reeling at 27-3 at one stage. But subsequent batters batted with grit and stuck to the task. Anne Bosch (58) and Mignon du Preez (57) topped the run charts for South Africa. Marizanne Kapp (36') and Nadine de Klerk (19') carried the team home with 10 balls to spare.

Brief scores
India 188 all out in 49.3 overs (M Raj 79', H Kaur 30; N de Klerk 3-35, T Sekhukhune 2-26, N Shangase 2-43) lost to SA 189-5 in 48.2 overs (A Bosch 58, M du Preez 57, M Kapp 36; R Gayakwad 3-13) by 5 wickets