India 603 for 6 declared (Shafali 205, Mandhana 149, Ghosh 86, Harmanpreet 69, Rodrigues 55) and 37 for 0 (Shafali 24*) defeated South Africa 266 (Kapp 74, Luus 65, Rana 8-77) and 373 (Wolvaardt 122, Luus 109, de Klerk 61, Gayakwad 2-55, Deepti 2-95, Rana 2-111) by 10 wickets.
India clinched victory in the one-off Test against South Africa by 10 wickets in the final session of the last day at Chepauk, ensuring the visitors remain winless in the series. Highlights for India included Shafali Verma’s double-century, Smriti Mandhana’s 149, and Sneh Rana’s impressive 10-wicket haul. The match will also be remembered for South Africa’s determined effort, batting for nearly 240 overs in challenging conditions.
South Africa’s ability to force India to bat a second time, despite India declaring at 603 for 6, demonstrated the visitors’ remarkable determination, especially given their limited red-ball practice. After being bowled out for 266 in the first innings, South Africa rallied with centuries from Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus, along with a steadfast performance from Nadine de Klerk, keeping the contest alive until the final session.
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South Africa began a gloomy day four on 232 for 2, trailing by 105 runs, with Laura Wolvaardt just seven runs away from her maiden hundred. She reached her century in 259 balls, capitalizing on anything short and wide of the off stump. However, 15 overs into the game, South Africa lost Marizanne Kapp, who was trapped lbw by Deepti Sharma after playing down the wrong line. In the following over, Delmi Tucker was dismissed when Jemimah Rodrigues took a sharp catch at cover off Sneh Rana. Shortly after, left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad, in her first over of the day, dismissed Wolvaardt for 122. After consistently pitching the ball outside off stump, she delivered one on middle and leg that went quicker than Wolvaardt anticipated, trapping her in front.
In the morning session, India claimed three wickets, conceding 70 runs in 30 overs, leaving them needing just five more for victory. However, those final wickets proved challenging to secure.
The afternoon session was quiet, with South Africa adding 34 runs in 29 overs. Nadine de Klerk emerged as an unsung hero during this period, demonstrating her ability to play the long game, a stark contrast to her usual aggressive style in white-ball cricket. She spent 213 minutes at the crease, reaching her maiden Test fifty in 174 balls with seven fours. Her resolute performance, giving away almost nothing to the Indian spinners, was a remarkable display of patience and skill.
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Sinalo Jafta, who had retired hurt due to lower limb cramps at 9, returned to bat in the second session and lasted 36 more deliveries. By tea, South Africa were 336 for 8, trailing by just one run, and seemed poised to bat out the overs for a draw if de Klerk’s resilience continued.
However, a breakthrough came unexpectedly. In her third over of the second innings, Shafali Verma bowled a delivery that turned in to clean up Masabata Klaas. In the following over, Rajeshwari Gayakwad ended de Klerk’s valiant innings with a flighted delivery that disturbed her stumps. Although South Africa managed to take a lead, it was only 36 runs. Shafali Verma and Shubha Satheesh, who batted ahead of Smriti Mandhana, took just 9.2 overs to chase it down.
The focus now shifts to the T20Is in a few days’ time, but this Test at Chepauk, where women’s Tests returned for the first time since 1976, showcased cricket at its finest.
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