India’s No 4 batter Rodrigues starred in the first innings of the ongoing fifth match of the Tri-Series at the R Premadasa International Stadium.
The right-handed batter swept her way to a second One Day International century and helped India post a mammoth 337/9 total for the South Africans to chase.
Rodrigues (123, 15x4s, 1x6s) was involved in two big partnerships: an 88-run fourth-wicket stand with opening batter Smriti Mandhana (51, 6×4), and a 122-run stand for the fifth wicket with Deepti Sharma, who fell seven runs short of a century.
Sharma fell in the final over of the innings for a well-made 93 off 84 deliveries, a knock which saw the batter smash 10 fours and two sixes.
🚨 Change of Innings 🚨
It’s all to play for as our Proteas Women gear up to chase with intensity and determination! 🇿🇦🏏
Catch all the action and cricketing drama of the second innings live at the link below 🖥.https://t.co/IWrWnUD09D#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/Whx1OHroWm
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) May 7, 2025
The India women’s batters took full advantage of a weakened South Africa women’s side, which was without captain Laura Wolvaardt due to an illness.
Without their leader on the field, the Proteas women looked flat and, to some extent, lost under pressure as they allowed the India women to claw their way back into the contest after losing three wickets in the first powerplay.
The South Africans were so flat in the field that they dropped catches and found themselves misfielding on numerous occasions.
Seamer Masabata Klaas finished as pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/51, Nadine de Klerk followed with a decent 2/54 while Nonkululeko Mlaba struggled once again against the Indian women batter as she returned 2/71 in eight overs.
Openers Tazmin Brits and Lara Goodall will get the chase started for South Africa women, while debutant Miane Smit will be waiting to get her first run in the green and gold as she is set to come in at number four.
South Africa needs to win the match to keep their hopes of making Sunday’s final alive.
