India eye whitewash while South Africa look to finish on a high

India’s session had an air of calmness around it. The players were going through their drills in a relaxed manner. Generally, players bat in pairs in a net session, giving a rough idea about where they are likely to bat.

If the hosts’ practice session is anything to go by, Dayalan Hemalatha could get a go in the lower-middle order. India have sealed the series and we could be in for some changes, one of which could be this. What will be interesting to see is whom she replaces.

Harmanpreet Kaur, the vice-captain, and Deepti Sharma, the off-spinning allrounder had batted before Hemalatha did. Either of them missing out is unlikely.

During the successful run-chase in the second ODI, captain Mithali Raj crossed 3,000 runs in ODI chases. A small ceremony was conducted after the practice session on Sunday (October 13).

The relaxed session then gave way to a more intense one when the Proteas took over. Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt batted first and, in the nets next to them, Mignon du Preez and Trisha Chetty had a lengthy go. Batting did come good for the tourists on Friday (October 11) but their bowling let them down.

Lara Goodall, the left-hand batter, who changed the momentum in South Africa’s favour with the bat in the second ODI, was seen getting tips from assistant coach, Salieg Nackerdien. It seemed to be more about her bat swing, especially against spin, against whom she found the going tough initially. Even during the nets, she had some missed attempts at slogging the spinners.

Ayabonga Khaka, who returned with 3/69 in the second game, underwent a bowling drill to perhaps work on the lines she bowls. Her first spell, where she was taken for 33 in three overs, gave away the early advantage to the hosts. Shabnim Ismail was helping her out during the drill.

Whether South Africa have been successful in ironing out those shortcomings will be only known on Monday (October 14). But that they are high on spirits is undeniable, given that they were having fun throughout their time at practise on Sunday.

Will South Africa finish the ODI series on a high, like they did with the T20Is? Or will the Indian juggernaut roll on to whitewash the tourists?

Squads:

India: Mithali Raj (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (vc), Punam Raut, Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Mansi Joshi, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav, D Hemalatha, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Priya Punia

South Africa: Sune Luus (c), Tasmin Brits, Trisha Chetty (wk), Nadine de Klerk, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Lara Goodall, Marizanne Kapp, Lizelle Lee, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Mignon du Preez, Laura Wolvaardt