Jemimah Rodrigues played a blinder of an innings to register her second ODI century and guide India Women to an imposing 337/9 in their Servo Cup Women's Tri-Nation Series match against South Africa Women at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo, on Wednesday. South Africa needs 338 runs to win.
The toss went South Africa's way, and Chloe Tryon, the South African captain, asked India to bat first. Her new ball bowlers were a trifle expensive, but they took early wickets, which made India wobble. However, things changed after Jemimah Rodrigues arrived at the crease.
Rodrigues smashed 15 fours and a single six on her way to 123 from 101 deliveries. This is her highest score in ODIs. Her previous best was 102, which came against Ireland in January this year. She faced 89 balls to reach her second ODI century.
The 24-year-old played around the wicket in her fluent knock. The middle-order batter swept prodigiously, and most of her boundaries against the spinners were from it. Fittingly, Rodrigues unfurled the sweep for a single to register the milestone.
This is the second time she has passed the 100-run mark this year. It is her second big score against South Africa. Rodrigues' previous best against South Africa was in 2024, when she contributed 55 runs to India's victory over them.
Rodrigues' impressive innings ended when she tried to hoick a slower ball from Masabata Klaas to the boundary. She didn't time it well and top-edged it to Sune Luus, stationed at point. The 24-year-old had stitched an outstanding 122-run fifth-wicket partnership with Deepti Sharma.
"They called her a misfit, dropped her, moved her down —
— s. (jemi fan bot) (@daintyydreamer) May 7, 2025
But today, she rose, wore fire like a crown.
A hundred not just in numbers, but proof she survived —
Jemimah Rodrigues, reborn and alive."❤️🫶🏻pic.twitter.com/TfF1gvNePc
The pair contributed almost the same number of runs to their potentially match-winning stand. Sharma reached her 13th ODI half-century in 62 balls. The 27-year-old, who played second fiddle to Rodrigues' brisk knock, took control of the innings in the last five overs. Sharma scythed South Africa's bowlers on her way to 93 off 84 deliveries. This is her highest ODI score.
Rodrigues and Sharma's partnership succeeded Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana's 88-run fourth-wicket stand that stabilised India's innings. The duo joined forces when India was on 50/3 after a brisk but wicket-filled powerplay. Mandhana came out guns blazing but switched to the anchor role after Rodrigues' arrival. The 28-year-old compiled her 31st ODI half-century in 61 balls.
Sadly, Mandhana couldn't kick on. She fell two balls after reaching her milestone. She tried to launch a Chloe Tryon delivery over the boundary, but holed out to Nadine de Klerk at deep mid-wicket.
Mandhana and Rodrigues' partnership came at a crucial moment. India hadn't started particularly well, they lost three wickets in the powerplay. India was on 50/3 after 6.6 overs, with Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, and Harmanpreet Kaur back in the hutch.
South Africa did not help their cause with subpar fielding in moments. Their bowling attack also failed to consistently hit good areas with the ball. They offered numerous boundary balls, and India's batters cashed in.
Nadine de Klerk was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa. She took two wickets for 54 runs in nine overs. Masabata Klaas and Nonkululeko Mlaba also bagged s brace of wickets each, but were more expensive than the pacer. Chloe Tryon and Annerie Dercksen finished with a single wicket each.
SOUTH AFRICA: Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Miane Smit, Lara Goodall, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon (capt), Nondumiso Shangase
INDIA: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Amanjot Kaur, Shuchi Upadhyay.