India Women Clinch Series After Thrilling Final ODI Win

The Indian women's cricket team secured a hard-fought series victory today, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, against a resilient South African side in the final ODI at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. A nail-biting finish saw India chase down a target of 245 with just two wickets and three balls to spare, sending the home crowd into raptures. This series win marks a significant achievement for the team as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.

Smriti Mandhana's Century Leads India's Charge

Smriti Mandhana was the star of the show, anchoring the Indian innings with a magnificent century. Her 112 off 120 balls, studded with 14 boundaries and two towering sixes, was a masterclass in controlled aggression. She built crucial partnerships with both Jemimah Rodrigues (35) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (42), ensuring India remained in the hunt despite a few nervy moments. Mandhana's strike rate of 93.33 showcased her ability to accelerate when needed. "It feels amazing to contribute to the team's victory," Mandhana said after the match. "The pitch was challenging, but I just focused on building partnerships and staying till the end."

South Africa, after winning the toss and electing to bat, posted a competitive total of 244/7 in their allotted 50 overs. Opener Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with a well-compiled 85, while Sune Luus contributed a valuable 60 in the middle order. Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami was the pick of the Indian bowlers, bagging 3 wickets for 42 runs in her 10 overs. Rajeshwari Gayakwad also chipped in with two crucial wickets, maintaining tight control during the middle overs.

The Indian chase got off to a shaky start, losing both openers early. However, Mandhana and Rodrigues steadied the ship with a solid 75-run partnership. After Rodrigues' dismissal, captain Harmanpreet Kaur joined Mandhana, and the duo added another 68 runs, taking India closer to the target. Kaur's aggressive approach, including three sixes, put pressure back on the South African bowlers. reportersays The turning point came in the 45th over when Mandhana was dismissed, leaving India needing 35 runs off the last five overs.

Nail-Biting Finish: India Holds Nerve

With Mandhana back in the pavilion, the onus was on the lower middle order to see India through. Deepti Sharma (18*) and Pooja Vastrakar (15) kept their cool under pressure, rotating the strike and finding crucial boundaries. The equation came down to 6 runs needed off the last over. A boundary by Vastrakar off the third ball eased the pressure, and Sharma eventually hit the winning runs, sparking wild celebrations in the Indian dressing room.

The South African bowlers, led by Shabnim Ismail (2/38) and Ayabonga Khaka (2/45), bowled their hearts out, but failed to contain the Indian batting lineup in the crucial stages. Their fielding also let them down, with a couple of dropped catches proving costly. "We fought hard, but India played better cricket today," said South African captain Sune Luus. "We need to learn from our mistakes and come back stronger in the next series."

Series Implications and Upcoming Schedule

With this victory, India clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1. The win provides a significant boost to their confidence ahead of the upcoming World Cup. The team will now focus on fine-tuning their preparations and working on areas that need improvement. India next plays a T20 series against New Zealand, providing another opportunity to test their skills and combinations. Check Live Cricket Scores & Commentary for updates. You can find more Sports News on our website.