Spinner Sneh Rana grabbed three wickets in a single over for her maiden five-wicket haul in WODIs while Pratika Rawal excelled with a well-crafted fifty to shape India’s 15-run win over South Africa in the Women’s Tri-series here Tuesday.

Rawal continued her rich vein of form with a measured 78 off 91 balls, helping India post a competitive 276 for six after skipper Harmanpreet Kaur elected to bat first under sunny skies.

Rana then snared five wickets as South Africa were bowled out for 261 in 49.2 overs despite Tazmin Brits 109. South Africa lost their last five wickets for 21 runs, giving India their second consecutive victory in the tournament.

The seasoned off-spinner ended with figures of 5/43. She bowled a crucial 48th over, picking three wickets while giving away just three runs.

Chasing a challenging total, South Africa came out all guns blazing, putting India on the backfoot early in the chase.

Brits weathered adverse conditions and cramps to score a gritty 108 off 105 balls. She and captain Laura Wolvaardt stitched together a commanding 140-run opening stand, threatening to take the game away.

But just when the momentum seemed to have shifted decisively in South Africa’s favour, India’s spinners turned the tide.

Seasoned off Deepti Sharma (1/40) broke the stand in the 28th over, trapping Wolvaardt leg-before with one pitched outside off. Soon Rana struck, bowling Lara Goodall (9) to further tilt the game in India’s favour.

Brits went on to register her third ODI century and followed it up with back-to-back boundaries.

However, she retired hurt as she was cramping up, leaving South Africa with two new batters at the crease.

Sensing an opening, skipper Kaur brought on Arundhati Reddy (1/59) and the right-arm pacer delivered immediately, removing debutant Karabo Meso.

Left-arm spinner Shree Charani (1/51) then dismissed the experienced Sune Luus, caught at deep midwicket, as India tightened their grip on the match.

With the required run rate touching nine, Chloe Tyron and Annerie Dercksen tried to accelerate but Rana accounted for both of them and Nadine de Klerk and Brits, who returned in the 48th over, to complete a memorable five wicket-haul.

Earlier, having scored a fluent fifty in the opening game, Rawal struck seven boundaries and a six during her composed knock.

She and Smriti Mandhana (36) gave India a solid start, putting on 83 runs in 18.3 overs for the opening wicket. Mandhana played the supporting role, allowing the younger Rawal to take the lead.

The partnership was eventually broken in the 19th over when Mandhana was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Karabo Meso off Annerie Dercksen’s bowling.

Harleen Deol then contributed a steady 29 off 47 deliveries and added 68 runs with Rawal for the second wicket, before being bowled by left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba.

Rawal, who had brought up her fifth ODI fifty, looked set for a second hundred before Mlaba cleaned her up as well.

Despite the setback, the middle order fired with Harmanpreet Kaur (41), Jemimah Rodrigues (41), and Richa Ghosh (24) all making valuable contributions, pushing India towards a challenging total.

Rajasthan Royals player Vaibhav Suryavanshi during the IPL T20 match against Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday , April 28 2025.
| Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY

For half a century, Samastipur in Bihar was best known for the bomb blast that killed India’s then Railway minister. Now a 14-year-old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, is likely to replace that image. If all goes well, Samastipur will be better known as the birthplace of one of the most remarkable batters to burst into the national consciousness as a teenager.

There is something about six-hitting that immediately focusses attention on a player, guarantees an eager following and fills stadiums. C K Nayudu’s 11 sixes against the MCC hastened India’s Test debut; in the 1970s, a 19-year-old Dilip Vengsarkar hit seven sixes off Bishan Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna in the Irani Trophy to announce his arrival, and on his first tour, Sachin Tendulkar hit Abdul Qadir for four sixes in an over and never looked back.

Say what you want about modern bats, shorter boundaries, fielding and bowling restrictions and good wickets in T20, but for a 14-year-old to hit 11 sixes in a 35-ball century against a top bowling attack is astounding. He mis-hit a couple, which is the modern way, but he also deposited a couple on the roof of the stadium. He has the quality the best have — balance. It enabled him to drive fast bowler Prasidh Krishna over long off in the shot of the day, perhaps of the tournament.

Rajasthan Royals player Vaibhav Suryavanshi during the IPL T20 match against Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday , April 28 2025.
| Photo Credit:
R.V. MOORTHY

Balance, timing, ball sense, confidence (and luck!) — the abstract elements — already exist in Suryavanshi’s game. The rest is a matter of technique and practice. He seems to be a quick learner; uncertainty against the short delivery in earlier games was replaced by an eagerness to smash it out of the ground. Hesitation against spin is making way for decisiveness. Getting down low against spin to cart it over square leg is paying dividends. He played Rashid Khan with respect — but still hit him for a six and a superb straight drive. His jersey flapping in the wind exposing his navel and confirming the puppy fat — all those jalebis, his favourite, must settle somewhere — is a unique sight.

The riches of the game, three formats, wealth, renown, await Suryavanshi. The pressure has just begun. The national selectors must get their timing right. Pick him too early and it might lead to regrets. Too late might snuff out the fire. He has pushed himself into the conversation, though.

The IPL has seen three significant, even great centuries: Brendon McCullum’s 158 in the inaugural match in 2008, Chris Gayle’s 175 in 2013 and now this. The first two were by established players. Each was made by the quintessential IPL batter of his time. Suryavanshi’s century was state-of-the-art batting in the format. Ishant Sharma (199 international matches, 434 wickets) was twice sent into the crowd past midwicket, but he induced one of the many false strokes. By showing the full face of the bat to a slower delivery, Suryavanshi saved himself.

We have to constantly remind ourselves Suryavanshi is only 14, just as in Pakistan all those years ago, we in the media box had to remind ourselves that Tendulkar was only 16. The jokes you now hear were rolled out then. That he was too young to play ODIs because the match went beyond his bed-time; that he needed a letter from his parents to be allowed to fly, and so on. The only new one is that Suryavanshi’s partner needed to cover his eyes every time the cheerleaders went into their act.

Rajasthan Royals player Vaibhav Suryavanshi plays a shot during the IPL T20 cricket match against Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday, April 28, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
R.V. Moorthy

His father Sanjeev has been reported as saying, “The moment I saw him pick up a bat, I realised there is something about him.” He gave up his jewellery business and took to farming to be able to focus on the son’s career. From the age of nine, Suryavanshi was facing fast bowlers with a cricket ball. At 11, he hit a double century in a 40-over match.

Such legends are set to grow. In two directions. Already there is a video online where it appears Suryavanshi might be older than 14. As old as 15, in fact! So perhaps M.S. Dhoni might not be three times his age. It doesn’t matter. Talent met opportunity, as the IPL motto has it. Let’s rejoice; an innings like that is an antidote to cynicism.