The Women in Blue suffered their third consecutive loss in the series as the hosts took an unassailable 3-0 lead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India finished at 192\/4 riding on some brilliant hitting by Kaur (66) and opener Shafali Verma (64). After a 68-run opening stand with Mandhana, Shafali joined hands with the captain as the duo put up a 73-run stand for the third wicket. However, the target seemed too little for the Proteas, who were powered to a humongous victory courtesy of skipper Laura Wolvaardt\u2019s record 115-run knock. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe were really looking at the score and that wasn't that bad. We would have put a really decent total on the board, but I think we should give credit to the South Africa batters the way they batted, and I think they didn't give us a single chance to come back in the game, even though a few chances we missed out, but I still feel that the way they were batting, I know we didn't have any second answer for them,\u201d Kaur said after the match. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
While the batters did a tremendous job, India\u2019s bowling unit failed to fire as Shreyanka Patil finished as the lone wicket-taker, ending with figures of 1-30 in three overs. Wolvaardt and Sune Luus put up a massive 183-run opening partnership to carry their team to a win and expose the Indian bowling attack\u2019s weaknesses. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kaur admitted that the visitors\u2019 bowling wasn\u2019t \u2018up to the mark\u2019 as she stated, \u201cAnd when we looked at the bowling, I think it didn't go as well as we had hoped it would. I think we were definitely looking a few wickets in the powerplay. I think that will always set the momentum for the game. But unfortunately, as I mentioned, for six overs, they were quite expensive. I think the bowling really really needed to take, I know batting didn't work in the first two games, but bowling in the same way, we are not upto the mark.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With the Women\u2019s T20 World Cup just weeks away, the ODI World Cup-winning skipper believes that the team has a lot to learn and they need to \u2018get better\u2019 in the forthcoming games, having begun their preparations for the marquee global event.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think as a bowling group, we really need to work hard if we have to keep doing well in the future, but I think it's a lot of learning for us and definitely we will learn and try to get better in the next games,\u201d she expressed. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Amid severe criticism regarding her form, Harmanpreet unleashed the beat within and notched up a brilliant 66 off 38 deliveries, hitting seven fours and three sixes and striking at 173.68. Having regained form and confidence, the 37-year-old said that she was happy to contribute to the team \u2018when it was needed the most.\u2019<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAlways good to get a few runs for the team and really contribute when it was needed the most. And I think when you win, you feel okay, you feel happy, but I know I didn't help the team to win the game today, but as a batter, I'm quite happy that we have a strategy and hopefully I can do that,\" she said. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Amid severe criticism regarding her form, Harmanpreet unleashed the beat within and notched up a brilliant 66 off 38 deliveries, hitting seven fours and three sixes and striking at 173.68. Having regained form and confidence, the 37-year-old said that she was happy to contribute to the team \u2018when it was needed the most.\u2019<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Having lost the series, India will now look to avoid a whitewash when the two sides meet again for the fourth T20I on Saturday at the same venue, The Wanderers Stadium. <\/p>\r\n\r\n