All-round Pandey helps India level series

Led by a spirited all-round display from Shikha Pandey, India Women beat South Africa Women by six wickets in the second ODI in Bangalore, to draw level in the three-match series. This is also their first win in the ICC Women's Championship.

India won the toss for the second time this series, but chose to bowl this time around, despite there being no change in the venue or playing conditions. Mithali Raj explained the decision saying, "We lost the first game batting first, so we decided to bowl first and see how it goes". The South African openers got the team off to a steady start, reaching 27 for no loss, but Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey struck in quick succession to have the visitors struggling at 63 for 4. However, captain Mignon du Preez, 36 off 71 balls, made sure that there was no collapse and posted a 54-run stand along with Dane van Niekerk, South Africa's bowling hero from the first ODI.

Pandey, who had only picked up one wicket in her previous two ODIs, kept things tight and returned career best figures of 3 for 19 from her ten overs. However, that was not enough to prevent South Africa from reaching 186, their highest score in an ODI against India. Chloe Tryon, South Africa's matchwinner from the previous game, made a whirlwind 49 not out off 34 balls, and injected some life into South Africa's otherwise sluggish innings. South Africa made 40 runs off the last five overs, with Tryon even hitting the first six of the series off the last ball of the innings.

Possibly wary of a top-order collapse like the first ODI, the Indian openers started cautiously, posting 37 runs in 14.1 overs, before Smriti Mandhana was dismissed by van Niekerk, Sunette Loubser taking a sharp catch at short cover. Mithali Raj, who made her second single-digit score of the series, fell soon after but India's chase always seemed to be on track. Pandey, 59 off 56 balls, and Harmanpreet Kaur, 42 not out off 61 balls, played some pleasing shots during their 89-run fourth-wicket stand. Pandey fell with 25 runs still needed, but the win was never in doubt. India did not lose another wicket, and went on to win by six wickets, with 32 balls to spare.

The teams are scheduled to play the third and final ODI of the series on Friday, November 28.