South Africa Fights Back as Sune Luus Scores Century; Sneh Rana Shines with 8/77

Top-order batter Sune Luus scored a brilliant century, helping South Africa reach 232 for two in their second innings after India enforced a follow-on. This came after spinner Sneh Rana’s outstanding eight-wicket haul in South Africa’s first innings on Day 3 of the one-off women’s Test on Sunday.

South Africa still trails India by 105 runs, having been bowled out for 266 in their first innings while chasing India’s massive total of 603 for six. Off-spinner Sneh Rana’s impressive figures of eight for 77 played a crucial role in their collapse.

In their second innings, South Africa showed resilience through Luus, who scored 109 runs off 203 balls with 18 boundaries, and skipper Laura Wolvaardt, who is unbeaten on 93 from 252 balls, including 12 fours.

Starting the day at 236 for four, Marizanne Kapp (74) and Nadine de Klerk (39) couldn’t maintain their momentum, with Kapp falling early to Rana. This triggered a collapse, and South Africa lost their remaining wickets for just 17 more runs. Rana and Deepti Sharma wrapped up the innings efficiently.

Rana’s figures are the second-best in a Women’s Test innings for India, only behind Neetu David’s eight for 53 against England in 1995. Overall, Rana’s performance ranks third-best in Women’s Test cricket, with Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner’s eight for 66 being the second-best.

Trailing by 337 runs, India enforced the follow-on, and South Africa faced an early setback when Anneke Bosch was trapped leg-before by Deepti Sharma for nine, with just 16 runs on the board. It seemed like the end was near for South Africa.

However, Wolvaardt and Luus formed a strong partnership, putting India on the backfoot. By lunch, South Africa was 29 for one, and they continued to bat without losing any more wickets until the tea break, reaching 124 for one.

In the post-tea session, their partnership surpassed 138 runs, setting a new record for the highest stand for South Africa against India in Test cricket. Luus also reached her maiden Test century, becoming only the second South African to score a Test hundred against India, after Mignon du Preez’s 102 in Mysore in 2014.

Eventually, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur broke the 190-run partnership by dismissing Luus when the score was 206 for two. Kapp then joined Wolvaardt, and they batted out the rest of the day. India took the new ball three overs before stumps but couldn’t make any breakthroughs.