IND v SA | Third women's T20I in Surat washed out after another rain-marred day

Having already cost more than half the games on the Vijay Hazare Trophy schedule, the rains are also playing spoiler in the much-awaited India-South Africa women’s T20 series. Both teams were looking at the series as a preparatory exercise ahead of the T20 World Cup - the seventh edition of the event - scheduled to be held in Australia between 21 February and 8 March next year.

India began the series on a winning note, defending their modest total of 130, courtesy of some brilliant off-spin bowling by Deepti Sharma. Deepti’s figures of three for eight from her quota of four overs — including three maidens - led India to an 11-run victory.

Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s T20 skipper and top-scorer in the game, had called for the batswomen to step up the game in the subsequent matches, both of which have now been abandoned without a toss. The fourth and fifth games of the series will also be played at the same venue on October 1 and 4 respectively.