India and South Africa to do battle in ICC Women’s Championship series

Mithali Raj

Dubai, Nov 19 (IANS) India will host South Africa in round two of the ICC Women's Championship in a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series starting on Monday in Bengaluru.

India, currently sixth in the team standings after losing their first round clash to Australia 1-2, are likely to bank upon their experienced captain Mithali Raj, who is ranked number one in the ICC women's batting rankings.

Also expected to be seen in action is seventh-placed Harmanpreet Kaur. South Africa, meanwhile, can call upon three top batswomen Marizanne Kapp, Trisha Chetty and Mignon du Preez.

In the rankings for bowlers, India's medium pace bowler Jhulan Goswami, ranked third, will be aiming to reduce the 22-point deficit with second-placed Jenny Gunn of England. In the absence of their highest-ranked bowler Shibnam Ismail, South Africa will look to Sunette Loubser (13th) and Dane van Niekerk (15th).

The three ODI matches will take place in Bengaluru Nov 24, 26 and 28 as part of the seven-round championship, which is a qualifying tournament for the World Cup 2017.