Smriti Mandhana cops a blow on head during warmup game, WC participation in doubt

India opening batter Smriti Mandhana had to retire hurt after she took a blow on the head while facing South Africa pacer Shabnam Ismail in the women's world cup warmup game. Notably, she was declared fit by the medical team from the Indian camp. The left-hander kept batting for one and a half overs before deciding to leave the field. The 25-year-old was batting on 12 of 23 balls when she decided to retire out with the team score of 30/0. An update on her participation in the mega event is in doubt.

India and South Africa were playing their first warm-up in a build-up to the main event. Proteas skipper Sune Luus asked the Women In Blue to bat first in a day game at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora. After losing Mandhana, the side lost the wickets of Deepti Sharma (5) and Mithali Raj (0) when the scorecard read 35/2. Yastika Bhatia (58) and the T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur added 84 runs for the third wicket before the former was caught by Chloe Tyron.

Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh (11) was clean bowled by Tyron cheaply. Kaur and Sneh Rana (3) added 67 runs for the fifth wicket. Kaur went on to score a hundred before being dismissed by Ayabonga Khaka at the individual score of 103. The right-hander's wicket meant the Mithali Raj-led side could only reach 244/9.

In reply, the Proteas lost the wicket of opener Tazmin Brits, who scored a 12-ball duck. Brits was caught behind by Ghosh off Meghna Singh. Lara Goodall (18) couldn't do much as she was clean bowled by Rajeshwari Gaikwad. Opener Laura Wolvaardt (75) and skipper Luus (94) added 80 runs for the third wicket before the former was dismissed by Poonam Yadav.

A useful 31 from Marizanne Kapp ensured that their side was in the hunt. However, India women eventually won the game by 2 runs.