3rd T20I: Indian women look to level series against South Africa

The Indian women's cricket team will look to end their prolonged home series against South Africa on a high on Tuesday when they face each other in the third and final T20I at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. 

India's eye will be on levelling the T20I series after South Africa took a 1-0 series lead, having won the first match. With the second one getting washed out due to rain, India's best chance lie with levelling the series. 

South Africa came to India on a multi-format tour in June and lost the ODI series 0-3 in Bengaluru, followed by a 10-wicket loss in the one-off Test in Chennai. 

They will be determined to end the difficult tour on a high by winning the third T20I and clinching the series 2-0. 

SA batters look strong 

The main strength of the South Africa in this series has been their batters stepping up with the willow in hand. 

They amassed 189 in the first T20I and managed to get 177 in the second T20I before rain played spoilsport. 

South Africa's top order seem to be in good form with opener Tazmin Brits in sublime touch, scoring 81 (56b, 10x4s, 3x6s) and 52 (39b, 6x4s, 1x6) in both matches respectively. 

She was ably supported by her teammates with fellow opener and captain Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch all contributing well over two matches. 

Shefali and Smriti key for India

For Indians, their opening pair remain the biggest strength. Shefali Verma and Smriti Mandhana complement one another extremely well and as seen from the ODI and the one off Test, if these two can bat 10-12 overs, they take the game away from the oppositions.

Smriti has been in sublime touch throughout the series, scoring two centuries and a 90 in the three-match ODI series. She followed that up with an extraordinary 149 in the Test match. 

Shefali, after her brilliant double century in the Test, couldn't get going in the first T20I but would no doubts be raring to go in the game tomorrow. 

Other Indian batters too have contributed well with useful cameos from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues who scored 53 (30b, 7x4s, 1x6) in the first T20I. 

In the bowling department, Pooja Vastrakar looks sharp with the white cherry in hand, having picked up two wickets each in the last two matches. 

Will rain play spoilsport?

In what has become quite an unusual scenario in Chennai, regular rain spells in the monsoon have become the new norm. 

With a 30-40% chance of rain on Tuesday, one could only hope and pray for full quota of 40 overs without any rain interruptions.