[Watch] Dream start for India as Laura Wolvaardt left stunned by Renuka Singh Thakur's inswinger in INDW vs SAW 1st ODI

Fast bowler Renuka Singh Thakur once again got India off to a dream start with the ball as she sent back South Africa skipper and star batter Laura Wolvaardt with an absolute beauty in the first ODI between the two sides in Bengaluru on Sunday, June 16. Wolvaardt departed for just four runs off four balls.

Thakur is known to cause problems for the opposition with the new ball and the Women in Blue couldn't have asked for a better start to their defense of 266. Wolvaardt tried to play a good-length delivery on the up, but the ball pitched and nipped back to go through the gap between her bat and pad and hit the top of the off-stump.

Here's a video of the dismissal:

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Laura Wolvaardt could only look back in disbelief as she began to trudge back to the pavilion. Renuka Singh Thakur and the other Indian players were ecstatic and understandably so given how crucial Wolvaardt was to South Africa's chances.

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India keep South African batters in check after a competitive first innings score

A fantastic century from Smriti Mandhana (117) helped the Women in Blue post a competitive total of 265/8 in 50 overs on what seemed to be a sluggish pitch in Bengaluru. The idea would have been to keep things tight with the ball and Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar delivered the control the hosts were looking for.

Thakur drew first blood by sending back Wolvaardt and then Vastrakar backed it up by trapping Anneke Bosch right in front for just 5(13). Between them, the two pacers have bowled eight overs, giving away just 26 runs with a couple of wickets. India will now hope that their spinners come into play and spin a web around the South African batters, preventing big partnerships by striking at regular intervals.

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