<p>Mithali Raj played a captain's knock by hitting a well-crafted 79 not out as India struggled to 188 all out against South Africa in the fifth and final women's ODI here on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Put into bat, Mithali steered India's innings after India lost three early wickets with the scoreboard reading 53 in the 13th over.</p>.<p>Together with Harmanpreet Kaur (30), who retired hurt following cramps, Mithali shared 71 runs for the fourth wicket before the former left the ground in the 31st over.</p>.<p>India lost opener Priya Punia (18) early before India's star batswoman of the series Punam Raut (10) and Smriti Mandhana (18) departed in successive overs.</p>.<p>Dayalan Hemalatha (2) and Sushma Verma (0) failed to provide the much-needed support to Mithali as the veteran Indian batter brought up her second fifty of the series and 55th overall in 78 balls in the 38th over.</p>.<p>Jhulan Goswami (5) and Monica Patel (9) too didn't trouble the scorers much as Mithali kept India's innings going single-handedly.</p>.<p>Debutant Challuru Prathyusha (2) also failed to make a mark as India slumped to 176 for eight by the end of the 47th over.</p>.<p> Mithali was left stranded at one hand as India kept on wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out in 49.3 overs.</p>.<p> Mithali's unbeaten 104-ball knock was studded with eight boundaries and one hit over the fence.</p>.<p>Medium-pacer Nadine de Klerk was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with figures of three for 35.</p>.<p>Off-spinner Nondumiso Shangase (2/43), Marizanne Kapp (1/25) and Tumi Sekhukhune (2/26) also chipped in with useful contributions to restrict the Indians under the 200-run mark.</p>.<p>South Africa had already pocketed the five-match series with victory in the fourth ODI.</p>
<p>Mithali Raj played a captain's knock by hitting a well-crafted 79 not out as India struggled to 188 all out against South Africa in the fifth and final women's ODI here on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Put into bat, Mithali steered India's innings after India lost three early wickets with the scoreboard reading 53 in the 13th over.</p>.<p>Together with Harmanpreet Kaur (30), who retired hurt following cramps, Mithali shared 71 runs for the fourth wicket before the former left the ground in the 31st over.</p>.<p>India lost opener Priya Punia (18) early before India's star batswoman of the series Punam Raut (10) and Smriti Mandhana (18) departed in successive overs.</p>.<p>Dayalan Hemalatha (2) and Sushma Verma (0) failed to provide the much-needed support to Mithali as the veteran Indian batter brought up her second fifty of the series and 55th overall in 78 balls in the 38th over.</p>.<p>Jhulan Goswami (5) and Monica Patel (9) too didn't trouble the scorers much as Mithali kept India's innings going single-handedly.</p>.<p>Debutant Challuru Prathyusha (2) also failed to make a mark as India slumped to 176 for eight by the end of the 47th over.</p>.<p> Mithali was left stranded at one hand as India kept on wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out in 49.3 overs.</p>.<p> Mithali's unbeaten 104-ball knock was studded with eight boundaries and one hit over the fence.</p>.<p>Medium-pacer Nadine de Klerk was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with figures of three for 35.</p>.<p>Off-spinner Nondumiso Shangase (2/43), Marizanne Kapp (1/25) and Tumi Sekhukhune (2/26) also chipped in with useful contributions to restrict the Indians under the 200-run mark.</p>.<p>South Africa had already pocketed the five-match series with victory in the fourth ODI.</p>