A magnificent unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 65 runs between Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh helped India Women post a competitive 185 for five from their 20 overs against their South African counterparts on a chilly Johannesburg evening in the fourth Women’s T20 International at the DP World Wanderers on Saturday.
South Africa opted to field first after winning the toss — a decision that seemed to be paying dividends early on, as seamer Eliz-Mari Marx(4-0-28-2), who recently lost her national contract, made an immediate impact. She drew first blood in just the third over, removing the dangerous Shafali Verma for a scratchy 9 off 9 balls — a top-edged six followed swiftly by a top-edged catch to Annerie Dercksen on the square leg boundary — a cruel but fitting end to a cameo that promised more than it delivered.
Anushka Sharma had looked bright in the powerplay, cracking 27 off 18 balls at a strike rate of 150, before Tumi Sekhukhune (4-0-45-1) found the edge and Tazmin Brits took a brilliant catch at midwicket to leave India at 47 for two at the end of the sixth over.
Enter Jemimah Rodrigues, who lit up the Wanderers with a dazzling 43 off 29 balls, including four fours and two sixes. Her 11th over cameo — four boundaries and two maximums off Nonkululeko Mlaba (4-0-45-0) in a single over — was the highlight of the Indian innings, shifting the momentum dramatically. But Kayla Reyneke (2-0-10-2), introduced into the attack, bowled her with a clever quicker delivery to end that counter-attack, before Harmanpreet Kaur — who had contributed a brisk 22 off 16 — walked herself after a faint edge off Reyneke went undetected by the umpire, a gesture of sportsmanship that drew admiration from the crowd. At 120for five in the 14th over, India were staring down the barrel.
But Sharma and Ghosh had other ideas entirely. Deepti Sharma was the anchor, a composed and elegant 36 not out off 26 balls, while Richa Ghosh played the aggressor to perfection — an absolutely brutal 34 not out from just 18 balls, including five fours and a six in the final over off Sekhukhune that underlined her class.
Together they added precious 65 runs in just over five overs, turning what could have been a below-par 150 into a fighting 185. Whether that total is enough to halt the Proteas juggernaut remains the big question.
South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Sune Luus, Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Kayla Reyneke, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Eliz-Marie Marx, Tumi Sekhukhune, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba.
India: Shafali Verma, Amita Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh.