Deepti Sharma produced a match-winning all-round performance as India Women claimed their first victory of the series, beating South Africa Women by 14 runs in a thrilling T20 International match at DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday evening.
Sent in to bat after losing the toss for the fourth time in the series, India posted a competitive 185 for five from their 20 overs, before Deepti's remarkable 5-19 — a maiden T20I five-wicket haul — restricted the Proteas to 171 for 9 in response.
India's innings never quite found the fluency expected in its middle overs, losing both Jemimah Rodrigues (43 off 29, 4x4, 2x6) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (22 off 16) in quick succession just as the pair threatened to take the game away from South Africa. At 120 for five in the 14th over, a total below 170 looked likely.
That, however, was before Deepti and Richa Ghosh combined in a match-defining unbeaten 65-run sixth-wicket stand. Deepti contributed a composed 36 not out off 26 balls, while Ghosh blazed 34 not out off just 18 balls, including a comical boundary to end the innings when two fielders got into each other's way chasing a ball that slowly rolled over the rope.
The pair capitalised on an outfield laden with heavy dew that increasingly hampered the South African bowlers, helping India to a challenging 185 for five. Kayla Reyneke and Eliz-Mari Marx were the pick of the Proteas bowlers, each claiming two wickets.
The home side’s chase began at a frenetic pace, with Laura Wolvaardt (18) and Sune Luus putting on 32 runs inside the powerplay. Luus in particular was in imperious form, cracking 40 off just 24 balls before Deepti — introduced in the ninth over — bowled her with a beauty that kept low and skidded through. It was the first of five wickets that would ultimately decide the match.
With Tazmin Brits (30) and a cameo from Reyneke (21) threatening to bring South Africa back into contention, Deepti returned time and again to strangle the chase. She dismissed Annerie Dercksen (9), Reyneke, Ayabonga Khaka (1), and finally Tumi Sekhukhune (4) — stumped brilliantly by Richa Ghosh — to finish with stunning figures of 5 for 19 from her four overs.
A notable highlight was Harmanpreet Kaur walking off having nicked behind off Reyneke when the umpire failed to detect the edge — a moment of true sportsmanship that had the Wanderers crowd buzzing.
Despite some late pyrotechnics from Eliz-Mari Marx (21 not out) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (9 not out), South Africa fell 14 runs short, ending on 171 for 9. India finally have a win on the board, with Deepti Sharma the undisputed star of the show.
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.