Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp delivered solid half-centuries, setting up a formidable total of 189 for four. The bowlers then produced an all-ound effort in the Proteas win.
South Africa’s innings was kickstarted by a solid partnership between Brits and skipper Wolvaardt.Brits scored an impressive 81 off 56 balls, hitting 10 fours and three sixes. Kapp contributed significantly with a rapid 57 off 33 balls. Despite a cautious start, they reached 50 in 43 balls.
India’s poor fielding contributed to their woes as Wolvaardt, Kapp, and Brits were all dropped at various stages of the innings.
Brits and Kapp’s partnership, alongside India’s missed fielding opportunities, propelled South Africa to post their highest total in T20Is against India. Wolvaardt was dropped in the 4th over, Kapp in the 10th, and Brits in the 16th over.
The lack of bounce on the pitch allowed the South African batters to utilize sweep shots effectively.
In response, the Indian openers got off to a strong start. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana built a 56-run stand in just 32 balls, with Verma scoring 18 off 14 balls before falling to Ayabonga Khaka in the sixth over.
Mandhana continued to anchor the innings, scoring 46 off 30 balls. She was later joined by Dayalan Hemalatha, who scored 14 off 17 balls.
Together, they put on a 31-run partnership before Mandhana was dismissed by Chloe Tryon in the 10th over, leaving India at 87 for three.
Hemalatha was cleaned up by Nadine de Klerk in the following over. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues then took the attacking route, putting up a 50-run stand in 38 deliveries, reducing the equation to 47 runs needed off 18 balls. Rodrigues showcased a brilliant performance, bringing up her 11th T20I half-century in just 29 deliveries.
India needed 21 runs off the final six balls, but Nonkululeko Mlaba bowled a tight over, conceding only eight runs to seal the victory for South Africa.
There were some injury concerns during the match as well. Richa Ghosh was replaced by S Sajana as a concussion substitute after Ghosh fell face first while attempting to take a catch. Brits was also stretchered off the ground with severe cramps.
India’s bowlers Pooja and Radha did manage to take two wickets each, with Pooja maintaining decent economy.
However, their efforts were overshadowed by their team’s fielding lapses and the resilient batting display by South Africa.
India’s fightback was commendable, yet South Africa’s overall stronger execution and India’s fielding errors ultimately determined the outcome of the match.