India Women had their chances but failed to capitalize on them as they slumped to a six-wicket defeat in the T20I series opener against South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban on Friday, April 18. Poor fielding and ineffective batting in the death overs cost India the game as their preparations for the T20 World Cup got off to a disappointing start.
After Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana were asked to bat first, 46 runs in five overs laid a strong platform for India in the power play. Shafali capitalized on her luck after being dropped by Sune Luus and went on to make a quickfire 34 off 20 balls. She was the aggressor in the partnership as Mandhana hit a six but struggled for fluency and managed a scrappy 13 before being dismissed by Ayobonga Khaka.
South Africa vs India Women’s 1st T20I Update | Scorecard
INDIA IS ON FIRE
However, once Tumi Sekhukhune got rid of Shafali, India lost a fair amount of momentum. Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues then steadied the innings and got off to a cautious start before kicking into gear. The duo added 39 runs in three overs between the 11th and 13th to get India back on track briefly, but the innings lost direction after that.
With Harmanpreet and Jemimah well set and eight wickets in hand, India looked set for a total of almost 180. Instead, they managed just 157 for 7, losing five wickets for just 39 runs in the last six overs.
Sekhukhune broke the 71-run stand by dismissing Jemimah for 36 off 29 balls. Since then, Harmanpreet has remained unbeaten but failed to reach a half-century despite batting 14 overs. She scored 47 off 33 balls, including five fours and a six.
For the Proteas, Khaka was an outstanding bowler, finishing with impressive figures of 4-0-16-2.
WOLVAARDT STEADIES SOUTH AFRICA CHASE
India got off to a good start after Shreyanka Patil bowled Sune Luus with a delivery that spun enough to break the stumps. Tazmin Brits struggled to get going, managing 10 off 13 balls before being dismissed by Shree Charani, but not before she was part of a useful 48-run stand with skipper Laura Wolvaardt looking in complete control.
Wolvaardt brought up her half-century from 36 balls and, along with Annerie Dercksen, ensured South Africa reduced the target to 44 off 42 balls, almost territory with the ball. The pair added 52 runs for the third wicket to put the Proteas firmly in command of the chase.
DROP CATCH COST INDIA
Just when the game seemed to be slipping away from India, Shreyanka came through again and removed the dangerous Wolvaardt who made 51 off 39 balls. From there, India managed to hold on and push the contest deep, but poor fielding proved costly in the end.
In the 18th over, Renuka Singh dropped a straight catch at short third man, denying Shreyanka her third wicket. Dercksen took advantage of the reprieve to remain unbeaten, scoring 44 off 34 balls. In the penultimate over, Anushka Sharma also dropped Chloe Tryon in the deep.
It was Tryon who finally made India pay. Needing six runs off the last ball, she smashed Deepti Sharma over the cow corner for a six to seal the win for South Africa.
India will have to go back to the drawing board when they face the Proteas again at the same venue in Durban on Sunday, April 19.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
18 Apr 2026 01:31 IST
