South Africa secured an impressive nine-wicket victory over India to seal a series win with two games to spare.
The Proteas won the toss and chose to field first on a pitch that offered high bounce and good pace. While these conditions were expected to favour the fast bowlers, they also allowed batters to play confidently once settled at the crease.
India made full use of the conditions and delivered an outstanding batting performance, finishing on 192/4 in their 20 overs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front with a composed and confident 66 off 38 balls. She paced her innings well and ensured India maintained momentum through the middle and final overs.
Shafali Verma provided strong support with an impressive 64 off 46 balls, playing a key role at the top of the order. India’s innings was built on important partnerships. Harmanpreet and Shafali shared a crucial 73-run stand, stabilising the innings and setting up a strong finish. Earlier, Shafali had also combined effectively with Smriti Mandhana to give India a solid start.
In the final overs, Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh accelerated the scoring, adding 51 runs off just 26 balls. India were particularly dominant in the middle overs, where they scored 92 runs, putting the Proteas under pressure. Overall, they struck 21 fours and 7 sixes in a powerful batting display.
South Africa, however, struggled in the field. There were several dropped catches and misfields, which proved costly and allowed India to extend their total. The field placements were not always effective, leaving gaps that India exploited. In addition, some bowling decisions did not have the desired impact, with spin being introduced at times when India appeared to be more challenged by pace.
One of the few positives for the Proteas with the ball was Nonkululeko Mlaba, who delivered a solid performance and finished with figures of 2/31. A run-out in the final over also provided a late breakthrough, but by then India had already built a strong total.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt faced a challenging time in the field as the team struggled to control India’s scoring. She made up for it by responding remarkably with the bat.
Chasing a target of 193, South Africa came out with confidence and intent. An exceptional start saw them record their best-ever powerplay display in a T20 match. Wolvaardt led from the front, reaching her half-century in just 23 balls with an aggressive and well-controlled innings.
She went on to score a magnificent 115 off 53 balls, hitting 14 fours and 5 sixes. Her innings combined power and precision, keeping the scoreboard moving and putting pressure back on the Indian bowlers.
Wolvaardt was well supported by Sune Luus, who played a calm and steady innings of 56 off 39 balls. Together, they built a remarkable 183-run partnership, which effectively took the game away from India.
India struggled in the field during the chase, with more dropped catches and missed opportunities. Their inability to apply pressure or break the partnership allowed South Africa to remain in complete control throughout the innings.
In the end, the Proteas chased down the target comfortably, losing just one wicket and sealing a convincing victory. It was a match that showcased exceptional batting from both sides, but South Africa’s clinical chase and dominant partnership proved to be the difference.
The win highlighted the Proteas’ strength and resilience as they took an unassailable 3-0 lead.
The 4th T20I will take place on Saturday, 25 April at the Wanderers Stadium at 18:00 SAST.