Laura Wolvaardt scored a brilliant century as South Africa beat India by nine wickets in the third women’s T20I in Johannesburg on Wednesday. After this win, the hosts have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead to clinch the five-match series.
Put in to bat, India scored 192 for 4, their highest-ever total against South Africa, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Shafali Verma scoring 66 and 64 respectively.
India may have thought the total was enough but South Africa captain Wolvaardt had other plans as she slammed 115 off just 53 balls while her opening partner Sune Luus struck an unbeaten 64 off 42 deliveries against a hapless Indian bowling attack. South Africa chased down the target of 193 in 16.3 overs.
Notably, this was the third highest successful run chase in women’s T20I history after West Indies and England had earlier chased down 212 and 198 against Australia and India, respectively.
Wolvaardt continued her great form in the series, scoring 51 and 54 in the first two matches and looked completely in control against the Indian bowlers. She smashed 14 fours and five sixes in a brilliant knock.
Luus, who scored 13 and 57 in the earlier matches, hit six boundaries and two sixes during her innings. The two South African batters put on a huge 183-run partnership for the first wicket before Wolvaardt was dismissed in the 16th over.
India’s experienced allrounder Deepti Sharma had another tough outing with the ball. Still searching for her first wicket in the series, she finished with 0/46 in 3.3 overs.
Earlier, India put up a much better batting performance, scoring 192 for 4. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Shafali Verma both scored half-centuries.
Shafali scored her second fifty in a row, while it was Harmanpreet’s first of the series. She had scored 47 not out and 12 in the previous matches, both of which India lost.
Harmanpreet made a quick 66 off 38 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes.
Shafali played a solid knock of 64 from 46 balls, which included eight fours and two sixes. She first added 68 runs with Smriti Mandhana for the opening wicket and later stitched a 73-run partnership with Harmanpreet for the third wicket. Shafali was dismissed in the 16th over after mistiming a short ball from Mlaba, which was caught by Nadine de Klerk.
Harmanpreet had a few nervy moments early on but later took charge and played some powerful shots. She was run out on the last ball of the innings. Richa Ghosh stayed unbeaten on 18 off just 10 balls.
Mandhana got off to a good start but once again couldn’t convert it into a big score. She and Shafali gave India a strong start, putting on 51 runs without loss in the powerplay.
However, things changed quickly in the ninth over bowled by Mlaba. Mandhana was out for 37 off 25 balls while trying to hit a boundary. On the very next ball, Jemimah Rodrigues was dismissed for zero after failing to control her sweep shot.
In no time, India slipped from a strong position to 68 for 2.
Brief Scores:
India: 192 for 4 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 64, Harmanpreet Kaur 66; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/31).
South Africa: 193 for 1 in 16.3 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 115, Sune Luus 64 not out; Shreyanka Patil 1/30).
