Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen led South Africa to a six-wicket win over India in the opening game of the Women’s T20 series in Durban on Friday.
Put in to bat, India’s lower middle-order failed to find momentum as they settled for a below par total of 157 for 7. Wolvaardt (51 off 39 balls) led the chase for South Africa, with Annerie Dercksen (44 not out off 34) giving the finishing touch as the hosts cruised to the target in 19.1 overs.
India’s bowling performance was listless as they conceded 14 runs in wides. Spinners Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani were effective, but the pacers struggled to find the right line and length.
Shreyanka gave her team a great start by dismissing Sune Luus early. But the pressure was released from the other end. Wolvaardt then took charge, hitting Deepti Sharma for three boundaries in the fourth over and shifting the momentum.
Shreyanka came back and managed to get Wolvaardt out, but by then the game had already slipped away from India’s grasp. Chloe Tryon finished things off in style, smashing a six off Deepti to seal the win.
Earlier, India made a strong start, thanks to Shafali Verma, who played a fluent knock of 34 runs off just 20 balls. Her knock was studded with five boundaries and a six. Shafali had got a reprieve early on when she was dropped at mid-off in the second over.
However, her opening partner Smriti Mandhana couldn’t convert the start as she fell for 13 off 14 balls, caught at cover while trying to drive a delivery from fast bowler Ayabonga Khaka.
India then lost two wickets towards the end of the powerplay, which slowed down their scoring.
After that, Harmanpreet Kaur (47* off 33) and Jemimah Rodrigues (36 off 29) built a steady partnership of 71 runs in the middle overs. They played carefully at first, taking India to 75 for 2 in 10 overs.
The momentum picked up again in the 12th over when Harmanpreet hit Nadine de Klerk for a six and a four. In the next over, Rodrigues joined in by smashing a straight six off Chloe Tryon.
But India couldn’t finish strongly. In the last five overs, they managed only 33 runs and lost three wickets.
Among South Africa’s bowlers, Khaka impressed, while Tumi Sekhukhune picked up important wickets, including that of Shafali and Rodrigues. Spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba was the most effective among the slow bowlers.
The second match of the five-game series will be played at the same venue on Sunday.
Moreover, this series is important for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UK, which is just a couple of months away.
India have won their last four series, but they still have a few areas to improve before the next game.
