South Africa Women cruised past India Women by 9 wickets in the 3rd T20I of the five match series at the Wanderers. After being invited to bat first, India Women posted a huge total of 192/4 in 20 overs. Shafali Verma played a blazing knock of 64 runs off 46 balls, while Harmanpreet Kaur scored a quickfire 66 off 38 balls. Nonkululeko Mlaba (2/31 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler for South Africa Women, while Nadine de Klerk also picked up one wicket.
In the chase, Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus gave South Africa Women a flying start, adding 183 runs for the first wicket in just 15.2 overs. When Shreyanka Patil got rid of Sune Luus, the match was already close to being finished. Luus scored 64 runs off 42 balls. Tazmin Brits then came in to complete the formalities alongside Wolvaardt.
Laura Wolvaardt scored a superb, blazing century and remained unbeaten on 115 till the end. With this win, South Africa Women took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
India Post Strong Total but Fall Short
India, asked to bat first, produced their highest total against South Africa in T20Is. They built their innings well, with three partnerships crossing fifty runs. Shafali Verma set the tone early.
Although Shafali started slowly with 21 runs off 24 balls and faced tough short-pitched bowling, she later accelerated and recorded her best score in seven innings. After her dismissal, Harmanpreet Kaur carried forward the momentum. She smashed 66 runs off 38 balls and kept India in a strong position.
Despite this effort, India’s total was not enough once Wolvaardt began her innings.
Wolvaardt Continues Golden Form
Wolvaardt remained in outstanding form throughout the series. This innings was her joint-highest T20I score. It also marked her fifth consecutive fifty-plus score in international cricket and her third half-century of the series.
She registered both her and South Africa’s fastest fifty and hundred in T20Is. Her partnership with Luus became South Africa’s second-highest opening stand. This performance has almost confirmed both players as the team’s opening pair for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
India Start Well but Lose Momentum
India began strongly, continuing a pattern seen throughout the series. Shafali led the charge, and for the first time in the series, India did not lose a wicket during the powerplay. They scored 51 runs in six overs, slightly below expectations but still a solid base.
However, problems returned soon after. Spinner Nonkululekho Mlaba changed the game. She bowled a tight first over and then struck twice in consecutive balls in her next. Smriti Mandhana was caught at deep mid-wicket, while Jemimah Rodrigues got out for a first-ball duck. India slipped to 68 for 2 after nine overs, creating pressure in the middle phase.
Harmanpreet’s Late Assault Lifts India
Harmanpreet Kaur stepped up at the right moment. She scored her first T20I fifty against South Africa and helped India reach their best total of the series.
She shared a 73-run partnership with Shafali for the second wicket. After Shafali’s dismissal, Harmanpreet took charge and attacked the bowlers in the final overs. She hit key boundaries, including a straight four to reach her fifty.
In the last over, she played aggressively. She smashed a six over mid-wicket and followed it with another six over fine leg. Along with Richa Ghosh, she added 51 runs in just 26 balls to give India a strong finish.
Wolvaardt Dominates the Chase
Wolvaardt showed her intent from the very first ball. She attacked Renuka Singh and scored multiple boundaries early in the innings. She continued her aggressive approach against all bowlers.
India dropped her twice — once on 31 and again on 85 — and she made them pay heavily. She reached her fifty quickly and continued scoring at a high rate.
Her innings was heavily focused on the leg side, where she scored 84 of her 115 runs, including all her sixes. She eventually reached her century with a powerful shot through long-on. Though she got out near the end, South Africa needed just 11 more runs and comfortably finished the chase.
Injury Concerns Add to India’s Worries
India may now face injury concerns ahead of the remaining matches. Amanjot Kaur was already ruled out due to a back injury.
During the game, Arundhati Reddy also appeared to suffer a side strain. She bowled a few overs but looked uncomfortable later and required on-field treatment. Although she completed her over, she conceded extra runs and could not continue afterward.
Uma Chetry initially replaced her on the field, and later Anushka Sharma took over fielding duties.
South Africa pulled off their highest successful run chase in T20 Internationals and clinched the five-match series against India with two games still left. The team chased down 193 comfortably, thanks to a brilliant knock from captain Laura Wolvaardt.
Wolvaardt scored her third T20I century and her fastest one, reaching the milestone in just 47 balls. She built a massive 183-run opening partnership with Sune Luus, who played a steady supporting role with 64 runs off 42 balls. Their dominance ensured South Africa won the match with 21 balls remaining.
With this win, South Africa completed a clean sweep of their home series this season, beating Ireland, Pakistan, and now India. This strong run gives them confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup in June. Stay tuned with JUSZNEWS for regular updates!