Sharma slays Proteas Women

Deepti Sharma produced a Player of the Match performance with a five-wicket haul to help India secure a 14-run victory over the Proteas Women in the fourth T20 International (T20I) in Johannesburg on Saturday. The home side now leads the five-match series 3-1.

Sharma returned impressive figures of 5/19 to help restrict the Proteas to 171/9 after India posted a commanding 185/5, featuring key contributions from Jemimah Rodrigues (43) and Sharma (36*).

South Africa won the toss and elected to field first. India lost an early wicket when Eliz-Mari Marx (2/28) had Shafali Verma (9) caught in the deep. The hosts struck again late in the PowerPlay, with Tumi Sekhukhune (1/45) removing Anushka Sharma (27) to reduce India to 47/2 after six overs.

India responded well to the early setbacks, as the experienced pair of Rodrigues (43) and Harmanpreet Kaur (22) combined for a crucial 55-run stand to take the tourists past the 100-run mark in the 11th over, with the score on 102/2.

South Africa’s breakthrough eventually came through Kayla Reyneke (2/10), who removed Rodrigues. Marx soon claimed her second wicket of the evening, trapping Bharti Fulmali (2) LBW, before Reyneke found the edge of Kaur in the following over to leave India on 122/5 after 14 overs.

Sharma and Richa Ghosh (34*) then added an important unbeaten 65-run partnership for the sixth wicket to guide India to a competitive 185/5 in their allotted 20 overs.

In reply, the Proteas Women made another strong start through openers Laura Wolvaardt (18) and Suné Luus (40), racing to 32/0 by the third over before Kranti Gaud (1/33) bowled the in-form Wolvaardt.

Following her dismissal, Luus combined with Tazmin Brits (30) to take the score to 76/1 before her stumps were rearranged by Sharma in the ninth over.

In their attempt to keep up with the required run rate, the Proteas lost wickets at regular intervals, with Shree Charani (1/28), Kashvee Gautam (1/26) and Verma (1/26) providing strong support to Sharma to seal victory for the visitors, despite Marx’s (21*) late resistance.

The fifth and final T20I will take place on Monday at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

Squad

Laura Wolvaardt (captain, Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), *Tebogo Macheke (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kayla Reyneke (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions) and Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions).

*Uncapped

Fixtures and Results

Friday, 17 April @ 6pm - Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, Durban - SA won by six wickets

Sunday, 19 April @ 2pm - Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, Durban - SA won by eight wickets

Wednesday, 22 April @ 6pm - DP World Wanderers, Johannesburg - SA won by nine wickets

Saturday, 25 April @ 6pm - DP World Wanderers, Johannesburg - India won by 14 runs

Monday, 27 April @ 2pm - Willowmoore Park, Benoni