A devastating display of power hitting by the Proteas Women top order propelled South Africa to a scintillating first tour win over India, by 12 runs in the first T20I of the three match IDFC First Bank series, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, 5 July, 2024.
After Indian Captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to field first, the visitors’ opening pair of Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits set about their win with unquestionable intent, laying a solid foundation with a calculated yet aggressive approach.
Brits struggled early on, but an audacious Wolvaardt had a measure the bowling from ball one, and quickly ramped up the South African charge, sending Renuka Singh deliveries to the boundary for three fours and a six in the opening two overs of the Indian opening bowlers’ first spell.
India had chances early but a spilled catch by substitute fielder Shreyanka Patil in the fourth over gave early indications of the lean of the match, and as the win probability indicator switched in favour of the visitors, the expansive SA openers piled on the pressure.
Wolvaardt (33) and Brits put on a 50-run partnership before Laura had her wicket dislodged by the clever bowling of Radha Yadav in the eighth over, but there was little relief for the hosts, with Brits joined by allrounder Marizanne Kapp playing up the order as a batter.
Their combination of quick singles, excellent boundaries and intelligent running between the wickets saw them both bring up thrilling half centuries and an exciting 96-run partnership before Kapp (57) was caught by Asha Sobhana off the bowling of Yadav.
With South Africa on 146/2 with 21 balls remaining in their innings Brits, put her bat into it and, along with Chloe Tryon, they turned the last three overs into a display of cricketing fireworks.
Both players rotated the strike efficiently and capitalised on loose deliveries. They scored a quick-fire 38 runs before Tryon (12) was sent back to the dugout off the bowling of Pooja Vastrakar.
The mainstay the SA innings, Brits (81) played one of the best innings seen of her, eventually dismissed off the final ball of the innings, striking ten fours and three sixes as she batted the Proteas to a total of 189/4 in their 20 overs, setting India a target of 190 for victory.
The Indian bowlers were under the cosh throughout the SA batting innings, with all the bowlers conceding economy rates around the 10-run order aside from Pooja Vastrakar, who’s two wickets in the final over rewarded her economy for her sides’ best bowling figures of 2/23, the other wicket-taker Radha Yadav contributing with 2/40 in her four overs.
Chasing 190 for victory, India’s opening pair of the in-form Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma played a solid partnership of 56-runs within the power-play, but Verma (18) was sent back to the change room by a brilliant catch by Sinalo Jafta by the bowling of Ayabonga Khaka, who claimed her 50th T20 International wicket in the sixth over.
Mandhana and Dayalan Hemalatha struck a 36-run partnership before Mandhana (46) was dismissed four runs short of half century, again Jafta with a brilliant catch behind the wickets off the bowling of SA taliswoman, Chloe Tryon.
Dealing the Indian chase a stunning setback just one deliver later, Nadine de Klerk snapped up the wicket of Hemalatha (14) at the half-way mark, leaving India on 87/3 with a further 103 runs required for victory.
The Proteas kept a cool head and played their game close to the chest, whilst leaving nothing to chance as they tried to stem the flow of runs from the bat of Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues.
Kaur and Rodrigues put together a well-balanced partnership as they struck some calculated shots in their fight to get India over the line. The calmness of the Proteas bowling unit kept the game swinging in their favour, but with India needing 47 of 18 balls, it was left to who wanted the game more, and Rodrigues was looking dangerous with the bat.
The Proteas worked hard in the last two overs, as they scrambled and dived for every ball, eventually stumping Kaur (35) off the last ball to beat India by 12 runs and claim their first win in the ongoing series. Rodrigues remained unbeaten on (53*).
Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk all took a wicket each as they held their nerves to ensure South Africa achieved their first win.
South Africa takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Both teams will return to the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday for the second T20I, and the match will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
T20 International Series at the M A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai
Fri 5 Jul, 1st T20I: South Africa beat India by 12 runs
Sun 7 Jul (15h30) 2nd T20I: India vs South Africa
Tue 9 July (15h30) 3rd T20I: India vs South Africa
South Africa XI
Laura Wolvaardt (c)
Tazmin Brits
Marizanne Kapp
Anneke Bosch
Chloe Tryon
Nadine de Klerk
Annerie Dercksen
Eliz-Mari Marx
Sinalo Jafta †
Ayabonga Khaka
Nonkululeko Mlaba
India XI
Shafali Verma
Smriti Mandhana
Dayalan Hemalatha
Jemimah Rodrigues
Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
Richa Ghosh †
Deepti Sharma
Pooja Vastrakar
Radha Yadav
Asha Sobhana
Renuka Singh
Main Photo Caption: Proteas Women opening bat and captain, Laura Wolvaardt, pictured in this pre-match photo with India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, set the tone for the first SA win on tour with a sparkling innings of 33 in a partnership of 50 runs with Tazmin Brits. Photo: Cricket South Africa
Photo 2 Caption: Proteas Women’s power-hitting opener Tazmin Brits earned Player of the Match among accolades after signing up her 10th T20I 50 for SA. Photo: Cricket SA
Photo 3 Caption: Marizanne Kapp celebrates her fifth international fifty during South Africa’s win of the first of three T20I’s against India on Friday. Photo: Cricket SA
Photo 4 Caption: South Africa gained confidence in their opening tour win, and will look to drive their advantage home in the second encounter on Sunday. Photo: Cricket SA
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