Laura Wolvaardt and Ayabonga Khaka were the stars of the show as the Proteas Women recorded a six-wicket victory over India in the first T20 International at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on Friday, 17 April 2026.
Khaka, named Player of the Match, returned impressive figures of three for 16 alongside Tumi Sekhukhune’s two for 27 to restrict India to 157/7. Wolvaardt then anchored the chase with a 39-ball 51, including eight fours, well supported by Annerie Dercksen’s unbeaten 44 off 34 balls, as the home side sealed the win with five balls to spare to take a 1-0 series lead.
South Africa won the toss and elected to field first. India got off to a quick start through openers Shafali Verma (34) and Smriti Mandhana (13), who combined for a 46-run stand before strikes from Sekhukhune and Khaka dismissed both batters to leave the visitors on 48/2 at the end of the powerplay.
Following the loss of their opening pair, India responded with a crucial 71-run partnership between Jemimah Rodrigues (36) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (47 not out), propelling their side to 119/2 by the 15th over.
Sekhukhune returned with another important wicket, this time picking up the scalp of Rodrigues, before Khaka claimed her second of the evening by removing new batter Richa Ghosh (5) to reduce India to 124/4 at the start of the 16th over.
The Proteas continued to strike at regular intervals in the final five overs. Khaka grabbed her third, alongside a wicket for Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/30) and a run-out by Annerie Dercksen and Sinalo Jafta, as South Africa claimed four wickets for 33 runs to limit India to 157/7 after their 20 overs.
In reply, South Africa looked to make a positive start through Suné Luus (13) and Wolvaardt, before Shreyanka Patil (2/26) made the breakthrough by bowling Luus in the second over.
The Proteas quickly recovered through a 48-run stand between Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits (10), taking the home side to 63/1 at the start of the eighth over before Brits was dismissed by Shree Charani (1/26).
With Wolvaardt at the crease, South Africa remained in control of the chase. The skipper then combined with Dercksen for a half-century stand to take the side past the 100-run mark.
With victory in sight, India counterpunched with the wickets of Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch (8) in the 14th and 15th overs to reduce the hosts to 129/4. However, Dercksen and Chloé Tryon (18 not out) guided the Proteas over the line, with Tryon sealing the win with a six off the first ball of the 20th over.
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Keshav Maharaj was seen lending a hand as South Africa ramped up preparations ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup starting in June, and follows Proteas Women head coach Mandla Mashimbyi having overseen former men’s icon Paul Adams also giving lending insights to the team’s developing slow bowling contingent.
The second T20I gets underway on Sunday, 19 April 2026 at 14:00 local time at the same venue in Durban.
Proteas Women vs India T20 International Series from 17 to 27 April 2026
Fri 17 April: South Africa beat India by 6 wickets (Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, Durban)
Sun 19 April, 14:00: South Africa vs India (Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, Durban)
Wed 22 April, 18:00: South Africa vs India (DP World Wanderers, Johannesburg)
Sat 25 April, 18:00: South Africa vs India (DP World Wanderers, Johannesburg)
Mon 27 April, 14:00: South Africa vs India (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Proteas Women’s Playing XI
Laura Wolvaardt (captain)
Suné Luus
Tazmin Brits
Annerie Dercksen
Anneke Bosch
Chloé Tryon
Nadine de Klerk
Sinalo Jafta (wicketkeeper)
Ayabonga Khaka
Tumi Sekhukhune
Nonkululeko Mlaba
Substitutes
Ayanda Hlubi
Kayla Reyneke
Tebogo Macheke (uncapped)
Eliz-Mari Marx
India Women’s Playing XI
Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain)
Shafali Verma
Jemimah Rodrigues
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain)
Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper)
Deepti Sharma
Arundhati Reddy
Kashvee Gautam (T20I debut)
Shreyanka Patil
Sree Charani
Renuka Thakur
Substitutes
Anushka Sharma
Bharti Fulmali
Uma Chetry (wicketkeeper)
Kranti Gaud
Original Copy: Cricket South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Player of the Match Ayabonga Khaka was instrumental in restricting India to 157/7, returning impressive figures of three for 16 to spur the Proteas Women to a six-wicket victory over India in the first T20I at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Friday, 17 April 2026. All Images and Photos: Cricket SA
Photo 2 Caption: Captain Laura Wolvaardt hit a sparkling half-century in the reply to power the Proteas Women’s successful chase for a 1-nil series lead on Friday.
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