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 at the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday, 25 April 2026.
With the five-match series already secured 3-0 by the home side after the third T20I, South Africa carry a 3-1 series advantage into the final fixture.
Sharma returned impressive figures of five for 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 Jemimah 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.
Deepti Sharma (36*) 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.
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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, 27 April at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.
Proteas Women’s T20I Squad against India
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)
Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions).
Fixtures and Results for the Proteas Women’s Inbound T20I Series against India
Fri 17 April: South Africa beat India by 6 wickets (Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, Durban)
Sun 19 April: South Africa beat India by 8 wickets (Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, Durban)
Wed 22 April: South Africa beat India by 9 wickets (DP World Wanderers, Johannesburg)
Sat 25 April: South Africa lost to India by 14 runs (DP World Wanderers, Johannesburg)
Mon 27 April, 14:00: South Africa vs India (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)
Original Copy: Cricket South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Despite Eliz-Mari Marx (pictured) and Suné Luus’s contributions, Deepti Sharma’s Player of the Match five for 19 underpinned India’s 14-run win over the Proteas Women to win the fourth T20 International at the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday, 25 April 2026. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Suné Luus continued her series-winning contributions with the bat, with South Africa now aiming for a 4-1 series result in Benoni on Monday.
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