SA-W vs IND-W

While Wolvaardt and co. have started the series on the perfect note, India would want to be far better than they were tonight — especially given that there are less than 60 days left to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. The fielding needs to be better and the bowling needs to be more disciplined. 

They have 4 more matches lined up in this series, which provides them the perfect opportunity to make amends. The next fixture is on Sunday, April 19. Do join us for it. For now, this is the pair of Darpan and Pradeep saying goodbye! See you soon!

Laura Wolvaardt [South Africa Women captain]: "(Thoughts on the performance) Great start. Really good all-round performance from the group. We were good in all three departments. That's how we wanted to start the series. The way Sune Luus batted was heartening too. Derckie (Annerie Dercksen) was amazing. We broke the back of the chase early. (On her own batting) I had a tough tour of NZ. So, really happy to have done well tonight. (What's next?) We will rest up tomorrow. We were very good energy wise. We were buzzing tonight. We will rest and recover and hopefully, bring the same energy tomorrow.

Smriti Mandhana [India Women stand-in captain]: "(On the batting performance) We started well, especially with Shafali getting us off to a strong start, but as a batting unit, we couldn’t capitalize on that momentum.(On the team’s fightback) One of the positives was the way we came back in the bowling innings. Even after losing our way at one stage, we fought hard to take the game down to the final over, which says a lot about the character of this group.(On learnings for the next match) There are plenty of learnings to take forward. It’s been about a month since the last series, and everyone is getting back into rhythm. We’ll reflect on this game, work on the areas that need improvement, and come back stronger. The next match being a day game at the same venue will bring a different challenge, but we’ve had good preparation here.(On her personal form) I’ve been batting well in the nets, and although it didn’t come off today, it’s one of those things. When you miss out, it gives you extra motivation to come back stronger in the next game and make a bigger impact.

Ayabonga Khaka is the Player of the Match! Here's what she has to say: "(On the team’s response and performance) Today was all about bouncing back. We had an honest conversation as a group and acknowledged that we hadn’t executed well as a team. The focus was on improving those areas, and it was good to see that response on the field.(On the bowling approach on a dry surface) The plan was simple—stick to our lines and lengths. That was the key message before the game, and I thought we executed it really well as a bowling unit. The batters then did their job perfectly to finish things off.(On his personal growth and understanding of the game) You keep learning about yourself every day, and there’s always room to improve. Having played for a while, I understand my strengths better now, but the goal is always to keep evolving and become a better bowler."

9:16 PM local time, 12:46 PM IST: South Africa Women have chased down the target with 5 balls to spare. They go 1-0 up in the 5-match series.

Laura Wolvaardt 51 (39) | Ayabonga Khaka 3/16 (4)
Harmanpreet Kaur 47* (33) | Shreyanka Patil 2/26 (4)

Tryon's six off the final ball caused a sonic explosion in Kingsmead. The stands erupted in a roar, the players in the hosts' dugout jumped for joy and South Africa fans following the game from all around the world must have also celebrated with exuberance. It was a neat clinical performance from their team throughout the evening, yet it got a little too close in the end — that is how T20 works, isn't it? But they come out triumphant.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt laid the foundation of the run-chase with a well-crafted half-century. She seemed in control right from the start and entertained one and all with some silky-smooth strokes that we have gotten accustomed to see her play. In Annerie Dercksen, she found an able 'partner-in-crime'. The young all-rounder joined her captain in the 8th over when the team had lost 2 wickets and the opposition were threatening to forge a comeback after South Africa's good start. She played some eye-catching shots on her way to a 34-ball-44* and remained not out till the end.

India were guilty of making some avoidable errors. With the bat, they failed to sustain momentum after a good start given by Shafali Verma. They did accelerate in the middle during a 71-run partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues but then, got stuck in the mud towards the end, managing only 39 runs off the last 6 overs. Ayabonga Khaka, who finished with 3/16, Tumi Sekhukhune (2/26) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/30) played key roles in that. India also exprimented with their batting order a little bit, sending Kashvee Gautam, Shreyanka Patil and Arundhati Reddy ahead of Deepti Sharma.

However, it was the errors in the field that cost the visitors more. The ground fielding left plenty to be desired. A couple of catches were dropped. India were guilty of bowling 14 wides — 13 more than South Africa. Shreyanka Patil bowled well, — her delivery to dismiss Sune Luus will do the rounds on social media in the upcoming weeks —  Shree Charani delivered too, but rest left a lot to desire. 

The visitors will need to be better than this, if they are to bounce back in the series.

19.1 Deepti Sharma to Chloe Tryon, SIX! IT'S ALL OVER! Sensational shot by Tryon and seals the game with five deliveries to spare. Flighted on a length on leg-stump, Tryon comes forward and pumped it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum as South Africa go 1-0 up in this series!

18.5 Arundhati Reddy to Annerie Dercksen, full on the stumps, Dercksen digs it out to extra-cover and takes a quick single. Fumble by Shafali, but no damage done.

18.3 Arundhati Reddy to Chloe Tryon, DROPPED! Now a tough chance goes down begging for India. Low full toss outside the off-stump, Tryon sits on one knee, swept it in the air. Anushka comes charging forward, dives and spills it.