SA-W vs IND-W

Better late than never — India might have lost the series already, but given that the ICC Women's T20 World Cup is now only 47 days away, this is a good result for them. More than the win, what will please them is the fact that Deepti Sharma is back in form.

One more match remains in this series and that will give them the chance to amend some more things. Do join us for that game on Tuesday, April 27. For now, this is Darpan and Pradeep saying goodbye! See you soon. 

Harmanpreet Kaur (India Women captain): "I think it is an overall team effort. Everyone contributed today. It always great when you get contributions from everyone. I think every partnership mattered a lot for us. In T20 cricket it is about showing good approach. We did that today.

(On the conditions out there) Conditions were tough. The outfield was wet. But I think that both teams did well to put bodies behind the ball. (On Deepti Sharma) She is brilliant. We had good practice before the game. Today, she executed really well. (On the next match) We know that series is not in out hands. But it is about showing good approach. That is what we will aim for."

Laura Wolvaardt [South Africa Women captain]: "(On the loss and missed opportunities) We were on the losing side today, but I think missed chances in the field cost us. Had we taken them, we might have been chasing 10–20 fewer runs. We were in the game for most of the chase but just lacked partnerships towards the end. (On the top-order approach and batting performance) I’ve moved up the order to make the most of the powerplay, and we got off to another decent start. Sune played a good innings, but we didn’t have someone go on to bat through and finish it off. (On positives from the game) There were some strong individual performances. Marizanne had a really good game—she was effective with the ball early on and showed her ability with the bat as well. It’s exciting to see the depth of all-round talent coming through. (On looking ahead) We’ll take the learnings from this and come back stronger in the next game."

Deepti Sharma is the Player of the Match! Here's what she has to say: "(On her performance in a pressure game) I’m very pleased with how it went today. I always back myself in pressure situations and trust that I can deliver. A lot of credit also goes to my teammates for their belief in me, which really helped. (On her bowling success in challenging conditions) Line and length were key, especially with the wet ball and tricky conditions. I focused on sticking to my process, trusting it, and executing consistently, and that made the difference. (On the finishing partnership with Richa Ghosh) Richa batted really well. The plan was to play out the final overs smartly and finish strong, and I’m glad we were able to contribute in that phase."

9:23 PM local (12:53 AM IST): India Women win by 14 runs. South Africa Women lead the series 3-1 with one match remaining.

Jemimah Rodrigues 43 (29) | Deepti Sharma 5/19 (4) & 36* (26)
Sune Luus 40 (24) | Kayla Reyneke 2/10 (2) & 21 (19)

The fans Deepti Sharma and Team India will have a feeling similar to that a traveller wading through a desert experiences upon suddenly encountering an oasis. The ace all-rounder had gone five T20Is without picking a wicket — a rarity for someone who has picked up a wicket every 20 balls over her career. But tonight, she turned it around and returned her career best, which was instrumental in helping the team get their first win of the series.

Yes, with the series already lost, the win might not be that big a deal, but given that we are only 47 days away from the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, this result is an important one for Harmanpreet Kaur and co. While Deepti will get all the plaudits for her bowling as well as her contribution with the bat, lets not forget Kranti Gaud — who picked the massive wicket of Laura Wolvaardt upfront and opened the doors for India. This was the first time that the SA skipper was dismissed for a sub-50 score in this series. She heaved across the line, missed the ball and saw her off stump go for a walk. That, then became the theme of the night. Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Annerie Dercksen — where all dismissed in a similar manner. Luus, in particular, looked good. She seemed to be on her way to another half-century in the series until Deepti got the better of her.

That in many ways, was also the turning point of the game, as post it, the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals and eventually fell short. Eliz-Mari Marx, who had picked up dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur with her bowling earlier, scored a sprightly 21* (13) towards the fag end but she was always fighting a lost battle.

Earlier, India had put up 185/5, riding majorly on two big partnerships. They were sans Smriti Mandhana today and hence, Anushka Sharma got the chance to open the innings. She scored an effervescent 27 (17) before getting dismissed in the last over of the powerplay. Post it Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues stitched a 32-ball-55-run stand for the 3rd wicket before Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh sealed it off with an unbeaten 38-ball-65 run partnership. Kayla Reyneke's 2-over spell came between the two stands and rocked the visitors momentarily before they got the final flourish.

19.6 Shafali Verma to Eliz Mari Marx, FOUR! THAT IS THAT! India finally break through—a clinical, all-round performance to outplay South Africa. Length delivery on the off-stump, Marx backed away and lifts it over extra-cover for a boundary. Some fireworks from South Africa in the end, but it was too late.

19.5 Shafali Verma to Eliz Mari Marx, SIX MORE! Length delivery on the stumps, Marx powered it straight down the ground, clears the fielder's head for another maximum.

19.3 Shafali Verma to Nonkululeko Mlaba, drops it short on the stumps, Mlaba went back to pull and miscued it to long-on, this one doesn't carry to Anushka, then inflicts a direct-hit, the ball ricochets off to the off-side ,they get a single and there's more runs here, sloppy work and they get back for the third. Comedy of errors from India in the field here.

19.2 Shafali Verma to Nonkululeko Mlaba, SIX! BAM! What a shot from Mlaba! Length delivery on the off-stump, Mlaba pumped it all the way over long-on for a maximum.

19.1 Shafali Verma to Eliz Mari Marx, DROPPED! Anushka shells a sitter, would've been all over, but have to wait now. Length delivery on the stumps, Marx down the wicket, slams it straight down the throat of long-on and Anushka makes a meal of that.

18.5 Deepti Sharma to Nonkululeko Mlaba, flighted on a length in the channel, Mlaba comes forward to defend, but takes the outside edge to backward point for no run.