South Africa Women wrapped up their preparations for the T20 World Cup with a convincing 23-run victory over India Women in the fifth T20I at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Sunday. The hosts successfully defended 155 for 6 to seal the series 4-1, with captain Laura Wolvaardt leading from the front once again.
Wolvaardt remained unbeaten on 92 off 56 balls, smashing 11 fours and two sixes in a masterclass that left India’s bowling attack struggling for answers. The win on Freedom Day gave South African fans plenty to celebrate as their team reversed the 4-1 defeat they suffered against New Zealand last month.
Wolvaardt’s Record-Breaking Series Performance
The South Africa captain finished the series with an astonishing 330 runs, the highest ever scored by a batter in a bilateral T20I series. She surpassed New Zealand’s Amelie Kerr, who had scored 276 runs against South Africa just a month ago.
Wolvaardt, who celebrated her 27th birthday on Sunday, notched her fourth fifty-plus score of the series and her sixth in the last seven international matches. Her half-century came off just 30 balls as she dominated the powerplay, racing to 44 in the opening partnership with Sune Luus.
The skipper opened up the leg side with authority, hitting her first boundary through square leg off a short delivery. A full-blooded strike off Shafali Verma in the 14th over, which nearly forced Jemimah Rodrigues to injure herself while attempting the catch, showed her intent as South Africa pushed past 150.
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India’s Bowlers Fight Back Before Late Collapse
India’s bowlers performed well through the middle overs after the powerplay onslaught. Shree Charani claimed two wickets, dismissing Luus for 23 and bowling Tazmin Brits for just 2. Deepti Sharma followed her five-wicket haul from the fourth match with another two-wicket performance, removing Annerie Dercksen and Anneke Bosch.
Renuka Singh, wicketless in her previous three matches, struck twice in one over to send back Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk. South Africa lost 6 for 49 in nine overs, slipping from a comfortable position at 97 for 3. However, Sinalo Jafta’s quick-fire 16 off 8 balls, including two boundaries in the final over, helped push the total to 155.
India’s Chase Falls Short Despite Fulmali’s Effort
India’s chase never gained momentum. They managed just 28 runs in the powerplay, losing both Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues early. Chloe Tryon took three catches in the field, including a difficult grab at short fine leg to dismiss Shafali.
Bharti Fulmali top-scored for India with 40 off 30 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes. She shared a 38-run partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who made 22. But once Tryon dismissed Fulmali lbw in the 16th over, India’s hopes faded quickly.
Nonkululeko Mlaba was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers, claiming 2 for 15 in four overs, including a wicket-maiden in the 19th over. She bowled Arundhati Reddy and ran out Kranti Gaud to shut the door on any late heroics. Nadine de Klerk took 2 for 26, while Jafta executed a lightning-fast stumping to dismiss Deepti Sharma off de Klerk’s bowling.
Richa Ghosh remained unbeaten on 25 off 15 balls, but India finished at 132 for 8, well short of the target. The defeat leaves India with concerns about their powerplay bowling and batting consistency as they head to England for three matches before the T20 World Cup.
Wolvaardt was named player of the match and series for her exceptional performances throughout the five games.
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