4th WT20I: Deepti Sharma powers India to 14-run win, denies South Africa clean sweep

Making a comeback in the series, India Women rode on an all-round masterclass from Deepti Sharma to register a 14-run win over South Africa in the fourth Women’s T20I in Johannesburg on Sunday.

While the hosts still hold an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, the Women in Blue managed to avoid a whitewash with a strong all-round performance.

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Deepti Sharma starred with both bat and ball, scoring an unbeaten 36 and returning figures of 5/19, earning the Player of the Match award. Earlier, useful contributions from Jemimah Rodrigues (43) and Deepti helped India post a competitive 185/5 in 20 overs.

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, South Africa struck early through Eliz-Mari Marx, who removed Shafali Verma for 9. Tumi Sekhukhune then dismissed Anushka Sharma (27) towards the end of the powerplay, leaving India at 47/2.

India rebuilt through Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (22), who stitched together a 55-run stand to take the side past the 100-run mark in the 11th over. The partnership was broken by Kayla Reyneke, who dismissed Rodrigues for 43. Marx then removed Bharti Fulmali (2), while Reyneke sent back Harmanpreet shortly after, reducing India to 122/5 in 14 overs.

However, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh (34*) shifted momentum late in the innings with an unbeaten 65-run partnership for the sixth wicket, powering India to 185/5.

In reply, South Africa started positively with Laura Wolvaardt (18) and Sune Luus (40) adding 32 runs in the first three overs. Kranti Gaud broke the stand by removing Wolvaardt.

Luus and Tazmin Brits (30) then added 44 for the second wicket before Deepti struck to dismiss Luus in the ninth over. From there, South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals as the required rate climbed steadily.

Deepti led India’s bowling effort, while Shree Charani, Kashvee Gautam and Shafali Verma chipped in with a wicket each to restrict South Africa to 171/9. Eloz-mari Marx’s unbeaten 21 offered late resistance but was not enough.

India sealed a 14-run victory, taking momentum into the fifth and final T20I, which will be played on Monday at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.