4th WT20I: Deepti Sharma powers India to 14-run win, denies South Africa clean sweep
Deepti Sharma starred with 5/19 and an unbeaten 36 as India Women beat South Africa by 14 runs in the fourth T20I in Johannesburg.
The thriller between India and South Africa is underway at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. The venue has already generated excitement, especially considering Virat Kohli’s record here. Ticket demand saw a sharp rise after his Ranchi century.
A major talking point ahead of the match was India’s extraordinary run of losing 20 consecutive tosses. All eyes were on whether the streak would finally end and it did. India won the toss for the final match of the three-game ODI series, breaking the unlikely sequence. India chose to bowl first to make the most of the conditions that influenced the previous two matches.
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South Africa’s innings wrapped up for 270, India will head into the run‑chase with full momentum.
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India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI: Score Updates
47 over update: South Africa 270/10
In the final two overs, India wrapped up the South African innings with controlled and effective bowling. Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana kept the scoring in check, conceding just 5 runs across the 46th and 47th overs. Keshav Maharaj remained at the crease on 15 off 27 balls, but the innings ended in the 47th over when Krishna dismissed Ottneil Baartman (3). South Africa finished 270 all out, as India’s bowlers closed the innings with tight lines and timely breakthroughs.
45 over update: South Africa 258/9
The Proteas weren’t really going anywhere after the 40th over, just trying to survive as India continued to dominate. Kuldeep kept the pressure on from one end, giving almost nothing away, while Jadeja chipped in quietly. A quirky moment arrived early in this phase when the ball bizarrely get lodged between KL Rahul’s shoes, who tried to take a catch behind the stumps, but turned to be a not-out.
India didn’t have to wait too long. Kuldeep Yadav led the attack, conceding minimal runs and striking twice – removing Corbin Bosch (9) in the 43rd over and then Lungi Ngidi (1) with a maiden in the 45th. Jadeja and Krishna also kept things tight, with Jadeja giving away 5 runs in the 42nd over and Krishna conceding 6 in the 44th. South Africa moved from 245/7 to 258/9, with Keshav Maharaj holding one end at 12 off 17 balls and Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, and Ottneil Baartman all dismissed, as India seized control heading into the final five overs.
40 over update: South Africa 244/7
Across overs 36 to 40, India maintained tight control with disciplined bowling while South Africa struggled to build momentum, moving from 224/5 to 244/7. Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav kept the scoring in check, with Singh conceding 6 runs each in the 36th and 38th overs. Kuldeep bowled a tight 37th over for just 4 runs before delivering a game-changing 39th over, where he removed Dewald Brevis (29) and Marco Jansen (17) while giving away 6 runs.
Jadeja returned for the 40th over, allowing only 3 runs as Corbin Bosch and Keshav Maharaj tried to steady the innings. India’s bowling unit tightened the screws during this phase, restricting South Africa to just 20 runs in five overs while claiming two crucial wickets.
35 over update: South Africa 218/5
South Africa moved along to 218/5 by the end of the 35th over in a phase that belonged largely to India’s seamers, even though the runs kept coming. Thing turned around for Prasidh Krishna as continued to be central to the action. Things were quiet at first but then he took the massive wicket of Quinton de Kock, who departed for a superb 106 after anchoring the innings.
Arshdeep Singh chipped in with tidy overs at the other end, but South Africa still found ways to stack runs, with Dewald Brevis growing into his role and Marco Jansen adding handy boundaries. Despite losing their set batter, the Proteas crossed 200 in the 34th over and closed this passage with useful runs.
30 over update: South Africa 185/4
South Africa kept the scoreboard moving steadily through the 26–30 over phase, reaching 185/4 by the break. Tilak Varma was taken on early when Matthew Breetzke launched two sixes in the 26th over, before Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana briefly pulled things back with two controlled overs. Krishna then produced the big moment of the spell, removing both Breetzke and Aiden Markram in the 29th over.
However, Harshit’s next over again went for runs as Quinton de Kock reached a brilliant century off 81 balls. He carried on in command with 101 runs, now joined by Dewald Brevis coming in after Markram, leaving South Africa in a strong position despite the two wickets falling in the over.
25 over update: South Africa 143/2
South Africa moved to 143/2 after 25 overs, with Quinton de Kock cruising on 84 off 69 deliveries while Matthew Breetzke settled in on 8 from 10. India kept rotating their spin attack through this phase. Jadeja struck by removing Temba Bavuma and otherwise kept things relatively tight, supported by Kuldeep Yadav and Tilak Varma, although a few expensive overs allowed South Africa to maintain momentum.
20 over update: South Africa 104/1
South Africa steadily built their innings after the powerplay, anchored by Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma. Quinton brought up his 50 in the 16th over, while Bavuma rotated the strike efficiently. India’s bowlers, including Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Tilak Varma, kept things tight, conceding only 3-8 runs per over. Despite the disciplined bowling, South Africa moved to 104/1 after 20 overs, with Quinton on 61 off 53 balls and Bavuma on 41 off 63, setting a solid platform for the middle overs.
15 over update: South Africa 78/1
After a controlled powerplay, India’s bowlers saw a bit of the scoreboard tick over as South Africa looked to accelerate. Prasidh Krishna leaked 18 runs in the 11th over, with Quinton de Kock hitting two sixes to take charge as he brought up his 33rd ODI half-century, reaching the mark in just 42 balls. He also registered his first fifty of the current series. South Africa moved to 78/1 after 15 overs with de Kock unbeaten on 47 off 40 deliveries, while Temba Bavuma was on 29 from 46 balls at the other end. Prasidh Krishna had a particularly expensive spell, conceding 27 runs in his first two overs.
10 over update: South Africa 42/1
India continued their tight bowling after a strong start, keeping South Africa under pressure through the middle of the powerplay. Harshit Rana bowled three tidy overs (6th–8th), including a couple of maidens, allowing just 7 runs while forcing the batsmen to defend or leave the ball. Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma struggled to get the timing right, and despite a few singles and extras, runs were hard to come by.
Prasidh Krishna started in the 9th over, conceding 9 runs, but de Kock hit a well-timed six to relieve some pressure off his team. The first powerplay concluded with South Africa at 42/1, with de Kock on 21 off 24 balls and Bavuma on 19 off 32.
5 over update: South Africa 18/1
India made an impressive start with the ball in the 3rd ODI against South Africa at Visakhapatnam. Arshdeep Singh struck early in the very first over, claiming the wicket of Ryan Rickelton for a duck, leaving South Africa at 1/1. Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma began cautiously, finding it tough against disciplined lines and lengths from Arshdeep and Harshit Rana.
The next couple of overs saw tight bowling from both Rana and Arshdeep, with back-to-back maiden overs, keeping the run rate under control and building pressure on the batsmen. South Africa struggled to get off the mark, managing just a single run in the first three overs.
The fourth over finally gave the Proteas some breathing room. Rana leaked 12 runs, including two boundaries off Quinton de Kock, as South Africa moved to 13/1. The fifth over saw Arshdeep regain control, conceding just 5 runs but allowing Bavuma to find the boundary once. By the end of five overs, South Africa were 18/1, with both batsmen still finding their rhythm against India’s disciplined opening attack.
Rahul opts to bowl as India seek resurgence; South Africa reshuffle lineup after double injury blow
This will be another test of KL Rahul’s leadership as India looks forward to a win. Meanwhile, South Africa will be aiming to clinch both the T20 and ODI series on Indian soil – a significant achievement for the visitors. India has replaced Washington Sunder with Tilak Varma in their playing XI. Although there were doubts around Prasidh Krishna, he is expected to feature, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj continuing to rest through the series.
“We’ll bowl. We trained here last night and the feedback from the coaches was that there was dew, but it didn’t come in as early as Ranchi and Raipur. We were obviously planning to bowl second, keeping our track record in mind. I don’t think it’s going to play such a big part like Raipur and Ranchi. But, we just want to change the total and see how we can bowl first. Yeah, it looks like a good wicket. For me and from the leadership group, we’re really happy with the way we played in the last two games. I know from the outside, 360 being chased down looks like a lot is going wrong. But considering the conditions and considering the way our teams are lined up, I think we did really well. There’s a lot of positives to take and I’m really happy with the way we bowled and batted. The chat obviously has been to keep doing the same thing and stay consistent with what we’re doing and stay consistent with that process. We know that the results will follow. Not many things that we’re looking to change. Just trying to sharpen a couple of things in the field and the results will go our way. One change. Washington Sundar misses out and Tilak Varma comes in.” KL Rahul said after the toss.
South Africa, however, are forced into changes after injuries to Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi in Raipur with Ottneil Baartman and Ryan Rickelton as the replacements.
“We would have bowled first. A good start upfront will set it up for the middle order, we’ll try and put a competitive score on the board and then hopefully defend it. It’s been entertaining, hasn’t it? From the red ball stuff now to the white ball stuff. The crowd has come out and I’m sure they’ll be rooting for the Indian side. Today is another important one and like always, we’ll do our best to make sure we’re on the right side of the result. We’ve got two changes. Rickelton and Baartman come in. Both of them (Burger and de Zorzi) sustained injuries in the last ODI, I think they’ll be out for a couple of weeks. It’ll give another opportunity for Baartman and Rickelton to deliver.” Temba Bavuma said after the toss.
India probable XI:
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa probable XI:
Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI: Head-to-head:
• Matches: 96
• India: 41
• South Africa: 52
• No result: 3
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