The Indian women’s cricket team misplaced to South Africa by six wickets within the first recreation of the five-match SA-W vs IND-W T20 2026 collection, which started at Kingsmead, Durban, on Friday.
Harmanpreet Kaur top-scored for India with an unbeaten 47 off 33 balls, serving to the guests publish 157/7 after being despatched in to bat first.
However, a 39-ball 51 from Laura Wolvaardt and an unbeaten 44 off 34 by Annerie Dercksen helped the Proteas safe a cushty victory. Ayabonga Khaka was the decide of the bowlers for South Africa, ending with figures of three/16.
Chasing 158, South Africa made a constructive begin regardless of dropping Sune Luus within the second over.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt took cost early on, proving troublesome to comprise as she cleared the boundary frequently through the powerplay. Her fluent strokeplay powered the hosts to 53/1 on the finish of six overs.
Tazmin Brits, who had supplied assist to Laura Wolvaardt, fell quickly after the powerplay, bringing in Annerie Dercksen, who effortlessly mixed along with her skipper for a vital 52-run stand to maintain the chase on the right track.
Laura Wolvaardt introduced up her fifty within the twelfth over earlier than ultimately perishing a few overs later. South Africa, in the meantime, had surged previous the 100-run mark.
The Indian bowlers tightened their grip on proceedings after Wolvaardt’s departure, taking the match to the ultimate over. However, Chloe Tryon’s most off the primary ball of the ultimate over put the nerves to relaxation as South Africa gained the collection opener.
Earlier, India had been put into bat first and made a measured begin with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma stitching collectively a 46-run opening stand.
Shafali Verma set the tone early with a 20-ball 34 however fell on the finish of the fifth over. Mandhana adopted her again to the dugout within the subsequent, leaving India at 48/2 on the finish of the powerplay.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Indian T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur then steadied the innings with a vital stand within the center overs.
Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the trouble, including 71 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues, who scored a fluent 36 off 29 earlier than departing within the fifteenth over.
Her dismissal triggered a collapse as Richa Ghosh and the remainder of the batting line-up struggled to seek out any momentum.
Kashvee Gautam launched one over the ropes, whereas Harmanpreet Kaur remained composed on the crease, hanging a few crisp boundaries to supply a late flourish. Her unbeaten knock steered India previous the 150 mark, setting South Africa a aggressive goal.
India will play South Africa on the identical venue within the second match of the collection on Sunday.
SA-W vs IND-W T20 2026, 1st match, brief scores: India Women 157/7 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 47 not out; Ayabonga Khaka 3/16) misplaced to South Africa Women 158/4 in 19.1 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 51; Shreyanka Patil 2/26) by six wickets.
