Indian women’s cricket team falls short in Benoni as South Africa win series 4-1

The Indian women’s cricket team concluded the SA-W vs IND-W T20 2026 series with a 23-run defeat against South Africa at the Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Monday as the hosts clinched the series 4-1.

Electing to bat first, Laura Wolvaardt stood tall with a captain’s knock, carrying the world No. 5 South Africa to a competitive total of 155/6 in their 20 overs with an unbeaten 92 off 56 balls.

For world No. 3 India, Renuka Singh (2/21), Shree Charani (2/22) and Deepti Sharma (2/37) were the standout performers with the ball.

India’s chase, which finished on 132/8, never quite found its footing, unravelling in patches as South Africa’s bowlers kept striking at regular intervals

Bharti Fulmali top-scored with a fighting 40 off 30 balls, while Nonkululeko Mlaba led the charge for the Proteas with the ball, returning figures of 2/15 from four overs.

Earlier in the day, South Africa’s foundation was laid in a steady opening stand of 75 between Sune Luus and Laura Wolvaardt.

The partnership was broken by Shree Charani in the ninth over, with Sune Luus losing her wicket after a brisk 23. Charani struck again soon after, cleaning up Tazmin Brits with a sharp, full delivery as South Africa slipped to 81/2 in the 11 overs.

India tightened the screws through the middle overs. Deepti Sharma made key inroads, removing Annerie Dercksen before deceiving Anneke Bosch with her flight, leaving South Africa at 106/4.

Renuka Singh then ensured the pressure translated into wickets at the death. Mixing her pace, she had Chloe Tryon spoon a simple catch before trapping Nadine de Klerk LBW, reducing South Africa to 124/6.

Sinalo Jafta and Wolvaardt shifted gears in the final two overs, pushing the total past the 150-mark.

India’s pursuit of 156 got off to a shaky start with Shafali Verma falling early, and the early blows kept coming as Jemimah Rodrigues departed cheaply. Smriti Mandhana was once again rested for the tie.

Anushka Sharma (17) showed some resistance, but her dismissal left India reeling at 38/3 inside eight overs.

Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s top scorer in the series with 169 runs, attempted to rebuild, but struggled to score freely as she contributed 22 off 28. Nonkululeko removed the Indian T20 captain in the 13th over to dent the chase further.

Bharti Fulmali provided the spark for India, striking four boundaries and two sixes during her 40 off 30 balls. However, her dismissal in the 16th over with the score on 99/5 denied India any freedom to accelerate towards the end.

India were still in the game with 56 needed off 27 balls but the innings lost direction with the wickets of Deepti Sharma and Arundhati Reddy.

Richa Ghosh’s unbeaten 25 off 15 balls added some late impetus, but it came far too late to influence the outcome as India finished on 132/8.

The cricket series in South Africa marked India’s final assignment before their England tour and the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held in June-July.

South Africa had won the first three WT20Is of the series while India, powered by Deepti Sharma’s maiden fifer, clinched the fourth. The two teams have been drawn in the same group for the upcoming World Cup.

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