India lose series after defeat to South Africa in third match

The Indian women’s cricket team slumped to their third straight defeat at the Wanderers on Wednesday, going down by nine wickets to South Africa, who took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match SA-W vs IND-W T20 2026 series.

Harmanpreet Kaur (66 off 38) and Shafali Verma (64 off 46) scored fifties to help India post 192/4 in Johannesburg. However, an inspired century from South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt (115 off 53) and an unbeaten 42-ball 62 by Sune Luus helped the Proteas make light work of the chase.

Chasing a formidable 193, South Africa raced off the blocks, driven by skipper Laura Wolvaardt, who dismantled the Indian attack with authority.

Wolvaardt blazed to a 23-ball half-century - the fastest by a South African woman in the format - reaching the landmark with a boundary in the sixth over and powering the Proteas to 72/0 at the end of the powerplay.

There was no let-up after the fielding restrictions as Sune Luus joined the charge. The opening pair brought up a commanding 100-run stand in the ninth over - their second successive century partnership in the series.

Despite the chase firmly being under control, Wolvaardt continued to attack, peppering the boundary with fours and sixes to race to a 47-ball century.

It was her 17th international hundred, drawing her level with Meg Lanning and Smriti Mandhana for the most centuries in women’s internationals.

She eventually fell in the 16th over but the damage had already been done as South Africa needed just 10 to win. Sune Luus hit a six in the very next over to help the Proteas complete a comprehensive win.

Earlier in the day, India were put in to bat, with openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma providing a brisk start, taking the side to 51/0 at the end of the powerplay.

Smriti Mandhana, the more aggressive of the pair, struck a fluent 37 off 25 balls before departing in the ninth over, while Jemimah Rodrigues fell off the very next delivery.

Indian T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur then joined Shafali Verma at the crease and the duo stitched together a crucial 73-run partnership to lay a strong platform for the final overs.

Shafali Verma brought up her half-century with a boundary in the 13th over and added a couple more fours before falling in the 16th, with India placed at 141/3.

With Shafali back in the dugout, Harmanpreet Kaur took charge, finding the boundary at regular intervals.

Supported by Richa Ghosh at the other end, Harmanpreet raised her fifty with a four in the 18th over and capped the innings with a couple of sixes in the final over before being run out off the last ball as India finished on a strong note.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s knock also saw her become the highest-scoring captain in women’s T20Is, taking her tally to 3017 runs as India’s skipper.

India will once again play South Africa at the Wanderers in Johannesburg in the fourth match of the series on Saturday.

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