India Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur said her side wanted to bowl first and were pleased to get the chance to do so on the day. She added that their previous match had gone well and that India had executed their plans effectively, and they would look to bring the same level of focus and clarity into this contest as well.
On potential changes to the playing XI, Kaur said Smriti Mandhana and Kashvee Gautam were resting, while Arundhati Reddy is back in the team.
South Africa Women captain Laura Wolvaardt noted that it is not something that happens often that she wins five tosses in a row. She said that since her team has been bowling first throughout the series, she was keen to see how they handle batting first in this match. Wolvaardt also pointed out that the wicket tends to play slower, and that there was a quick turnaround after assessing the conditions.
Wolvaardt expressed satisfaction with how South Africa have responded following a disappointing New Zealand series. She also confirmed that there are a couple of alterations to the side, with Anneke Bosch and Nadine de Klerk returning to the squad. She concluded by saying the team wants to end the series on a high.
Key performers remain in focus
Even with the series outcome already decided, individual contributions continue to matter. South Africa’s progress in the series has been driven largely by skipper Laura Wolvaardt, who leads the run-scoring charts with 238 runs and has shown consistent leadership throughout. For India, Shafali Verma has been the standout with the bat, striking 164 runs and giving the team quick starts at the top of the order.
On the bowling front, Tumi Sekhukhune has been the most effective for the hosts, taking six wickets so far. With both teams set to play the final match, these key performers are likely to shape the contest once again.
Dead rubber but far from meaningless
With South Africa Women already securing the series 3-1, the fifth T20I may not affect the final result. However, it is still far from pointless. Games like this often provide the ideal platform for teams to try different batting and bowling combinations, test their bench strength, and sharpen tactical plans for upcoming assignments.
India Women, encouraged by their spirited performance in the fourth match, will want to carry that momentum forward and finish the series strongly. South Africa, on the other hand, will be looking to keep their overall advantage intact and avoid any avoidable slip-ups late on.
India vs South Africa squads
South Africa Women squad
- Laura Wolvaardt (c)
- Sune Luus
- Tazmin Brits
- Annerie Dercksen
- Kayla Reyneke
- Chloe Tryon
- Sinalo Jafta (w)
- Eliz-mari Marx
- Ayabonga Khaka
- Tumi Sekhukhune
- Nonkululeko Mlaba
- Anneke Bosch
- Nadine de Klerk
- Ayanda Hlubi
- Tebogo Macheke
India Women squad
- Shafali Verma
- Anushka Sharma
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
- Bharti Fulmali
- Deepti Sharma
- Richa Ghosh (w)
- Kashvee Gautam
- Kranti Gaud
- Shree Charani
- Renuka Singh Thakur
- Smriti Mandhana
- Arundhati Reddy
- Shreyanka Patil
- Uma Chetry
Late surge provides finishing touch
India appeared set to post an even bigger total when quick wickets slowed their momentum, with Rodrigues and Harmanpreet departing in close succession. Still, Deepti Sharma stepped up with the bat alongside Richa Ghosh, and the two stitched together an unbeaten 65-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
They struck a balance between settling in and going for runs, though at first they struggled to keep the scoring rate moving fast enough. The finishing push arrived at the right time, with the pair accelerating during the final overs and adding 56 runs in the last five overs. Ghosh made a brisk 34 off 18 balls, which complemented Deepti’s composed approach, and the result was a total that proved sufficient for India’s bowlers to defend.
Middle-order effort lifts India to competitive total
Earlier, India reached 185 for five after being asked to bat, though the score looked slightly under par at one point in the innings. The start was shaky, with Shafali Verma dismissed early, followed by Anushka Sharma leaving for 23. By the end of the Power Play, India were 47 for two, and they required steadiness.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues delivered exactly that, adding 55 runs for the third wicket through well-timed and sensible batting. Rodrigues finished with 43, including a standout over against Nonkululeko Mlaba where she struck 24 runs. That spell featured two massive sixes struck straight down the ground, briefly shifting momentum back in India’s favour.
South Africa’s chase derailed despite solid start
Chasing 186, South Africa looked in a good position thanks to a steady second-wicket partnership between Sune Luus and Tazmine Brits, which produced 54 runs. Luus, in particular, looked threatening and was starting to speed up after skipper Laura Wolvaardt was dismissed earlier by Kranti Gaud.
However, Deepti Sharma’s spell changed the direction of the match. She struck at a crucial stage, dismissing Luus with a delivery that sent her stumps cartwheeling, and that breakthrough triggered a rapid collapse. Deepti then removed several key batters—Annerie Dercksen, Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhukhune, and Ayabonga Khaka—restricting South Africa to 171 for nine despite their promising start.
Deepti’s all-round brilliance helps India win
India’s victory was driven by the all-round impact of Deepti Sharma. The seasoned campaigner produced a performance of exceptional quality to script a 14-run win over South Africa in the fourth women’s T20I on Saturday. With the series already beyond reach for India at 3-0 in favour of the hosts, the match became one of pride, and Deepti responded in emphatic fashion.
She contributed with the bat as well, finishing unbeaten on 36, and then delivered her maiden five-wicket haul in T20Is, returning figures of 5 for 19. Her influence arrived at key moments—first helping India stabilise and then breaking South Africa’s chase with accuracy and control.
