Johannesburg, April 26 — Deepti Sharma delivered a stunning all-round performance — scoring an unbeaten 36 runs and claiming 5 wickets for 19 runs — to guide India Women to a hard-fought 14-run victory over South Africa Women in the 4th Women's T20I at Johannesburg on Sunday, April 26. The win prevented a series whitewash for the Women in Blue, though South Africa retain an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

India's Batting: Rodrigues and Deepti Rescue the Innings

South Africa elected to bowl first after winning the toss, and their decision paid early dividends. Eliz-Mari Marx removed opener Shafali Verma for just 9 runs, and Tumi Sekhukhune dismissed Anushka Sharma (27) near the end of the powerplay, leaving India struggling at 47/2.

The innings found its footing through a crucial 55-run partnership between Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (22), which carried India past the 100-run mark in the 11th over. However, Kayla Reyneke broke the stand by dismissing Rodrigues for 43, and further blows from Marx — who trapped Bharti Fulmali lbw for 2 — and Reyneke, who removed Kaur, left India in trouble at 122/5 in 14 overs.

It was then that Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh (34*) took centre stage, forging an unbeaten 65-run sixth-wicket stand to propel India to a competitive total of 185/5 in 20 overs. Reyneke was the pick of the South African bowlers with 2 wickets for 10 runs, while Marx claimed 2 for 28.

Deepti Sharma's Bowling Masterclass Derails South Africa's Chase

Chasing 186 runs, South Africa began aggressively, with Laura Wolvaardt (18) and Sune Luus (40) racing to 32/0 in just three overs. Kranti Gaud provided the first breakthrough, dismissing the Proteas skipper to ease India's nerves.

Luus and Tazmin Brits (30) then added 44 runs for the second wicket, threatening to take the game away from India. However, Deepti Sharma intervened in the ninth over, removing Luus and triggering a collapse. Wickets fell at regular intervals thereafter as the required run rate climbed beyond the hosts' reach.

Deepti finished with a match-winning spell of 5/19, while Shree Charani, Kashvee Gautam, and Shafali Verma chipped in with a wicket each. South Africa were eventually restricted to 171/9 in 20 overs. A late unbeaten 21 from Eliz-Mari Marx provided cosmetic resistance but proved insufficient as India sealed the win by 14 runs.

Deepti Sharma's Growing Legacy in Indian Women's Cricket

Deepti Sharma's performance underscores her evolution as one of India's most reliable all-rounders in the shortest format. Her ability to contribute both with bat and ball in high-pressure situations has been a consistent theme in recent series. Notably, her five-wicket haul is among the finest individual bowling performances by an Indian woman in Women's T20I cricket in recent memory.

This win also reflects India Women's resilience — despite trailing 3-0 in the series, the team regrouped effectively to post a competitive total and execute a disciplined bowling plan. Richa Ghosh's finishing abilities and the middle-order depth of this squad are areas that will give selectors confidence heading into future assignments.

Series Context and What's Next

Despite this consolation victory, South Africa Women have dominated the five-match series and will enter the final game as clear favourites. The 3-1 lead reflects their home advantage and consistent batting depth throughout the series. For India, the focus will now shift to salvaging pride and building momentum ahead of upcoming international commitments.

The fifth and final Women's T20I between India and South Africa is scheduled for Monday, April 28, at Willowmoore Park, Benoni. India will look to sign off the tour on a winning note, while South Africa will aim to complete a series whitewash on home soil.

Brief Scores: India Women 185/5 in 20 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 43, Deepti Sharma 36*; Kayla Reyneke 2-10, Eliz-Mari Marx 2-28) beat South Africa Women 171/9 in 20 overs (Sune Luus 40, Tazmin Brits 30; Deepti Sharma 5-19, Shree Charani 1-28) by 14 runs.