Wolvaardt's unbeaten 92 seals South Africa's 4-1 series win over India Women
Synopsis
Wolvaardt's unbeaten 92 wasn't just a match-winner — it capped a record-shattering series where she amassed 330 runs, the most ever in a women's T20I series. South Africa's clinical 4-1 victory over India underscores a widening gap in form and execution between the two sides.
Key Takeaways
Laura Wolvaardt scored an unbeaten 92 off 56 balls in the fifth T20I at Benoni on 28 April .
South Africa Women posted 155 for 6 ; India Women managed 132 for 8 , losing by 23 runs .
Wolvaardt's series tally reached 330 runs — the highest individual aggregate in a women's T20I series.
Bharti Fulmali's fighting 40 was India's best effort in a chase that crumbled early.
South Africa claimed the series 4-1 , with Renuka Singh , Shree Charani , and Arundhati Reddy each taking two for India.
Laura Wolvaardt struck an unbeaten 92 off 56 balls to power South Africa Women to a 23-run victory over India Women in the fifth and final T20I at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on 28 April, clinching a 4-1 series triumph. Wolvaardt's masterclass — studded with 11 boundaries and two sixes — lifted her series aggregate to 330 runs, the highest individual tally in a women's T20I series.
South Africa's dominant batting display
Electing to bat first, South Africa posted 155 for 6 in 20 overs, built largely on Wolvaardt's brilliance. She shared a 75-run opening partnership with Sune Luus, who contributed a run-a-ball 23 with two boundaries and one six. Despite India's bowlers claiming wickets in clusters — Renuka Singh, Shree Charani, and Arundhati Reddy each taking two — Wolvaardt's aggressive tempo kept the hosts' total competitive.
India's chase falls short
Chasing 156, India lost early momentum when Shafali Verma, their standout series performer, departed for just four off five balls, caught by Chloe Tyson off Eliz-Mari Marx. The slide accelerated as Jemimah Rodrigues (1) and Anushka Sharma (17) fell to Ayabonga Khaka, leaving India at 38 for 3 by the eighth over. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (22) and Bharti Fulmali (40) mounted a rearguard, but neither could engineer a turnaround. India limped to 132 for 8 in their 20 overs, falling 23 runs short.
Standout individual performances
Fulmali's unbeaten 40 was India's sole bright spot in a chase that lacked cohesion. For South Africa, Nonkululeko Mlaba and Nadine de Klerk each claimed two wickets, with Mlaba's 2 for 18 proving particularly economical. Richa Ghosh remained 25 not out in India's innings but could not find support.
Series narrative and what's next
South Africa's 4-1 dominance underscores a gulf in form and execution. Wolvaardt's record-breaking series — averaging over 66 across five matches — has established her as one of the format's premier batters. For India, the loss marks a sobering end to a tour that included a fourth-match victory but ultimately fell short against a side that proved too clinical in both batting and bowling.
Point of View
More broadly, to compete at South Africa's level in women's T20I cricket. India won the fourth match but failed to build momentum, collapsing to 38 for 3 in the chase and losing by 23 runs. The gulf is tactical as much as it is technical: South Africa's bowlers executed tight lines; India's batters lacked the resilience to rebuild after early losses. For India, this series is a reality check ahead of major tournaments.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Laura Wolvaardt's score in the fifth T20I?
Laura Wolvaardt scored an unbeaten 92 off 56 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and two sixes, in South Africa's 155 for 6 at Benoni on 28 April.
What was Wolvaardt's series aggregate?
Wolvaardt amassed 330 runs across the five-match series, the highest individual tally in a women's T20I series.
How did India perform in their chase?
India lost early wickets, with Shafali Verma departing for four and the team slumping to 38 for 3 by the eighth over. Despite Bharti Fulmali's fighting 40, India managed only 132 for 8 in 20 overs, losing by 23 runs.
What was the final series score?
South Africa won the five-match T20I series 4-1, with the fifth match at Benoni ending in a 23-run victory for the hosts.
