Our Bureau
Johannesburg
In a thrilling fourth Women’s T20I at the DP World Wanderers Stadium, India beat South Africa by 14 runs, avoiding a series whitewash thanks to Deepti Sharma’s stellar all-round performance.
Batting first, India posted a strong total of 185/5 in their 20 overs. Jemimah Rodrigues laid the foundation with a fluent 43 runs off 29 balls. Deepti Sharma then steadied the innings with an unbeaten 36 off 26 balls, while Richa Ghosh added a quickfire 34 not out off 18 balls to boost the late comeback.
Chasing 186, South Africa fought hard but were restricted to 171/9 in their 20 overs. The turning point came from Deepti Sharma, who delivered a career-best bowling spell of 5 wickets for 19 runs in her 4 overs, her maiden T20I five-wicket haul. Her standout figures included dismissing key batters and putting immense pressure on the South African lineup. Sune Luus and Tazmin Brits tried to hold firm, but could not prevent India from securing their first win of the series after trailing 1-3.
Deepti, 28, had been under scrutiny for her recent form but silenced critics with this complete performance. She was named Player of the Match for her match-winning contribution with both bat and ball.
“This win is all about self-belief and team support,” Deepti said after the match. “I kept believing in myself, and my teammates backed me throughout.”
With one match left in the five-match series, India will look to carry this momentum into the 5th T20I on Monday, April 27, at 5:30 PM. This victory boosts morale ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, where form and confidence will be crucial.
India’s comeback shows their resilience, with Deepti Sharma proving once again why she is one of the world’s best all-rounders in women’s cricket.
