India’s Deepti Sharma returned to form with the ball to deliver a brilliant all-round performance as the Proteas fell short by 14 runs in the fourth T20I at the Wanderers on Saturday evening.
The Proteas have already closed out the five-match series and now lead 3-1 heading into the last match in Benoni on Monday.
Sharma, who was Player of the ODI World Cup last year, had gone wicketless in her last five T20Is. But the experienced off-spinner claimed 5/16 to restrict the Proteas to 171/9 their pursuit of India’s 185/5.
It was Sharma’s undefeated 36 (26 balls, 5×4) that helped set up an exhilarating 65-run partnership off only 38 balls for the sixth wicket with Richa Ghosh (34 not out, 18 balls) that proved to be the difference between the two sides.
The fireworks at the death was just what India required after Jemimah Rodrigues (43 off 29 balls) had set up the innings before falling to Kayla Reyneke (2/10).
The young Proteas off-spinner will take plenty of confidence from this performance after also picking up the big wicket of India captain Harmanpreet Kaur (22 off 16 balls).
But the night belonged to Sharma as she doubled up with the ball after her batting heroics. Sune Luus, who top-scored with 40 (24 balls, 5×4, 1×6), was the first to fall to Sharma before the veteran ran through the Proteas middle order to claim the second five-wicket haul of her T20I career.
Tazmin Brits (30) and Reyneke (21) were the last to offer any resistance after Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt (18) suffered a rare failure up front.
Scoreboard: 4th T20I, Wanderers
India: 185/5 (Rodrigues 43, Sharma 36*, Ghosh 34*, Reyneke 2/10, Marx 2/28)
Proteas: 171/9 (Luus 40, Brits 30, Sharma 5/19)
India won by 14 runs, Proteas lead series 3-1
