Weeks ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, Harmanpreet Kaur’s India suffered a six-wicket defeat at the hands of South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban on April 17. After Ayabonga Khaka's economical three-fer helped the hosts restrict India's score to 157/7, skipper Laura Wolvaardt's half-century and Annerie Dercksen's unbeaten 44 helped South Africa chase down the total with five balls to spare.
Harmanpreet misses fifty, India don’t finish well
Laura won the toss and opted to bowl first. Shafali Verma got India off to a good start while Smriti Mandhana played second fiddle. In the fifth over, Tumi Shekhukhune broke the partnership with Shafali's wicket. She scored 34 runs from 20 balls, featuring five fours and a six. In the next over, Ayabonga got rid of Smriti who scored 13 runs from 14 deliveries. India were 48/2 after powerplay overs. Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues helped India get past the 100-run mark in the 13th over.
ALSO READ: Will Virat Kohli feature as Impact Player in RCB vs DC clash? Josh Hazlewood reveals
India looked all set to post a big total when Tumi returned and broke the partnership. Jemimah contributed with a 29-ball 36 in the 71-run partnership for the third wicket. Then, Ayabonga got into the act and dismissed Richa Ghosh. Kashvee Gautam hit a six before falling to Nonkululeko Mlaba. No boundaries were scored in the last two overs. Arundhati Reddy struggled and lost her wicket for three runs from eight balls. In the last over, Shreyanka Patil got run out trying to get Harmanpreet on strike. The skipper remained unbeaten on 47 off 33 deliveries. India managed to post 157/7. Ayabonga conceded just 16 runs from her quota of four overs and bagged three scalps.
Laura, Annerie take SA home
Harmanpreet did not take the field for the second innings as she suffered cramps. Shreyanka got the early breakthrough. Sune Luus departed after hitting her for two fours. Laura scored boundaries in the powerplay overs. South Africa were 53/1 after six overs. Shree Charani struck with her first ball, getting Tazmin Brits stumped in the eighth over. In the 12th over, Laura got to her half-century from 36 balls. Annerie continued to find boundaries.
Shreyanka got the prized wicket of Laura in the 14th over. The opener hit eight boundaries in her 39-ball 51. Then, Arundhati Reddy got the wicket of Anneke Bosch. There was a glimmer of hope in the slog overs but Chloe Tryon and Annerie absorbed the pressure. On the first ball of the final over, Chloe smashed a six off Deepti Sharma to take South Africa over the line.
The second of the five-T20I series will be played at the same venue as well. The clash will take place on April 19.