Deepti Sharma’s Heroics Help India Avoid T20I Series Sweep Against South Africa

Deepti Sharma starred with a superb all-round show, claiming her maiden five-wicket haul in T20Is and scoring an unbeaten 36, as India beat the South Africa women’s cricket team by 14 runs in the fourth women’s T20I on Saturday.

With South Africa already 3-0 up in the series, the hosts looked set for a clean sweep after restricting India to 185/5. But Deepti’s outstanding spell of 5/19 derailed the chase, as South Africa were held to 171/9.

DEEPTI LEADS THE FIGHTBACK

Sune Luus (40) and Tazmine Brits (30) kept South Africa in the hunt with a 54-run partnership for the second wicket. However, Deepti broke the stand by bowling Luus, sparking a collapse.

She then dismissed Annerie Dercksen, Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhu and Ayabonga Khaka to dismantle the middle order and seal the contest.

INDIA’S INNINGS: STARTS BUT NO BIG SCORES

India got off to a shaky start after being put in, losing Shafali Verma early, while Anushka Sharma—standing in for Smriti Mandhana—made 23.

At 47/2 after the Powerplay, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (22) and Jemimah Rodrigues (43) steadied the innings with a 55-run stand. Rodrigues was particularly aggressive, taking 24 runs off an over from Nonkhu Mlaba, including two straight sixes.

However, both fell just as India looked to accelerate.

DEEPTI–RICHA FINISH STRONG

Deepti (36* off 26) and Richa Ghosh (34* off 18) added an unbeaten 65 runs to lift India to 185/5, with 56 coming in the last five overs.