The Proteas Women ended their series against India with a mammoth 105-run win in a dominating all-round display, writes Naeemah Benjamin.

Great intent and positivity shown by the Proteas openers. They took the attack to the Indian spinners in the powerplay. It was raining boundaries as Lizelle Lee and Sune Luus powered SA women to 57-0 after 6 overs. It was their best start and highest partnership on this tour. What happened to the Proteas men and women who couldn’t play spin?

The boundaries certainly didnt stop, captain Harmanpreet Kaur had little to no answers for this onslaught as runs continued to flow all around the ground. Lizelle Lee and Sune Luus continued to entertain a packed stadium in Surat and were rotating the strike and stealing singles and two’s regularly putting the pressure on the bowlers and that’s besides their boundaries that came so easily and well timed by the two openers.

After 10 overs, Proteas Women were 87-0.

Poonam struck in the 16th over as Lee got a top edge and Shafali Verma ran back and made no mistake to take the catch. She departed for a brilliant 84 off 47 with 15 fours and 1 six. They were 144-1 after 16 overs.

Du Preez got an outside edge off Reddy and Poonam took the catch to send her on her way for 13 (6) including 2 fours.

After 18 overs, SA women were 2 down for 161.

Harmanpreet Kaur finally brought herself on in the 19th over and took the massive wicket of Luus for 62 (55) including 7 fours with the keeper Bhatia whipping the bails off as Sune was making her way down the track – 3 down for 166 after 19 overs.

One things for sure, the intent was truly there and what a difference a good start can make.

Despite India fighting back towards the end by picking up wickets, the foundation was laid and the rest of the batters came in and chipped the ball around for some runs to add to the tally.

SA women posted 175-3 in 20 overs, their second highest total in T20 Internationals.

SA started off well with the ball. Shabnim Ismail opened the bowling and conceded only 4 runs in the first over. Ayabonga Khaka followed with a brilliant maiden leaving India 4-0 after 2 overs and then the blazing Ismail got two wickets in two balls, dismissing Shafali Verma for 4 (8) and Jemimah Rodrigues for a golden duck. After the third over India were 9-2.

Ayabonga Khaka set Kaur up brilliantly to win the contest in the skipper’s 100th T20I.

The pressure of dot balls got to her as she chopped it on to depart for 1 (6). India were 3 down for 11 after 4 overs.

The South African teams can do no wrong today can they?

It was raining boundaries earlier and now it was raining wickets.

Nadine de Klerk’s first over was a maiden wicket one getting Smriti Mandhana for 5 (10) as her poor series continued and Deepti Sharma for 2 (8) which left India reeling on 13-5 after the powerplay.

Taniya Bhatia did no damage as Anne Bosch dismissed her for a 2 ball duck.

India collapsed even further to 15-6 after 7 overs.

Some much welcomed boundaries by Veda Krishnarmuthy and Arundhati Reddy guided them to 34-6 at the end of the 10th over.

The bowlers silenced the crowd but with India in dire trouble and half their side back in the pavilion it was tough for anyone who came to the crease.

Ayabonga Khaka finished with figures of 1-9 in her three overs.

Krishnamurthy and Reddy kept the scoreboard ticking, just as they were getting stuck in, Bosch broke their 50-run partnership bowling the former for 26 (24) including 3 fours. India women 62-7 after 14 overs.

The 15th over was a maiden by the skipper and then in the 16th over she took a great catch in the deep which gave De Klerk her third scalp of the evening dismissing Reddy for 22 (25). She finished with figures of 3/18. The hosts were 70-8 after 16 overs.

A maiden to end Shabnim Ismails four-over spell whereby she conceded 11 runs for 2 wickets. After 17 overs, India women were 70-8.

Nondumiso Shangase came in to the attack in the 18th over and wrapped things up. She got the Anuja Patil for 3 (3) and Poonam Yadav 0 (2) ending with figures of 0.3-0-0-2.

India were bundled out for 70 in 17.3 overs. Their second lowest T20I total. SA Women get a consolation 105-run win.

India won the series 3-1.

Scorecard