After an intense nail-biter of a second game, the Proteas women have clinched the T20 series win against India.

It’s quite a monumental achievement for this side, putting together one clinical performance after another against a talented powerhouse of cricket.

The inclusion of Shafali Verma brought about more impetus for the Indian top-order, and a free-wheeling knock from Richa Ghosh in the middle order set up a more imposing target to chase down.

There was plenty riding on the hard-hitting opener Lizelle Lee, who continued her rich form and smashed a fluent 70, studded with boundaries on all sides of the ground. Suné Luus supported her well, but Laura Wolvaardt’s dexterous half-century stole the show after Lee’s dismissal.

In the end, 9 runs were needed from the final over, and the first 4 balls yielded just the three runs. A high full toss from Arundhati Reddy was adjudged a no-ball, and Wolvaardt took two runs, which turned the game on its head. Another two runs on the penultimate delivery meant there was 1 more run to get on the last ball.

A desperate dive from Wolvaardt sealed the deal in a tense chase. India presented a unique challenge with regards to more spin-conducive conditions, but the adaptability and adjustment from the Proteas ensured that they’d be well and truly in contention right from the outset.

To say that this tour has been a success would be a gross understatement. It’s empowering for the development of the women’s game in the country, as the Momentum Proteas have been in exemplary and motivating form.

India 158/4 in 20 overs (Verma 47, Ghosh 44 – Bosch 1/26, Mlaba 1/27)

South Africa 159/4 in 20 overs (Lee 70, Wolvaardt 53* – Gayakwad 1/20)