IND vs SA Highlights, 5th T20I: South Africa Women beat India Women by 23 runs

Proteas Women rejoice - That's it from this series and there's just one thing left to do - Laura Wolvaardt collects the series-winning Trophy and joins her teammates as they celebrate a fine series victory over a strong opponent. It is now time to say goodbye, but first let's have a look at what these two teams will be up to next. South Africa Women will have a bit of a break now and start their preparation for the T20 World Cup, due to begin in June. On the other hand, India Women will also have a break before heading to England a bit early, as they will be playing a white-ball series against the World Cup hosts England just before the mega event. That is all from us, hope you enjoyed the coverage. Until next time then, take care and goodbye.

Laura Wolvaardt - Player of the Series! The skipper of South Africa Women, Laura Wolvaardt, gets the accolade for the Player of the Match for her stellar knock of 92 unbeaten runs off just 56 balls. She is also named the Player of the Series for accumulating 330 runs over the course of the 5 matches. Wolvaardt says that she is very happy. Coming off a tough series against New Zealand and turning it around here was pretty good. Adds that winning all the tosses certainly helped, and a couple of things went her way, which was great. Mentions that the wicket here tends to be flat but being the end of the season, they thought it would stay low and slow, so picked the team according to that. Shares that there is always room for improvement, they want to be better in the fielding department going into the World Cup. Ends by saying that it was a brilliant series, the crowd was superb and they loved playing in front of them.

The captain of India Women - Harmanpreet Kaur, the skipper of India Women says it was disappointing to lose, but she is optimistic for giving all the players a chance in the series. Adds that they didn't score many in the Powerplay and lost two wickets, which didn't help in the chase. Feels there are a lot of learnings from this series. They have a keen understanding of how South Africa Women play, they know their plans and that will help during the mega event. Ends by appreciating the support from the fans and hopes they keep supporting.

The Presentation ceremony...

Let's recap the first innings - Earlier in the day, Laura Wolvaardt won a fifth straight toss in this series and opted to bat first for the first time. Wolvaardt led from the front but the other batters struggled to find their timing. However, Sune Luus did manage to stick around for a long while as the opening duo added 75 runs. The Indian spinners showed their class in the middle overs as Sree Charani and Deepti Sharma picked up a couple of wickets each, so did pacer Renuka Singh Thakur, but they leaked runs right at the death, allowing the hosts to get to a total in excess of 150 runs.

India's concerns with the bat keep mounting - India Women have certainly been out-batted throughout this series and barring a couple of knocks here and there, the batting order simply hasn't clicked as a unit. Shafali Verma fell early and Jemimah Rodrigues soon followed suit as the visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The highest stand was between skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Bharti Fulmali, worth 38 runs, and the latter did score a handy 40, but it wasn't enough. Richa Ghosh came way too late to make a real impact but she did stay unbeaten on 25 off just 15 balls, and maybe she could have been pushed up the order a bit.

Another box ticked for South Africa Women - Laura Wolvaardt won yet another toss in this series, and for the first time, she elected to defend a score rather than chase it, and her bowlers have certainly stepped up. The score on the board was a good one given the nature of the surface but one good partnership, or one big knock, and it could have been gunned down. It was an all-round bowling effort and barring Annerie Dercksen, everyone contributed with at least one wicket and were fairly economical. Eliz-Mari Marx got the crucial early breakthrough and it was Nonkululeko Mlaba who was the pick of the bowlers, picking up a couple of wickets for just 15 runs in her four overs.

Proteas win big in Benoni - South Africa Women had already sealed the series in the third game, but they have ended up being 4-1 winners of this five-match T20I series. This win against the reigning ODI World Champions will give them a lot of confidence heading into the T20 World Cup. On the other hand, India Women will take this series as a pinch of salt and will look to get back to their best as they continue their preparation for the upcoming mega event.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 132/8 (19.6 overs)

Ayabonga Khaka to Sree Charani, A dot to end the game! SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN WIN BY 23 RUNS! Ayabonga Khaka bowls a good wide yorker, outside off, Sree Charani backs away and throws her bat at it but fails to reach it. 

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 132/8 (19.5 overs)

Ayabonga Khaka to Richa Ghosh, Fuller and on off, Richa Ghosh forces it to wide long off for one.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 131/8 (19.4 overs)

Ayabonga Khaka to Richa Ghosh, Uppish but safe! Short of a length and on middle, Richa Ghosh goes for the pull shot but gets a top edge. It goes in the air but lands over the fielder at short fine. Two taken.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 129/8 (19.3 overs)

Ayabonga Khaka to Richa Ghosh, SIX! Gets hold of that one! A full toss, on middle leg. Richa Ghosh makes the most of it and smacks it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 123/8 (19.2 overs)

Ayabonga Khaka to Sree Charani, Touch fuller and around off, Sree Charani lofts it over extra covers for a run.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 122/8 (19.1 overs)

Ayabonga Khaka to Richa Ghosh, Back of a length and on middle, Richa Ghosh punches it to long on for a single. She wants the second but the fielder is quick to throw the ball back.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 121/8 (19.1 overs)

Ayabonga Khaka to Sree Charani, Two wides! Fuller and well outside off, Sree Charani misses and the keeper also makes a half stop. A wide given and a bye taken.

Ayabonga Khaka (3-0-16-1) will close out the series with the ball.

Is that gone? There's an appeal for a stumping and the umpires have gone upstairs. It seems close, but replays confirm that Richa Ghosh got her bat down before Sinalo Jafta dislodged the bails. NOT OUT.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 119/8 (18.6 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Almost another wicket for Nonkululeko Mlaba! She gives this one some more air, full and around off, turns away. Richa Ghosh uses her feet and tries to swipe it away but misses. Sinalo Jafta collects the ball and breaks the stumps, looking very confident. However, the replay shows that Ghosh put her bat down in time. 

India Women are falling apart at the death. Sree Charani is the next batter.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 119/8 (18.5 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Kranti Gaud, OUT! KRANTI GAUD IS RUN OUT! Nonkululeko Mlaba loops it up, full and on middle, Gaud pushes it back to the bowler. However, as soon as she hits it, Richa Ghosh sets off for the run to get back strike. Gaud takes off, seeing that she sacrifices her wicket. She had no chance of getting to the other end, as Mlaba breaks the stumps with ease. India Women are 119/8 now.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 119/7 (18.4 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Kranti Gaud, Floated, full and around off, Kranti Gaud uses her feet and swings at it but fails to connect. She does well to get back to her crease.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 119/7 (18.3 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Kranti Gaud, Short and around off, Kranti Gaud punches it to extra cover.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 119/7 (18.2 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Kranti Gaud, Beauty! Slows it up, full and on off, turns away sharply. Kranti Gaud has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Kranti Gaud is in at number 9 for India.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 119/7 (18.1 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Arundhati Reddy, OUT! CASTLED! Nonkululeko Mlaba has her second of the game now. She tosses it up, full and on middle, does not turn much. Arundhati Reddy dances down the track to smash it over mid-wicket, but ends up playing all over it. The ball goes through and rattles into the middle stump. India are seven down now.

Nonkululeko Mlaba is back on to bowl the 19th over.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 119/6 (17.6 overs)

Nadine De Klerk to Arundhati Reddy, Gets away with it!  A loopy full toss, around leg, Arundhati Reddy backs away and heaves it towards deep mid-wicket for just one. 37 needed in 12 balls!

The next batter is Arundhati Reddy. There is a bit of lightning around now as well. Initially, the umpires halted play and the covers started coming on. However, pretty quickly, the umpires took a U-turn and we are good to play again.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 118/6 (17.5 overs)

Nadine De Klerk to Deepti Sharma, OUT! STUMPED! Nadine De Klerk gets her second and the star of the last match is gone now. Pitched up and around off, angles it away, keeping it out of the reach of the batter. Deepti Sharma skips down the track, stays leg side and has a slog across the line but misses it completely. Sinalo Jafta, the keeper, who is standing up to the stumps, collects it sharply and breaks the stumps with Deepti out of her crease.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 118/5 (17.4 overs)

Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, Nails the yorker, on middle and leg, Richa Ghosh jams it out to long on for one.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 117/5 (17.3 overs)

Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! Streaky but they all count! Fuller one and on middle, Richa Ghosh gets down for the slog sweep. Gets a top edge that flies over the keeper's head for another boundary.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 113/5 (17.2 overs)

Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! Excellent shot! Flatter delivery, full and outside off. Richa Ghosh gets her hands through the shot and slices it over extra cover for a boundary.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 109/5 (17.1 overs)

Nadine De Klerk to Deepti Sharma, Short and around off, Deepti Sharma punches it to cover-point for a single.

India Women need 48 more off 18 balls, and Nadine De Klerk comes back into the attack as well.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 108/5 (16.6 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, DROPPED! Richa Ghosh gets a life here! Flighted delivery, full and around off, Richa Ghosh backs away to lift it but fails to get the timing and the ball flies in the air towards sweeper cover. Chloe Tryon comes forward but spills it out. Two taken. Could this be the turning point for India?

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 106/5 (16.5 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Three dots in a row! Slows it up, full and on off, Richa Ghosh pushes it to the left of the bowler.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 106/5 (16.4 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Flatter, full and on middle, Richa Ghosh knocks it back to the bowler.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 106/5 (16.3 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Dragged back, outside off, Richa Ghosh cuts it away but fails to beat backward point.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 106/5 (16.2 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Deepti Sharma, Floated, full and on middle, Deepti Sharma uses her feet and whips it wide of long on for a single. India Women need 50 runs in 22 balls now!

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 105/5 (16.1 overs)

Nonkululeko Mlaba to Deepti Sharma, Sloppy! Tossed up, full and on middle and leg, Deepti Sharma goes down and paddles it towards short fine. Tumi Sekhukhune fails to read the spin and lets it through for a couple of runs.

Another bowling change? Yes, indeed. Nonkululeko Mlaba replaces Ayabonga Khaka in the attack.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 103/5 (15.6 overs)

Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, Flatter delivery, on middle. Richa Ghosh taps it back on the track.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 103/5 (15.5 overs)

Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, Slows up the pace and slides it on the pads. Ghosh looks to clip it away but misses.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 103/5 (15.4 overs)

Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! Superb shot to get off the mark. The arm ball, fuller and in the slot, on middle. Richa Ghosh goes inside-out over cover and beats the fielder from long off as well. A boundary.

What a big wicket and at such a crucial time as well. Richa Ghosh now walks out to bat at number 7.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 99/5 (15.3 overs)

Chloe Tryon to Bharti Fulmali, OUT! LBW! Huge appeal for LBW, up goes the finger. Chloe Tryon has made a habit of picking wickets at the right time. Flights it full and on middle, comes with the angle and was in line with the stumps. Bharti puts away her front leg to sweep but loses her shape as well. It rolls in and hits her on the pads. An appeal for LBW and up goes the finger. That front leg troubled Bharti Fulmali today. 

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 99/4 (15.2 overs)

Chloe Tryon to Bharti Fulmali, FOUR! Fine shot! Tossed up, full and on off, Bharti Fulmali goes inside out, extends her arms and lofts it cleanly over extra covers for a boundary.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 95/4 (15.1 overs)

Chloe Tryon to Deepti Sharma, Floated, full and on leg, Deepti Sharma swipes it away to deep backward square leg for a single.

Laura Wolvaardt keeps ringing in the changes. Chloe Tryon is back on to bowl out. 19 runs off her 3 overs thus far.

India Women vs South Africa Women Live Score : 94/4 (14.6 overs)

Ayabonga Khaka to Bharti Fulmali, Oh, Bharti is living dangerously. A yorker-length delivery, angling down. Bharti Fulmali clears her front leg to whip it away but misses and also loses her control. She manages to keep her back foot inside the line.