In-form Ayabonga Khaka leads clinical Proteas Women to opening T20 win over India

Ayabonga Khaka carried her fine form from the recent tour of New Zealand into the opening T20 of the five-match series against India at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday night, producing a superb spell to set up a confident Proteas Women's victory.

Khaka’s outstanding control of line and length returned figures of 3/16, helping restrict India to 157/7 after South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl. Her scalps included key batters Smriti Mandhana and power hitter Richa Ghosh.

The visitors made a flying start despite an early reprieve for Shafali Verma, who was dropped off the second ball of Khaka’s spell. Verma capitalised, striking five fours and a six as India raced to 46/0 inside five overs.

Tumi Sekhukhune eventually broke the opening stand, and Khaka followed up by removing Mandhana soon after, leaving India 48/2 at the end of the powerplay.

The innings stabilised through the middle overs, with India reaching 100/2 in the 13th over before Sekhukhune struck again, dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues for 36.

Khaka returned at the death to ensure there would be no late surge, with Ghosh caught on the boundary for five before Arundhati Reddy fell in the final over.

In reply, captain Laura Wolvaardt anchored the chase with a composed 51. She absorbed the early loss of Sune Luus (13) and drove the scoring during the powerplay as South Africa reached 53/1, with Wolvaardt contributing 28 at a brisk tempo.

The Proteas Women were well placed at 88/2 after 10 overs, and Wolvaardt brought up her half-century in the 12th over. Her 50-run stand with rising star Annerie Dercksen put the result beyond doubt before she fell for 51.

Dercksen kept her composure in the closing stages, striking a towering six  on her way to 44* as South Africa (158/4) eased home by six wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series.  The second match will be played at the same venue on Sunday.