Proteas Women draw first blood in T20 series against India

Brits had initially struggled to get going but eventually found her feet to explode in the second half of the innings as the visitors posted 189-4 in their 20 overs.

Opener Laura Wolvaardt had started well and made up for Brits' mistiming as the Proteas skipper struck 33 from 22 balls.

Marizanne Kapp (57 off 33 balls) carried on the good work of her captain as she went to a masterful fifty with the experienced all-rounder putting on a stand of 96 off 56 deliveries with Brits.

India started brilliantly in their run-chase with openers Smriti Mandhana (46) and Shafali Verma (18) adding 56 from from the first five overs.

The Proteas bowlers stuck at it on a flat pitch with seamer Ayabonga Khaka making the initial breakthrough having Verma caught behind.

Chloe Tryon then dismissed Mandhana as the tourists firmly put the brakes on the home side's scoring-rate in the middle overs.

Jemimah Rodrigues (53 not out off 30 balls) kept India in the hunt together with her skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (35) but Proteas spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba successfully defended 21 runs in the final over to close out the contest.

The second game will take place at the same venue on Sunday before the series closes out at the same venue next Tuesday.

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