India women started the five match T20I series with a win over South African women at Potchefstroom on Tuesday.

Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and decided to field first. India gave debut to Jemimah Rodriques, Radha Yadav, Pooja Vastrakar and Taniya Bhatia. South Africa gave debuts to two players – N de Klerk and R Ntozakhe.

South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk scored 38, M Du Preez hit 31 and Chloe Tyron blew away the Indian bowlers in the death overs with a 7 ball 32 including 4 sixes and 2 fours. South Africa women ended their 20 overs for 164/4.

Anuja Patil picked 2/23, while Pooja Vastrakar and Shikha Pandey took one wicket each.

India’s chase was shoulder by opener Mithali Raj’s 54* in 48 balls with 6 fours and 1 six. Smriti Mandhana hit 28 runs in 15 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Jemimah Rodriques (37 in 27 balls, four fours and 1 six) and Veda Krishnamurthy (37* in 22 balls with 3 sixes and 3 fours) led India to victory.

India reached the target with 7 wickets in hand and Mithali Raj was given the player of the match award.

BRIEF SCORES:

SA-W 164/4 (D VAN NIEKERK 38; A PATIL 2/23) lost to IND-W 168/3 (M RAJ 54*, J RODRIQUES 37, V KRISHNAMURTHY 37*) by 7 wickets.