Ayabonga Khaka, who was named Player of the Match, returned impressive figures of 3-16 alongside Tumi Sekhukhune’s 2-27 to restrict India to 157-7.
Laura Wolvaardt then anchored the chase with a 39-ball 51, well supported by Annerie Dercksen’s unbeaten 44 off 34 balls, as the home side sealed the win with five balls to spare to take a 1-0 series lead.
South Africa won the toss and elected to field first. India got off to a quick start through openers Shafali Verma (34) and Smriti Mandhana (13), who combined for a 46-run stand before strikes from Sekhukhune and Khaka dismissed both batsmen to leave the visitors on 48-2 at the end of the powerplay.
Following the loss of their opening pair, India responded with a crucial 71-run partnership between Jemimah Rodrigues (36) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (47*), propelling their side to 119-2 by the 15th over.
Sekhukhune returned with another important wicket, this time picking up the scalp of Rodrigues, before Khaka claimed her second of the evening by removing new batter Richa Ghosh (five) to reduce India to 124-4 at the start of the 16th over.
The Proteas continued to strike at regular intervals in the final five overs. Khaka grabbed her third, alongside a wicket for Nonkululeko Mlaba (1-30) and a run-out by Annerie Dercksen and Sinalo Jafta, as South Africa claimed four wickets for 33 runs to limit India to 157-7 after their 20 overs.
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In reply, South Africa looked to make a positive start through Suné Luus (13) and Wolvaardt, before Shreyanka Patil (2-26) made the breakthrough by bowling Luus in the second over.
The Proteas quickly recovered through a 48-run stand between Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits (10), taking the home side to 63-1 at the start of the eighth over before Brits was dismissed by Shree Charani (1-26).
With Wolvaardt at the crease, South Africa remained in control of the chase. The skipper then combined with Dercksen for a half-century stand to take the side past the 100-run mark.
With victory in sight, India counterpunched with the wickets of Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch (eight) in the 14th and 15th overs to reduce the hosts to 129-4. However, Dercksen and Chloé Tryon (18*) guided the Proteas over the line, with Tryon sealing the win with a six off the first ball of the 20th over.
The second T20I gets underway on Sunday in Durban (2pm).
Photo: Gerhard Duraan/Gallo Images
