Openers Smriti Mandhana (54 n.o.) and Shafali Verma (27 n.o.) led India’s successful run chase with 10 wickets in hand and 9.1 overs to spare against the South African side in the third and final Women's T20 International to level the series 1-1  at the floodlight MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Tuesday night. The foundation of the morale boosting win, the biggest against the visiting side, ahead of the forthcoming Asia Cup was laid by pacer Pooja Vastrakar (4/13) whose career-best bowling show coupled with a miserly three over spell by left-arm spinner Radha Yadav (3/6) enabled the host to bowl out South Africa for 84 in 17.1 overs. Tazmin Brits (20) was the top scorer for her team before falling to off-spinner Deepti Sharma (1/21) soon after powerplay. Shreyanka Patil (1/19) accounted for the rival skipper Laura Wolvaardt (9) and Pooja dismissed the dangerous Marizanne Kapp (10), for her 50th wicket in the format, inside five overs, justified Harmanpreet Kaur decision to ball first.

Later the Indian vice-captain Smriti fast tracked the run chase with two sixes and two four as she added 21 runs in space of seven deliveries, while bringing up her 24th T20I half century, to end the contest quickly.

Pooja Vastrakar, Player of the Match and the Series post the match said, “"We tried to execute whatever we practised in the nets. I Want to bowl wicket-to-wicket and I try to keep things simple. Getting the new ball was a great opportunity and I also enjoyed the responsibility. The plan was to stick to our strengths and it worked out well as far as the bowlers are concerned.”

A disappointed Laura Wolvaardt, South Africa Captain whose team scored in excess of 175 plus score in the first two T20Is said, "Not how we want to end the series, a disappointing loss. Overall, there are a lot of learnings in the series. In the first two games, we had a lot of positives. We should have taken a little bit more time upfront today."

A beaming Harmanpreet Kaur, India Captain whose side won five of the seven matches in the multiformat series including the only Test and three ODI’s said,  "We spoke about the things we need to improve and I'm proud of the way we played today. Going forward, we might face similar situations where we have to go hard and express ourselves. Self-belief was there and now with the Asia Cup around the corner, we want to go there and do well. Amol Mazumdar is cool and keeps things simple, the support staff is very positive and this is the best staff I have ever worked with. As a team, we want to keep doing the right things and keep winning."

Brief Scores (3^rd Women’s T20I) :

South Africa – 84 all out in 17.1 Overs (Tazmin Brits 20 (23b: 3x4s), Anneke Bosch 17 (14b: 2x4s), Marizanne Kapp 10 (8b: 2x4s); Pooja Vastrakar 4/13, Radha Yadav 3/6, Arundhati Reddy 1/14, Shreyanka Patil 1/19, Deepti Sharma 1/21) lost to India - 88 for no loss in 10.5 Overs (Smriti Mandhana 54* (40b: 8x4s, 2x6s), Shafali Verma 27*( 25b: 3x4s) by 10 wickets and 55 balls to spare. Player of the Match & Series: Pooja Vastrakar (India)

Photo Partnership: Indian openers Smriti Mandhana (54 n.o.) and Shafali Verma (27 n.o.) put on an unbeaten 88 runs in 10.5 overs