The Proteas suffered a four-run defeat to India in the second women’s ODI on Wednesday, despite centuries from Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp.

India posted a formidable 325-3, driven by Smriti Mandhana’s 136 off 120 balls (18 fours, two sixes) and Harmanpreet Kaur’s 103* off 88 balls (nine fours, three sixes).

In reply, South Africa demonstrated resilience through Wolvaardt (135* off 135 balls; 12 fours, three sixes) and Kapp (114 off 94; 11 fours, three sixes) but ultimately fell short, finishing at 321-6.

After choosing to bowl first, the Proteas limited India to 28-0 after 10 overs before Nonkululeko Mlaba (2-51) dismissed Shafali Verma (20).

Mandhana and Dayalan Hemalatha (24) accelerated India’s innings with a 62-run partnership, before Klaas (1-67) removed the latter.

Kaur then joined Mandhana, and the duo quickly found their rhythm, adding 171 runs for the third wicket.

Mandhana raced to her second consecutive century, equalling a record seventh ton for India, before being dismissed by Mlaba, leaving India at 271-3 in the 46th over.

Kaur and Richa Ghosh (25*) then added valuable runs in the final overs, with Kaur hitting two fours and a six in the last over to bring up her sixth career century.

In their chase of the massive target, South Africa began cautiously, with Tazmin Brits (five) the first to fall in the fourth over to debutant Arundhati Reddy (1-62).

Wolvaardt then received brief support from Anneke Bosch (18) and Suné Luus (12), taking the Proteas to 67-3 in the 15th over before the batters were dismissed by Deepti Sharma (2-56) and Mandhana (1-13), respectively.

Wolvaardt found a strong partner in Kapp, and the experienced duo took South Africa to 150 in the 31st over, with both reaching their half-centuries.

Kapp took on the role of aggressor while Wolvaardt anchored the innings, contributing a 184-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Kapp raced to her third career century off 85 balls before being caught in the deep, leaving South Africa at 251-4 in the 43rd over.

Wolvaardt continued to score alongside Nadine de Klerk (28).

Wolvaardt achieved her eighth ODI century, and the Proteas took the match into the final over, needing 11 runs for victory.

Pooja Vastrakar (2-54) picked up the crucial wickets of De Klerk and Nondumiso Shangase (nought) in two balls before delivering a dot ball on the final delivery.

The third and final ODI is scheduled for Sunday (10am SA time) at the same venue.