World Cup, India vs South Africa as it happened: Mignon Du Preez breaks Indian hearts

3.00 pm: Just thinking about the night Harmanpreet Kaur had and once again the heart breaks into a few little pieces. What a performance that was. The no ball? Oh, the heartbreaks there, today and of the past. For the youngsters in the team... plenty to be proud of. For West Indies, joy. Finally though, #MilJhul. Played the whole World Cup, played all of the previous World Cups... but watched on from the sidelines today as the campaign came to an end. Can only imagine, what Jhulan Goswami must be feeling. For Mithali Raj, as she kept it all together in the press conference, it must all just feel raw at the moment. There is so much more to say, but for now, let us all just give them a ‘Thank you!’ For everything they have done for Indian cricket.

SOUTH AFRICA WIN, HEARTBREAK FOR INDIA: South Africa rallied around the West Indies.

49.5: Single. 1 off 1.

Correction: 49.4 now. It’s a free hit. 2 off 2. That’s the match, we guess.

49.5: WHAT NO! IT IS A NO BALL! What a twist! 2 off 2 and MdP is back on strike. No crossover. No run off the bat, the umpires explain.

49.5: MIGNON DU PREEZ LOFTS ONE DOWN THE GROUND AND GUESS WHO HARMANPREET KAUR TAKES THE CATCH!!! (Simple enough but boy!) 3 off 1 ball. Deepti Sharma strikes.

49.4: What! An easy single to long off. 3 off 2. This is a bit perplexing.

Still waiting. MdP is ready at the non-striker’s.

49.3: A Single. MdP off strike, Ismail on strike. She can swing. Mega conference.

5 off 4 balls. MdP on strike.

49.2: WICKET! Out or not that was a brilliant run. Du Preez on strike. Mission accomplished. Smart cricket from Trisha Chetty. She was short, but du Preez has a 50 and is on strike.

49.1: Single to square leg, Trisha gets off strike.

Big conference. Deepti Sharma has the ball. What a moment for her. 7 off 6.

South Africa 268/6 after 49 overs: Did India just allow too many easy singles through the leg side? SA need 7 off 6 balls.

48.4: MdP nearly hits another four down the ground but Mandhana puts in a stunning stop to prevent four. Just two, but the runs are coming easy. (What must Mandhana be thinking at the moment). 9 off 8 balls.

Remember the warm-up match between India and South Africa when we had no idea what was going on? Just got reminded of that for no reason. (Gayakwad won that match for India, for the record)

The all-important 49th over... goes to Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

South Africa 261/6 after 48 overs: MdP and Trisha Chetty dealing in singles. That will do for them. 14 off 12 balls.

47.1: Was that a missed stumping? Down the leg side, MdP takes on Deepti. Richa didn’t gather, they take a single. Wasn’t given a wide too. Not sure what happened there.

SA need 20 runs in 18 balls.

46.6, WICKET! Tryon hits one back to Gayakwad. Soft dismissal but she has done the damage one feels. Out for 17 off 9 balls.

Correction, the four was 46.5:

46.5: Full toss, smashed down the ground for four. “Absolutely clueless bowling by Rajeshwari Gayakwad”: Former India captain Anjum Chopra on air. Perhaps she is feeling it too.

45.5: FOUR 45.6: FOUR 46.1: FOUR 46.2: FOUR 

 And that is perhaps that.

46.1: Tryon goes over the offside! Four.

46.2: Tryon sweeps! Four.

West Indies can start to celebrate....

34 off 24 balls. Gayakwad to bowl.

South Africa 226/4 after 44 overs: 2-0-1-0-4-4! MIGNON DU PREEZ! This is why you don’t drop superstars. A good over from Vastrakar spoiled by two boundaries at the end. Down the ground, then past square leg.

Earlier in that over when Kapp got out, Mandhana dropped du Preez at long on... will it prove costly

SA need 45 runs from 30 balls

South Africa 229/5 after 44.5 overs: WICKET! Another run out. Kaap found short, Kaur at work again. Brilliant pick up and release and then Richa finished it off well. This is a big wicket given her form in the tournament so far.

South Africa 226/4 after 44 overs: South Africa need 49 runs in 36 balls. A tight finish coming up. India will need to be on their game.

South Africa 217/4 after 43 overs: South Africa still have Chloe Tryon to come.... they won’t mind these singles. Four singles and a two at the end of the over. SA will be happy.

South Africa 206/4 after 42 overs: Five singles and a dot ball to finish. Decent over by Sneh Rana but the think-tank seem rather animated as the camera keeps panning to them. Not sure what’s up. (Reminder that Chloe Tryon is yet to bat)

CORRECTION: That four was hit by Kapp.

South Africa 206/4 after 41 overs: A four for Kapp off Harman. Superb cut.

South Africa 198/4 after 40 overs:

Here we go. Into the final 10! 77 needed off 60 balls. India? Or West Indies (South Africa)?

An animated Ramesh Powar seems to be passing on some inputs through Poonam Yadav.

South Africa 196/4 after 39 overs: Kapp! She has been inspired for SA in the tournament. A brilliant off drive for four.

South Africa 188/4 after 38 overs: Good thing India have done is dry up the boundaries

WICKET! 36.1: Sune Luus 22(27) lbw Harmanpreet Kaur, South Africa WOW! HARMANPREET! The Indian vice-captain has delivered another HUGE breakthrough. Brilliant review from India, Sune Luus out! 182/4

IT’S OFFICIAL: The first semi-final of the World Cup (not necessarily the first match on schedule) is finally confirmed with less than 100 balls to go in the final league stage match. A repeat of 2017’s thriller, South Africa will face England.

South Africa 167/3 after 33 overs: Some sloppiness in that Meghna Singh over. Wide, overthrows... India can’t afford these. Time for a drinks break, think everyone needs to gather themselves for a bit.

South Africa 162/3 after 32 overs: I don’t quite know how Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Harmanpreet Kaur got those two wickets with evident dew. The fielders are starting to slip, the towels are out... really remarkable dismissals. Would still think SA will fancy their chances, the required rate just over 6.

South Africa 153/3 after 30 overs: SA have their captain and the all-time leading run-scorer in the middle now. DU Preez started to look in good touch last time around. Ain’t over yet, not by a long shot.

WICKET! 27.5: Laura Wolvaardt 80(79) b Harmanpreet KaurWhat a moment. What a delivery. What a wicket. Laura Wolvaardt is bowled by one that turns in. South Africa 145/3

WICKET! 26.5: Lara Goodall 49(69) st Richa Ghosh b Rajeshwari Gayakwad Turn, a bit of bounce and there is the wicket India were getting desperate for. The roll of the dice has worked, as we just said. Goodall falls one short off a half century as RG gets one to through her defence. Great keeping by Richa South Africa 139/2

South Africa 137/1 after 26 overs: Already perhaps the most turn we have seen on offer. But slow turn nevertheless. Gayakawad brought on from the other end. Mithali is rolling the dice. If nothing happens in the next two-three overs, you worry for India.

There have been quite a few calls for Harmanpreet Kaur the bowler to be used... and we finally see her come into the attack.

South Africa 133/1 after 25 overs: Win predictor ticks over to 61% for SA. Even the chirping and general energy has gone down for India... Richa Ghosh making herself heard just as we type that.

India are not far behind on the “at this stage” scenario. But the reality feels quite different. That Shabnim Ismail spell!

South Africa 124/1 after 23 overs: Deepti Sharma comes back and Wolvaardt shows her leg side game is not half bad either. Rana with three singles in the over.

CENTURY PARTNERSHIP: What a time for the first century partnership of the tournament for South Africa. 100 off 99 balls.

South Africa 107/1 after 20 overs: Two fours in that Vastrakar over for Wolvaardt.

Laura Wolvaardt is on song. Lara Goodall keeps finding boundaries. Great conditions for batting. The win predictor finally reflecting what we are seeing. 51% South Africa.

South Africa 95/1 after 19 overs: Four rather easy singles in that Rana over. Not looking good for India at the moment.

South Africa 91/1 after 18 overs: Maiden over from Vastrakar. (One leg bye) That will help. Need to at the very least build pressure.

South Africa 90/1 after 17 overs: Wickets will change the course of match and all that but I think the biggest worry for India is that it doesn’t actually feel like the wickets are around the corner. Not from the pitch, not from the bowling. India really need a boost from somewhere, someone.

South Africa 86/1 after 16 overs: Not good fielding and there is a four for Goodall in that over. The boundaries keep coming. South Africa, at this stage, appear to be favourites. Wolvaardt, with her 5th fifty of the tournament, has crossed 400 runs for the tournament. Drinks.

South Africa 81/1 after 15 overs: Probably the first comforting sign for India in a while. Gayakwad getting the ball to stop and bounce a bit more. The over then ends with a short ball that is cut for four. “Poor cricket,” says Anjum Chopra. And with that....

HALF CENTURY. FOR LAURA WOLVAARDT: Off just 44 balls and perhaps her best innings of the World Cup yet.

Update: After a rare blip against West Indies, Laura Wolvaardt has continued where she left off before that. 

 14 innings at ODI World Cups

 11 innings of 40 or more.

Nearing her 9th 50-plus score

South Africa 71/1 after 13 overs: India need some control here. There are far too many boundaries for SA that the pressure is barely building, Goodall in that Vastrakar over.

South Africa 62/1 after 11 overs: Meg Lanning’s cut... Laura Wolvaardt’s off drive.... ....not sure India fans will like where this is going. Another one for four in that Gayakwad over. If I have to guess, I’d say India are inviting Wolvaardt to play that shot and tempt her into getting beaten. But it simply hasn’t happened.

South Africa 50/1 after 10 overs: After a slow-ish start, Laura Wolvaardt is putting on a sensational show of shot-making. India under pressure here.

Lara Goodall announced her arrival last year in India with a brilliant innings in a run-chase.

India vs South Africa, 4th ODI (March 14 2021) as it happened: SA clinch series 2-1 after record run-chase

South Africa 43/1 after 9 overs: She is just something else. Two of the best shots of the day, even the tournament, off Meghna Singh already. Genius. This one goes to the left of the fielder at deep cover.

South Africa 32/1 after 8 overs: South Africa are picking up their scoring rate. Lara Goodall played a really good knock in India in a big run-chase last year.

South Africa 28/1 after 7 overs: Laura Wolvaardt with two classy fours in the Meghna over. One square and one straight down the ground. She now has 19 off 20 balls.

South Africa 17/1 after 6 overs: At the same stage, India were 39/0. Mithali and Co have started well. No loose deliveries and nothing for the SA batters to get some confidence from.

South Africa 14/1 after 4.4 overs: Run out! A direct hit and Lizelle Lee is gone after making just 6. What a big wicket! Kaur with the throw. Huge moment in the game this!

South Africa 10/0 after 4 overs: South Africa have made a cautious start. Very different from how India went about things at the start of their innings earlier in the day.

South Africa 7/0 after 3 overs: Lee with a nice pick up shot. Took it from off and middle and got off the mark with a four. India knows how dangerous Lee can be.

South Africa 2/0 after 2 overs: Steady start by India. Tight overs by Meghna and Deepti to start things off. They will want to put pressure on Lee early.

As per broadcasters: If South Africa cross 175, India can at best finish 4th. To finish 3rd, India need to restrict South Africa to 173 or below.

ENGLAND (Q): INTO SEMIS! ENG win by 100 runs and improved their NRR to +0.949. Unless South Africa collapse big time, India are now effectively playing for fourth spot. WI watching on in Christchurch now. England complete their brilliant turnaround from losing their first three matches. The defending champions are now highly likely to finish 3rd, improving their NRR from +0.778 to +0.949.

ENGLAND ARE THROUGH TO THE SEMIFINAL:

In Wellington, England closing in on a huge win! Bangladesh 129/9 after 47 overs.

India post 274/7 after 50 overs: Have they fallen short here after a great start? A lot will depend on South Africa’s openers and India don’t have Jhulan Goswami. India will be (must be) praying Lizelle Lee doesn’t tee off. And for the pitch to slow down even more. Otherwise this could yet end in heartbreak.

WICKET! 49.3: Harmanpreet Kaur 48(57) b Ayabonga Khaka The fifty will prove elusive today but more so the big finish. Bowled. India 271/7

A bizarre end to Shabnim’s sensational spell. Bouncers galore, given out twice Sneh Rana but reviews showed comfortably missing.

WICKET! 48.2: Richa Ghosh 8(13) ct Sune Luus b Shabnim Ismail Richa just never got her timing right. Another brilliant slower ball from Ismail, skied to Luus. India 268/6

(Correction) India 268/5 after 48 overs: That’s the momentum Harman was perhaps hoping for. Lovely guided shot past point for four, then a straight drive lofted. Taking on Kapp.

India 255/5 after 47 overs: The boundaries are not coming but not for the lack of trying. It’s timing that is proving difficult. Maybe not the worst sign for India.

India 250/5 after 46 overs: a 9-run over but no big hits off the bat still. Timing not proving easy. Harman nearly caught at deep but Tryon doesn’t hold on while diving forward.

Shabnim Ismail had figures of 3-0-31-0, it now reads 9-1-39-1

India 241/5 after 45 overs: Sensational Shabnim is pulling things back big time for SA. India have stumbled in the last 5 overs.

WICKET! 44.2: Pooja Vastrakar c Sune Luus b Shabnim Ismail 3 (8) What a bowler she is. Breathes fire and then changes it up ever so often with a slower one, Vastrakar lobs one to cover.

India 240/4 after 44 overs: Great over by Kapp, Ismail saved a certain boundary there too.

WICKET! 42.3: Mithali Raj 68(84) ct Chloe Tryon b Masabata Klaas Mithali dismissed going for the big shot. Another good catch by the South Africans. The Indian skipper made a vital 68. India 234/4

India 229/3 after 42 overs: Five singles off Kapp’s over. Just get the feeling something’s about to give here.

India 224/3 after 41 overs: Another fantastic over from Shabnim Ismail... but she has just walked off the field.

Bangladesh have lost Fargana Hoque Pinky & Rumana Ahmed as England keep striking in regular intervals. England vs Bangladesh (ICC scores)

India 223/3 after 40 overs: Mithali moves on to 66 off 80, Harman is on 19 off 28. Into the final 10 now and India will be looking to add 80 at least. Another lovely four for Mithali in that over, lofting over mid-off.

Also in Wellington:

India 214/3 after 39 overs: Ismail fire! Jhulan was clapping after that bouncer to Mithali by Shabnim Ismail. Wonder what she enjoyed more, the swaying or the bouncer itself! She has been brilliant after the Shafali onslaught in the first spell. Great competition between two superstars.

India 211/3 after 38 overs: Brilliant shot! All timing from Mithali past point off Khaka for four.

HALF CENTURY: A third fifty of this innings for an Indian batter and it is turning into a lovely knock by the Indian skipper. 64th ODI fifty!

India 195/3 after 36 overs: The Harman sweep is here, great shot off Klass for four.

India 189/3 after 35 overs: Mithali with a four off another sweep in Tryon’s over. She has gifted a few to India today with her otherwise tight bowling. Harman, meanwhile, is already getting into a shot-playing zone. Huge partnership this.

India 181/3 after 34 overs: Harman, we all know is a slow starter, so onus now on Mithali to increase the tempo. India really need 300 here it feels like.

WICKET! 31.6: Smriti Mandhana 71(84) ct Chloe Tryon b Masabata Klaas One more for the collection this tournament! Chloe Tryon, on fire, As much as the dive at the end, the more impressive aspect was quickly she got around to it from mid-off. Mandhana didn’t time it right but must have thought she did enough to get into the gap. India 176/3

India 172/2 after 31 overs: Another four for Mithali, a square cut this time off Tryon. Her SR has creeped up past 70 now. Good phase for India.

India 165/2 after 30 overs: Another big over for India, a four for Mithali through cover off Kapp. 39/0 in the last 5 overs, momentum for India against Momentum Proteas.

In Wellington: Sophie Ecclestone provides the first breakthrough (of course!) as Bangladesh’s patient opening stands is broken. Sharmin Akhter bowled. Required rate has crossed 6.00 for Bangladesh and fair to say, England have one foot in the semifinals... and perhaps with a big win too. Third place nearly getting locked.

India 154/2 after 29 overs: The 50-partnership is also up and now Mithali too is rotating the strike. Her SR has crossed 50. Luus provided a couple of loose balls, not put away but those could have easily gone to the fielder too, given how things work for legspinners.

India 146/2 after 28 overs: Kapp comes back and Smriti helps herself to two fours, either side of the stumps behind the wicket. Good stuff from the LHB.

HALF CENTURY: 50 off 69 balls for Smriti Mandhana. Still can’t get that six out of my head! Was some shot. Third 50-plus score of the tournament. Needs to go big though... India need more from her, especially in terms of momentum. India 135/2 (27)

India 126/2 after 25 overs: The loose shots are creeping into Smriti Mandhana’s innings. Nearly out twice off Luus. SA have put the brakes on. 18 runs off the last 5 overs. Mithali 18 off 37 now, perhaps that’s overdoing the anchoring?

India 120/2 after 24 overs: Maiden over from Ismail. She is starting to make her mark in the game now.

India 120/2 after 23 overs: Luus brings herself on. The captain has struggled a bit at times for bowling rhythm but confident enough now to bring herself on early. Nearly a miscue from Mandhana down the ground.

India 115/2 after 22 overs: Ismail brings the heat right away, with a bouncer to Mandhana. Good over that. Just one run.

In Wellington: Bangladesh haven’t lost wickets in the powerplay but England firmly in control.

Ismail comes back... attacking move from Luus, looking for a wicket here that break India’s momentum completely.

India 114/2 after 21 overs: Shot! Mithali rocks back and punches one through cover for four off Tryon.

India 108/2 after 20 overs: Mithali Raj with a good cover drive off Khaka for a couple more. couldn’t have asked for a better platform, to be fair, to get her eye in. Maybe Mandhana can keep things going from one end. India really can’t afford another wicket here but also need to keep the tempo decent.

India 102/2 after 19 overs: Mithali off the mark with a sweep shot for four. Can’t bowl to her there, Chloe.

India 97/2 after 18 overs: Mithali yet to get off the mark after 8 deliveries. She got out to a rare duck last match.

Mithali Raj in the middle. At the venue of her World Cup debut back in 2000

WICKET! 16.3: Yastika Bhatia 2(3) b Chloe Tryon Oh wow! That is another soft dismissal. Full ball outside the leg stump, she just back-batted it onto the stumps while trying to sleep. Tryon cannot believe it. India 96/2

India 93/1 after 16 overs: Important for India to keep this early momentum going. And also not lose wickets in a cluster. Mandhana must move on quickly.

India 92/1 after 15 overs: Before that massive mix up happened, in the Klass over, Mandhana hit the most ridiculous six you are likely to see this tournament. Nearly a full ball, but she pulled it over midwicket.

WICKET! 14.6: Shafali Verma 53(46) Run Out Sune Luus: Oh dear! What a way for a great partnership to end. With Smriti Mandhana (and Shafali Verma too) you feel like a run out is always around the corner. Massive mix up. Shafali sacrificed her wicket there, either could have been out. India 91/1

HALF CENTURY: With a four down the ground off Klaas, Shafali Verma brings up a 40-ball half century.

India 74/0 after 11 overs: Tryon with a tidy 3-run over. Shafali moves on to 48.

England’s defence underway in Wellington

India 74/0 after 11 overs: SA’s spin bowling has been an area of concern, Mandhana takes on Tryon early for an important four. It will be important because India cannot afford to let slip the advantage after taking on the main bowlers.

STAT: The second highest powerplay total of the tournament (68/0). Via @hypocaust)

India 68/0 after 10 overs: Shabnim comes back into the attack, Shafali keeps things ticking. It’s not been all slam-bang, she has picked her moments and deliveries. So crucial.

India 62/0 after 9 overs: 13 runs from the 9th over and the 50-run opening partnership has been crossed! What a start for India.

India 49/0 after 8 overs: She’s been patient, but moment Kapp dropped one short it was pulled through midwicket for four. When she plays that shot, it must be equally thrilling and a bit scary for her fans.

India 45/0 after 7 overs: The boundaries keep coming for Shafali at one end, driven nicely past mid off of Khaka’s bowling. Picked up a slower delivery, all wrists to push it past the fielder. For all the unique shots she plays, these are signs of her continued improvement.

Trisha Chetty, once again, standing up to the stumps without her helmet on for a pacer. About time the ICC does something about this.

India 39/0 after 6 overs: A boundary for Shafali in Khaka’s first over. Kapp continues to keep things tight against Mandhana, who can afford to take her time thanks to the flier from Shafali.

In Wellington: Sophia Dunkley’s brilliant 67 has helped England get to a good score after a shaky start. They will be favourites to defend this against Bangladesh. A semifinal spot gets closer.

Shafali has hit Ismail out of the attack... for now. Khaka comes on.

India 32/0 after 4 overs: 17 runs in one Shabnim Ismail over as India’s No 17 Shafali Verma is off to a good start. Three fours, the third of which a brilliant improvised shot. Couple of twos as well later in the over. Kapp steadies things a bit.

India 13/0 after 2 overs: A full toss from Kapp, driven through cover for four. Long part of the ground, but enough timing from Mandhana.

India 8/0 after 1 over: Shafali Verma had a big smile on her face when asked about facing the South Africa pace attack. A four through cover off Ismail to start things off for her. A premeditated shot didn’t go her way.

I love to play hard deliveries and good bowlers. I have always played against pace and as I will get it in tomorrow’s match. I am very excited to play tomorrow’s game. It would be fun to play their fast bowling.

— Shafali on facing SA pacers, ICC media zone

National anthems done. Here we go then! Shabnim Ismail and Co will offer a stern test. Can Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma get off to a good start?

REPLUG: In 2000 against South Africa in Christchurch, came Mithali Raj’s first ODI World Cup innings. Player of the match, unbeaten half century. 22 years later, Mithali Raj will lead India against South Africa in Christchurch for a must-win match

National anthems time!

Playing XIs

India XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh(w), Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

South Africa XI: Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, Lara Goodall, Sune Luus(c), Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka

Team news:

Ok, first update from commentators: side strain for Jhulan Goswami.

TOSS: Mithali wins the toss and India will be batting first in Christchurch. No Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Yadav from the previous match. Meghna Singh, Deepti Sharma come in.

World Cup semi-final qualification scenarios: How can Mithali’s India and Knight’s England finish in top four?

Watch: This is cool from ICC and former India pacer Snehal Pradhan. A quick look at India’s training before South Africa. Been a pleasure following the content around this tournament.

Behind the scenes with the India team | CWC22

05.50 am: Hello and welcome to live updates of India’s must-win clash with South Africa at the ICC Women’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2022.

The race for top four is already over for Pakistan and Bangladesh but they have been no pushovers. New Zealand, seen before it all began as one of the possible contenders to defeat Australia, are all but mathematically done with their campaign. Australia and South Africa will finish 1 and 2. As we type this, defending England are in a tough battle in Wellington. In a few minutes from now, India will be in a tough battle with South Africa. At the end of a fantastic league phase that has seen the expected dominance of Australia but even so, a fantastically open race for top four, it all comes down to this. For Mithali, Jhulan and Co.... one big match to keep their dream alive.

Screenshots in the blog courtesy ICC Match Centre / Disney+Hotstar.

Stats in the blog courtesy ESPNCricinfo Statsguru.

With inputs from ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2020 via Media Zone