As a result of South Africa’s victory, West Indies will play in the World Cup semi-finals, while India will be eliminated after losing the decider. Laura Wolvaardt’s and Mignon du Preez’s fiftys – one of which built the groundwork and the other which brought the team home – brought India’s World Cup campaign to a close.
As the game got down to the wire, there was no shortage of drama, including a wicket that came off a no-ball off what should have been the penultimate delivery. Mignon du Preez, needing one run off the penultimate ball, stroked it over mid-wicket to give South Africa the victory.
After a 125-run stand between Wolvaardt and Lara Goodall, the Indian spinners bowled wonderfully to pull the side back in the game, but they couldn’t get the team home.
India got off to a terrific start with the ball, defending 275. In the fifth over, Harmanpreet Kaur’s powerful hit fell well short of Lizelle Lee’s ground, breaking the opening partnership. South
Africa, on the other hand, dominated Indian bowling following that, with Wolvaardt and Goodall joining the fray.
In the Powerplay, Wolvaardt was the aggressor, scoring boundaries on a regular basis to relieve pressure on her teammates. She surged to 34th place from 32nd place to keep South Africa’s chase alive. After the fielding limits were loosened, Goodall, who had been playing second fiddle up to that time, was quickly among the boundary.
India’s wide outside off stumps bowling to Wolvaardt was punished by the South African opener, who reached her fifty in 44 balls. As South Africa appeared to be on track to chase the total, the two batters brought up their 100-run partnership in the 21st over.
India, on the other hand, struck twice in two overs to dismiss the two set batsmen. Rajeshwari Gayakwad beat Goodall in the air and off the surface, and Richa Ghosh stumped her. Harmanpreet Kaur walked through Wolvaardt’s gates to give the Indian squad a boost.
After two quick wickets, Sune Luus and Mignon du Preez calmed the nerves by adding 37 runs for the fourth wicket. Kaur used her golden arm to break the stand once more, trapping the skipper in front of the stumps for 22 runs.
Despite the escalating needed run rate, Marizanne Kapp, South Africa’s crisis woman in the competition, kept her calm and kept finding the boundaries to put the burden back on the Indian spinners. She put together a 57-run partnership with Mignon du Preez. With Mandhana fumbling a regulation catch in the deep in the 44th over, Du Preez was given a reprieve, but India made up for it by running out Kapp two balls later.
Shafali Verma was run out in the 15th over, giving South Africa some relief, and Yastika Bhatia (2) was immediately followed by Chloe Tryon (1/24) as India were quickly reduced to 96/2.
Before a moment of brilliance on the field terminated the 78-run partnership, Mandhana and Raj seemed secure at the crease. Mandhana attempted to clear the infield, but her knock was cut short at 71 by a sensational catch by Chloe Tryon diving to her wrong side.
As a result, South Africa triumphs! The Proteas chased down 275 to win from the penultimate ball of the match, sending India crashing out of the World Cup. Mignon du Preez (52*) saw the side over the line after a 125-run second-wicket partnership between Laura Wolvaardt (80) and Lara Goodall (49) started the innings up.
South Africa’s victory against India tonight ensures that they will face England in the semi-finals on Thursday in Christchurch. The West Indies have also advanced to the semifinals, where they will face Australia.
Published By :- Tarsem Singh
Edited By :- Khushi Thakur
