ICC Women's World Cup: India Knocked Out After 3 Wicket Defeat to South Africa

This is a must-win match for India.

Mithali Raj scored a half century in the 2022 ICC Women's ODI match vs South Africa.

(Photo: ICC)

• South Africa beat India by 3 wickets on Sunday to knock Mithali Raj's team out of the 2022 ICC Women's ODI World Cup

• India: 274/7 in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 71, Mithali Raj 68; Masabata Klass 2/38, Shabnim Ismail 2/42)

• South Africa: 275/7 in 50 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 80, Mignon du Preez 52 not out; Harmanpreet Kaur 2/42, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/61)

India have been knocked out of the 2022 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup after losing their last group stage match to South Africa by 3 wickets on Sunday at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

India elected to bat first and riding on half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana, Mithali Raj and Shafali Verma the team posted 274/7.

In reply, South Africa had opener Laura Wolvaardt score 80 but regular inroads made by Indian bowlers eventually meant SA required the calmness of Mignon du Preez to take them home on the final ball of the chase.

Another big moment was when South Africa needed three runs off two balls, du Preez holed out to long-on off Deepti Sharma.

But replays showed Deepti overstepping by the tiniest of margins. Eventually, du Preez's whip through mid-wicket broke the hearts of Indian fans as South Africa aced their highest successful chase in ODIs.

The result means Australia, South Africa, England and West Indies move into the semi-finals with West Indies bagging the fourth spot, following India's defeat.

Mithali elected to bat first and openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave the team the perfect start, adding 91 runs for the first wicket.

Verma got off the mark with a decent drive-through extra cover off Shabnim Ismail while Mandhana got her first boundary with a beautifully timed drive-through extra cover off Marizanne Kapp. Verma tore into Ismail in the third over, smashing a hat-trick of fours through fine leg twice and backward point to take 17 runs off the over.

Boundaries continue to come for Verma as Ayabonga Khaka was dispatched for boundaries through extra cover and mid-off. Verma's aggression was the main reason behind India amassing 68 runs off power-play, their highest score in this phase of the tournament. The ten-over phase had ten boundaries, seven of which were hit by Verma while Mandhana slammed three.

Post-power-play, Verma and Mandhana kept the scoreboard ticking till the former reached her maiden World Cup fifty in just 40 balls with a four thumped over mid-on off Masabata Klass. But in the next over, South Africa broke the 91-run opening partnership as a huge miscommunication on the field resulted in Shafali sacrificing her wicket.

Having scored two half centuries at the number three spot in the last two matches, Yastika Bhatia could not add a third as her stint in the middle lasted all of three deliveries before she was bowled by Chloe Tryon on 2.

From 90/0, India were down to 96/2 in a matter of three overs when skipper Mithali Raj walked out to bat. After first ensuring no further wickets fell, Mithali and Smriti then added 80 runs for the third wicket even as Smriti completed her 22nd ODI half century in the 27th over.

The 32nd over though had Masabata Klaas get the breakthrough for South Africa as a brilliant diving catch by Chloe Tryon ended Smriti's 84-ball 71-run stand in the middle.

The Indian skipper then had vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur for company out in the middle and the pair added 58 runs for the fourth wicket before Masabata Klaas picked up her second wicket of the match, sending back Mithali on 68.

Harmanpreet looked scratchy in her knock of 48 but got two crucial boundaries off Kapp in the 48th over as South Africa dragged some momentum in their favour. The Proteas made good use of bowling changes, short-pitched deliveries and variations in pace to concede just 51 runs in the last ten overs, bagging four scalps.

India posted 274/7.

In pursuit of 275, Lizelle Lee was run out early via a direct hit from Harmanpreet Kaur. But Wolvaardt, their prolific run-getter in the tournament, led the recovery for South Africa by taking the attack to India. With her eye-catchy, well-timed cover drives, Wolvaardt was in control of her game, building the pressure on India.

Supporting her enormously was Goodall, who hit Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Pooja Vastrakar through mid-wicket. Wolvaardt got her fifty with a cut off the backfoot through backward point. South Africa were helped by India not being able to maintain a consistent line and length apart from the misfields. The duo kept the scoreboard ticking with strike rotation, keeping the required run-rate under check.

India's quest for a breakthrough finally ended when Gayakwad enticed Goodall with a flighted delivery turning past her inner edge and was stumped for 49, ending the 125-run partnership. One brought two for India as Harmanpreet clean bowled Wolvaardt with a turning-in delivery that hit the off-stump.

From there, India tightened the screws on South Africa by drying the boundaries. Du Preez and captain Sune Luus stitched a stand of 37 runs for the fourth wicket. But Harmanpreet struck again, trapping Luus lbw with a full ball turning in and going past the flick to hit her on the knee roll. India took the DRS and replays showed the ball hitting the top of the leg-stump.

Marizanne Kapp broke the boundary-less run of 11 overs by leaning into a cover drive past mid-off. With 77 needed off the last ten overs, South Africa brought up their 200 and was followed by Kapp cutting Kaur through point. Kapp and du Preez rotated strike consistently against spinners without taking any undue risk to keep the Proteas in chase.

Mandhana dropped a simple chance of du Preez at long-on off Gayakwad. But two balls later, Harmanpreet fired an underarm throw from cover-point and Ghosh whipped the bails to catch a diving Kapp short of her crease.

Du Preez hit back-to-back fours off Vastrakar on the last two balls of 46th over. It was followed by Chloe Tryon hitting Gayakwad for successive fours on the first two balls of 47th over. After a loft over long-off on a full toss, Gayakwad had the last laugh in taking out Tryon with a caught and bowled dismissal on the final ball of the over.

Deepti Sharma and Gayakwad conceded 13 runs in 48th and 49th overs to bring the equation down to seven runs off the final over. Harmanpreet fired a throw from long-on and Deepti threw the ball to stumps, catching Trisha Chetty short of crease while going for a second run while du Preez reached her fifty via the first run.

In a bid for the glory shot, du Preez holed out to long-on off Deepti but the off-spinner had overstepped and from there, it was ecstasy for South Africa and West Indies while it was agony for India.