South Africa Women vs India Women, 1st T20I: Highlights from Durban

Onto the next one - That is it from this contest, but it's only the beginning of this five-match series. Next up, it is the 2nd T20I between South Africa Women and India Women, and it will be played right here in Kingsmead, Durban, once again. That game will be played on Sunday, 19 April and will begin at 5.30 pm IST (12 pm GMT). However, as usual, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up as well. Until then, take care and goodbye.

The captain of South Africa Women - Laura Wolvaardt says that it is a great start and a good all round performance from the group in all three departments. Adds that Sune Luus set the tone for the chase early on, and then Annerie Dercksen batted brilliantly, but she (Wolvaardt) would like to be there till the end next time. Mentions that it was a tough series for her against New Zealand, so it is good to get among the runs. Ends by saying that the team was buzzing with energy on the field and will look to do more of the same in the next one.

The stand-in skipper for India Women - Smriti Mandhana says that they definitely started well with the bat but couldn't capitalize as a batting unit. The biggest positive was that even when they lost their way with the ball early on, they managed to come back well. Adds that they are playing again after a month's break and the players are coming back to their best and getting those sessions in the nets. On her own game, she says that she's been hitting the ball well in the nets, but sometimes it doesn't come off and she will look to do well in the next game.

POTM - Ayabonga Khaka - Ayabonga Khaka has been handed the award for her brilliant spell of 3/16 in 4 overs. Khaka says that this game was all about coming back and improving from the New Zealand series. Adds that she just tried to keep it simple and hit the right lengths and the batting also came good to finish the job. Mentions that there is always room for improvement but she knows her strengths and is happy with her performance.

... The Presentation ceremony ...

Let's quickly recap the first innings - Earlier in the game, it was Laura Wolvaardt who won the toss and put India Women into bat. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma got India off to a flying start and the latter looked in pristine touch. However, once Tumi Sekhukhune got rid of Verma, the South African pacers started to get a grip on the game. The experienced duo of Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues led the fightback for India as they added 71 runs for the third wicket. However, once again, the Protea bowlers managed to pull things back and kept picking up wickets. They also conceded just 32 runs in the last 5 overs to restrict India to an under-par total.

Need to shrug it off - India Women are the reigning ODI World Champions and they do have a very strong T20 side as well, but their preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup hasn't started in the manner they would have liked. They were a bit shy with the amount of runs on the board to begin with. However, there were just too many loose deliveries and extras with the ball and the fielding wasn't at its best either. There were a few positives as Shreyanka Patil bowled with great control and brought out all the variations as she picked up a couple of wickets. Sree Charani also bowled brilliantly but the pacers need to improve in the upcoming games.

A confidence-boosting win - South Africa Women are coming back from New Zealand, where they received a 4-1 drubbing in the T20 series, plus they are also missing a couple of regular players, but they have managed to fend off this highly talented Indian side to take a 1-0 lead in the long series. After losing Sune Luus early in the chase, it was Laura Wolvaardt who took the bull by the horns and played a breezy knock of 51 before getting out. She was well-supported by Annerie Dercksen, who crucially remained unbeaten on 44 and built a couple of crucial stands to ensure that the Protea Women didn't fumble at the death as Chloe Tryon added the finishing touches.

Series off to a cracking start - A start of a thrilling five-match series and it is the hosts, South Africa Women who clinch the win in the final over to send the Durban crowd into frenzy. The Proteas were always ahead in the chase after that Powerplay, but India Women did well to make a real match of it and take it to the last over.

19.1: Deepti Sharma to Chloe Tryon, SIX! Chloe Tryon only needed one ball and she finishes it off in style! Deepti Sharma comes around the wicket, floats it up, full and on middle and leg. Tryon clears her front leg, brings the wrists into play and whips it effortlessly over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN WIN BY 6 WICKETS.

Into the final over we go and South Africa Women still haven't done enough to get over the line. India Women are in with a chance and it will be Deepti Sharma who will try and defend 5 runs. Can she pull a rabbit out of the hat here?

18.6: Arundhati Reddy to Chloe Tryon, Overpitched and on middle, Chloe Tryon forces it wide of long on for another run. 6 needed in the last over!

18.5: Arundhati Reddy to Annerie Dercksen, Pitched up and around off, Annerie Dercksen pushes it towards cover, where Shafali Verma only makes a half-stop, allowing a run.

18.4: Arundhati Reddy to Chloe Tryon, Fuller and on off, Chloe Tryon drives it to long off for one.

18.3: Arundhati Reddy to Chloe Tryon, Put down! A low full toss, outside off. Chloe Tryon tries to drag it from there and plays the slog sweep. Gets no timing as the ball flies towards deep mid-wicket. Anushka Sharma (Sub) dives forward with the ball dying in, but cannot get her fingers under it and drops it. Two taken.

18.2: Arundhati Reddy to Annerie Dercksen, In the blockhole, on leg, Annerie Dercksen backs away but loses her shape, drilling it to long on for a run.

18.1: Arundhati Reddy to Chloe Tryon, Fuller and around off, Chloe Tryon bunts it out off the toe-end towards long on for a single.

17.6: Shreyanka Patil to Chloe Tryon, Short and on middle, Chloe Tryon nudges it to the leg side for one.

17.5: Shreyanka Patil to Chloe Tryon, Flatter, full and on middle, turns in sharply, Chloe Tryon fails to get any bat on it and the ball hits her pads.

17.4: Shreyanka Patil to Annerie Dercksen, DROPPED! That was the chance for India Women to get back in this game! A full toss, down the leg side. Annerie Dercksen gets low to paddle it away but ends up lobbing it straight to short fine. Renuka Singh Thakur moves to her left, gets both hands on it but spills it out. They cross. Hands on heads for the Indian players.

17.3: Shreyanka Patil to Annerie Dercksen, Loopy delivery, full and on off, Annerie Dercksen taps it towards short cover.

17.2: Shreyanka Patil to Annerie Dercksen, Flighted, full and around off, Annerie Dercksen strides out and guides it towards point.

17.1: Shreyanka Patil to Chloe Tryon, Floated, short and on middle, Chloe Tryon flicks it wide of backward square leg, where Renuka Singh Thakur dives to her left to make a fine stop. A single taken.

16.6: Kashvee Gautam to Annerie Dercksen, Pitched up and around off, Annerie Dercksen cannot quite get under it and lofts it on the bounce to mid off.

16.5: Kashvee Gautam to Chloe Tryon, Hits the length hard and outside off, Chloe Tryon steers it through point for one.

16.4: Kashvee Gautam to Annerie Dercksen, A low full toss, on leg, Annerie Dercksen flicks it away to deep square leg for a run. 17 needed in 20 balls now.

16.3: Kashvee Gautam to Annerie Dercksen, Back of a length and around off, Annerie Dercksen stabs it out to extra cover.

16.2: Kashvee Gautam to Annerie Dercksen, SIX! That has gone miles! A leg-cutter, into the pitch but sits up nicely for the batter, on off. Annerie Dercksen picks up the length early, uses her long levers and hammers it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. That will release a lot of pressure.

16.1: Kashvee Gautam to Chloe Tryon, Fuller and on off, Chloe Tryon drills it down the pitch. Kashvee Gautam gets low on the follow-through and takes the sting out of the ball, allowing long on to move to her left and cut it out. A single taken.

Kashvee Gautam is back on, replacing Arundhati Reddy.

15.6: Sree Charani to Chloe Tryon, Arm ball, short and angling into leg, Chloe Tryon works it to the right of short fine and calls for the run. Annerie Dercksen has to put in dive at the other end to make her ground. 25 needed in 24 balls now.

15.5: Sree Charani to Chloe Tryon, Almost dragged on! Slower through the air, shortish and around off. Chloe Tryon backs away and tries to punch it away but gets an inside edge just past the stumps, onto the keeper's boot.

15.4: Sree Charani to Chloe Tryon, Quicker and shorter, on the leg stump line, Chloe Tryon clips it towards short fine. She wants the run but is sent back.

15.3: Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, Goes short and on middle, Annerie Dercksen moves back and swats it wide of long on for a run.

15.2: Sree Charani to Chloe Tryon, Floated, full and around off, Chloe Tryon opens the bat face and drives it square past point for a single.

15.1: Sree Charani to Chloe Tryon, Tossed up, full and on middle, Chloe Tryon pushes it to short cover.

14.6: Arundhati Reddy to Chloe Tryon, Tryon gets off the mark right away, and now South Africa Women need 28 runs off the last 5 overs. Good length, just outside off, eased away between cover and extra cover for a single.

India Women keep fighting ib. The physio is in to check on Annerie Dercksen's big toe on the right foot. She looks in a bit of pain but will continue here. Also, Chloe Tryon is the next batter in.

14.5: Arundhati Reddy to Anneke Bosch, OUT! LBW! Stump-to-stump bowling and India Women keep chipping away with another timely wicket. Fuller than a good length, Arundhati Reddy lands it on off and gets the ball to nip back in. Anneke Bosch stays back and looks to flick but plays all around a straight ball and gets struck on the front pad. There is a big appeal for LBW and up goes the umpire's finger. 29 needed off 31 deliveries.

14.4: Arundhati Reddy to Anneke Bosch, A bit fuller and outside off, blocked off the front foot by Bosch.

14.3: Arundhati Reddy to Annerie Dercksen, Shortish length, on the pads, tugged away through square leg for a single.

14.3: Arundhati Reddy to Annerie Dercksen, WIDE! A slight mix-up between the batters but no harm is done. Reddy misses her mark again and serves a full ball down the leg side. Richa Ghosh gets a glove on it and the ball rolls to short fine leg. The batters look for the single but decide against it as Dercksen dives into safety.

14.2: Arundhati Reddy to Anneke Bosch, Good-length delivery on the fifth stump line, played off the back foot and towards deep cover for a single.

14.2: Arundhati Reddy to Anneke Bosch, WIDE! Another one down the leg side and Bosch lets it go.

14.1: Arundhati Reddy to Anneke Bosch, SIX! Shorter boundary on the leg side and Anneke Bosch doesn't miss out on the freebie. A knee-high full toss on middle, Bosch goes on one knee and helps it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

13.6: Shreyanka Patil to Anneke Bosch, Floated fuller and outside off, Anneke Bosch shuffles across and picks the sweep shot over backward square leg for just a single.

13.5: Shreyanka Patil to Annerie Dercksen, Good length outside off, Dercksen hits it through cover-point and picks up a single.

13.4: Shreyanka Patil to Annerie Dercksen, Bowled from the back of the hand and outside off, patted down in front of point.

13.4: Shreyanka Patil to Anneke Bosch, TWO WIDES! Too many extras from the Indian bowlers. Attempted loopy ball, slips out of the hands and ends as a full toss down leg. The keeper can't get to it and the batters get a single as well.

13.3: Shreyanka Patil to Anneke Bosch, Flatter delivery at the stumps, Bosch stays back and jams it back onto the deck.

A crucial breakthrough for India Women. That brings Anneke Bosch out to the middle now.

13.2: Shreyanka Patil to Laura Wolvaardt, OUT! CAUGHT! A twist in the tale? Or is it too late for India Women? Shreyanka Patil drops the ball slightly short on off but pushes it through quicker. Laura Wolvaardt rocks back to pull but gets rushed and gets it high on the bat. The ball gets clubbed to deep mid-wicket, where Jemimah Rodrigues takes a comfortable catch. Wolvaardt departs after a fine knock and South Africa Women now need 43 off 40 balls.

13.1: Shreyanka Patil to Annerie Dercksen, Shorter on off, Annerie Dercksen swivels back and hacks it behind square leg for a single.

12.6: Sree Charani to Laura Wolvaardt, Slightly fuller on middle, angles in, Wolvaardt fails to flick it away. 44 needed now off 42 balls.

12.5: Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, Nagging length on off, jumps up a bit off the deck. Dercksen hops to the leg side and pushes it through cover-point for another single.

12.4: Sree Charani to Laura Wolvaardt, On the shorter side again, outside off, Wolvaardt backs away and cuts it to sweeper cover for one more. The 50-run stand is up between these two.

12.3: Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, Dropped short and angled into the batter, Annerie Dercksen rocks back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

12.2: Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, FOUR! Edged away! The luck is also with South Africa Women at the moment. Nicely flighted, full and outside off, this one grips as well. Dercksen looks to drive but gets an outside edge that goes quickly past the keeper and rolls away into the deep third fence.

12.1: Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, FOUR! That's powered away. Good length around off, Annerie Dercksen stays put and waits well before hitting it on the up and shes gets it well over wide mid off for a boundary.

Change of ends for Sree Charani.

11.6: Deepti Sharma to Annerie Dercksen, Flatter again, on middle, tucked across to mid-wicket for another quick single.

11.5: Deepti Sharma to Laura Wolvaardt, Oh, another fumble in the field and Laura Wolvaardt manages to pick up a single and she brings up her FIFTY as well. Floated up on middle, Wolvaardt advances and flicks it to the right of mid-wicket before setting off for the single. Smriti Mandhana fails to pick up the ball cleanly and the batters are left off the hook.

11.4: Deepti Sharma to Laura Wolvaardt, Flatter on off, tapped back to the bowler.

11.3: Deepti Sharma to Annerie Dercksen, Tossed up outside off, driven straight to covers but the fielder over there fumbles and deflects it away to mid off as the batters get a single.

11.2: Deepti Sharma to Annerie Dercksen, Nicely bowled. Flighted up, fuller and around off, goes on with the arm. Annerie Dercksen rocks back to a full ball and looks to drive but gets an outside edge down to deep third for a couple of runs. 100 up for South Africa Women now.

11.1: Deepti Sharma to Laura Wolvaardt, Bowled flatter and a bit short on off, Wolvaardt rocks back and plays a short-arm jab through mid on for a single.

Deepti Sharma replaces Sree Charani.

10.6: Kashvee Gautam to Laura Wolvaardt, Hard length around off, Wolvaardt waits back and taps it through cover-point for one more. 61 needed now off 54 balls.

10.5: Kashvee Gautam to Annerie Dercksen, Straighter in line again, flicked away through square leg for a single this time.

10.4: Kashvee Gautam to Annerie Dercksen, Gets away with it, does Kashvee. Full ball on the pads, clipped away but straight to Sree Charani at short fine leg. A few inches on either side and it would have been another boundary.

10.4: Kashvee Gautam to Annerie Dercksen, WIDE! Pace off, a bit short and wide outside off. Annerie Dercksen decides late to go after it but misses and a wide is called.

10.3: Kashvee Gautam to Annerie Dercksen, FOUR! That's immaculate placement from Dercksen. Back of a length, on leg, Annerie Dercksen short-arms jabs it to the right of deep square leg and the ball races away to the fence.

10.2: Kashvee Gautam to Laura Wolvaardt, Slower one, full and wide outside off, driven to sweeper cover for a single.

10.1: Kashvee Gautam to Annerie Dercksen, Oh, a catching opportunity, but Arundhati Reddy bails out. Back of a length and outside off, Annerie Dercksen stands tall and lifts the ball high over cover-point. Reddy comes in from the deep but takes it on the bounce as the batters pick up a single. Could she have put in a dive? Maybe.

DRINKS! South Africa Women are cruising through this run chase at the moment and it is their skipper, Laura Wolvaardt, who is leading from the front. 70 more needed off 60 balls and India Women will be hoping that this break in play brings wickets for them. It is all about how things pan out in the next five overs or so. The Proteas can take the game away from India, but if they lose a few wickets, it could be a thrilling finale to the game. Let's get back to the action.

9.6: Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, Flighted, full and on middle, Annerie Dercksen tries to play the lofted shot but gets it from the inside half of the bat. The ball flies towards long on but drops well short of the fielder. They cross. South Africa Women are 88/2 at the halfway mark.

9.5: Sree Charani to Laura Wolvaardt, Good cricket! Slows it up, full and on off, Laura Wolvaardt pushes it towards cover for a single.

9.4: Sree Charani to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! That is a superb shot! Dragged back and just outside off. Laura Wolvaardt picks up the length early, gets on top of the bounce and slaps it away with exellent timing, beating sweeper cover to her right for a boundary.

9.3: Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, Short again and around leg, Annerie Dercksen nudges it through mid-wicket for a run.

9.3: Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, WIDE! Flatter and shorter but down the leg side. Annerie Dercksen moves back to heave it away but misses. Called a wide.

9.2: Sree Charani to Laura Wolvaardt, Floated, full and on leg, Laura Wolvaardt tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

9.1: Sree Charani to Laura Wolvaardt, Tossed up, full and on middle, Laura Wolvaardt knocks it down the pitch.

8.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Annerie Dercksen, FOUR! Nice shot! Fuller delivery, on off. Annerie Dercksen backs away a bit. She presents the full face of the bat and thumps it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

8.5: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, Pace off, short and on middle, Laura Wolvaardt pulls it to deep square leg for one.

8.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Annerie Dercksen, Uppish but safe! Short of a length and around leg, holds up in the surface. Annerie Dercksen looks to pull it away but gets a top edge. It flies high in the aur but drops safely in front of deep backward square leg. They cross.

8.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Annerie Dercksen, Hard length and on middle, angling in, Annerie Dercksen pats it down the pitch. Renuka Singh Thakur only manages to parry it towards mid on. Laura Wolvaardt is on the ground trying to back up. Her partner calls for the single but she refuses.

8.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Annerie Dercksen, FIVE WIDES! India Women cannot afford to give away free runs! Renuka Singh Thakur errs in line and serves this full but way down the leg side, angles further in. Annerie Dercksen lets it go and Richa Ghosh also fails to stop it as the ball races to the fence behind for a boundary.

8.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, Slower one, full and around off, Laura Wolvaardt heaves it aerially but on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for a run.

8.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Annerie Dercksen, Full and on middle, Annerie Dercksen drives it off the bottom half of the bat to long on for a single.

7.6: Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, Short and just outside off, Annerie Dercksen punches it through cover-point for one more. Just 3 runs and a wicket from Charani's first over!

7.5: Sree Charani to Laura Wolvaardt, Slows it up, full and on off, turns away. Laura Wolvaardt uses her feet but has to adjust to the line and length. She steers it towards point for one.

7.4: Sree Charani to Laura Wolvaardt, Flighted, full and on off, Laura Wolvaardt taps it out to extra cover.

7.3: Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, Shorter in length and outside off, Annerie Dercksen cuts it away to deep point for a single.

7.2: Sree Charani to Annerie Dercksen, Floated, full and around off, Annerie Dercksen goes for the big booming drive but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Annerie Dercksen is the new batter in.

7.1: Sree Charani to Tazmin Brits, OUT! STUMPED! Sree Charani strikes with her very first delivery. She tosses it up, full and just around off, keeping it away from the batter. Tazmin Brits charges down the track and has a big swipe across the line, but gets nowhere near the pitch and ends up playing all over it. The ball goes past the bat behind, where Richa Ghosh does the rest. South Africa Women are 63/2, chasing 158 runs.

Sree Charani comes into the attack now for the first time in this game.

6.6: Arundhati Reddy to Tazmin Brits, Good length and on middle, shaping in and keeps low. Tazmin Brits manages well to get her bat down and clips it through square leg for one more.

6.5: Arundhati Reddy to Tazmin Brits, Back of a length and on off, Tazmin Brits punches it towards extra cover.

6.4: Arundhati Reddy to Laura Wolvaardt, Much fuller and just outside off, Laura Wolvaardt drills it through cover-point for a single.

6.3: Arundhati Reddy to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Poor delivery and gets punished again! In search of swing, Reddy serves another full toss, on the pads. Laura Wolvaardt flicks it away with excellent timing in front of square on the leg side for another boundary.

6.2: Arundhati Reddy to Laura Wolvaardt, Fuller and on middle, angling in again, Laura Wolvaardt misses her flick and the ball brushes her pads before going into the gloves of the keeper. 

6.1: Arundhati Reddy to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Put away! A full toss, shaping down the leg side. Laura Wolvaardt does not miss out and glances it away past short fine for a boundary.

5.6: Shreyanka Patil to Laura Wolvaardt, Flatter, full and on leg, Laura Wolvaardt tucks it through mid-wicket for one. South Africa Women are 53/1 at the end of the Powerplay!

5.5: Shreyanka Patil to Laura Wolvaardt, Shorter in length and on middle and leg, Laura Wolvaardt heaves it off the inner half of the bat towards square leg. 

5.4: Shreyanka Patil to Laura Wolvaardt, Tossed up, full and on off, turns in, Laura Wolvaardt bunts it out on the pitch.

5.3: Shreyanka Patil to Tazmin Brits, Risky single! Flighted, full and on middle, Tazmin Brits uses her feet and drills it to mid off and sets off for the run. Smriti Mandhana picks it up but misses her shy at the bowler's end. A direct hit and Brits was a goner.

5.2: Shreyanka Patil to Tazmin Brits, Pushed through quicker, skids through and keeps low. Tazmin Brits gets her bat in time to keep it out.

5.1: Shreyanka Patil to Tazmin Brits, FOUR! Gets it away! Floated, shortish and turning down the leg side. Tazmin Brits goes down for the swipe but gets a bit of a top edge. It goes past the keeper and to the fine leg fence for a boundary. 50 up for South Africa Women.

4.6: Kashvee Gautam to Tazmin Brits, Very full, sliding into the legs, Tazmin Brits flicks it behind square leg for another single. 11 runs off Gautam's first over.

4.5: Kashvee Gautam to Laura Wolvaardt, Slower one, ball short and outside off, smacked away to the fielder at deep point for another single.

4.4: Kashvee Gautam to Tazmin Brits, Full and straight, shapes back in a bit, Brits clears the front leg but gets the heave off the inside half of the blade and down to long on for one.

4.3: Kashvee Gautam to Laura Wolvaardt, A bit straighter again, Wolvaardt flicks it away through the leg side and picks up a single.

4.3: Kashvee Gautam to Laura Wolvaardt, WIDE! Well done again by Ghosh. Good length on leg, drifts down and Wolvaardt fails to swing it away. Ghosh makes a sharp take high to her left.

4.2: Kashvee Gautam to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Crisply struck. Short of a length on off, sits up nicely for the batter. Wolvaardt waits well and plays a whippy pull through mid-wicket as the ball rockets to the fence.

4.2: Kashvee Gautam to Laura Wolvaardt, WIDE! Fuller in length, pushed into the pads but the ball slides down the leg side for a wide.

4.1: Kashvee Gautam to Tazmin Brits, The debutant begins with a good-length delivery on the stumps, Brits clips it away through mid-wicket and picks up a single.

3.6: Deepti Sharma to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Oh, that's come out all wrong for Sharma and Laura Wolvaardt dispatches it with ease. A juicy full toss on leg stump, Wolvaardt sits down and swats the slog-sweep flat and behind square leg for a third boundary in the over. 12 off it.

3.5: Deepti Sharma to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Well struck. Darted in again, at the stumps, Wolvaardt advances, converts it into a low full toss and pummels it straight down the ground for a boundary. No chance for the long on fielder running to her left.

3.4: Deepti Sharma to Laura Wolvaardt, Nagging length on middle, darts into the batter, Wolvaardt plays it back to the bowler.

3.3: Deepti Sharma to Laura Wolvaardt, Fired in again, on off, Wolvaardt comes forward and smacks the drive but straight to the cover fielder.

3.2: Deepti Sharma to Laura Wolvaardt, Nicely bowled. Deepti flattens it up, bowling it quicker on off, and the ball skids through. Wolvaardt gets pressed back as she jams it out on the off side.

3.1: Deepti Sharma to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Down the track and over the infield. Floated up, on a length and around off. Wolvaardt skips down the track and heaves it up and over mid off for a boundary.

A first bowling change for India as Deepti Sharma comes in to replace Shreyanka Patil.

2.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Tazmin Brits, That's brilliant fielding, saved four runs there, did Smriti Mandhana. Full and straight, Brits waits back, clears the front leg and drills it back past the non-striker but Smriti dives to her left at mid on and makes the save.

2.5: Renuka Singh Thakur to Tazmin Brits, Back of a length and outside off, slants back in. Tazmin Brits goes deep in the crease to punch it away but finds the fielder at cover.

2.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Tazmin Brits, Full ball, shapes back in towards middle. Brits takes the front leg out and jams it towards mid off.

2.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, Full and outside off, driven firmly and square through the off side for a single.

2.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, Renuka corrects the line, bowling it on a length and on off stump. Wolvaardt punches it straight to extra cover.

2.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Too straight from Thakur and she pays the price. Full and angled down leg, flicked away to the right of short fine leg, where the fielder dives and fails to stop the ball. It races away to the fence behind.

1.6: Shreyanka Patil to Laura Wolvaardt, Good cricket all around. Flatter one on the pads, tucked away to the left of short fine leg for a quick single. Sree Charani, the fielder, picks it up and scores a direct hit at the keeper's end but Brits is in.

1.5: Shreyanka Patil to Laura Wolvaardt, Excellent running. Full on the pads, wristed away to the left of the fielder at deep backward square leg and Wolvaardt comes back for the second run with ease.

1.4: Shreyanka Patil to Tazmin Brits, Use of the feet straightaway from Tazmin. Patil sees her coming and jams a full ball in, but Brits works it wide of mid on to pinch a single.

Tazmin Brits walks out to bat at number 3. There is a slight hold up in the play, not quite sure why. But, after a couple of minutes, we are good to go again.

1.3: Shreyanka Patil to Sune Luus, OUT! TIMBER! What a comeback delivery from Patil. Shreyanka Patil floats the ball up fuller on off and middle, bowls it a bit quicker as well. Sune Luus just leans on to block it down the line but doesn't get to the pitch of the ball. The ball just straightens and moves past the outside edge to castle into the off stump. South Africa Women are 15/1, chasing 158 for the win.

1.2: Shreyanka Patil to Sune Luus, FOUR! Hammered away to the fence this time. Marginally short around off, Sune Luus rocks back and slams the ball through the gap between point and cover for another boundary.

1.1: Shreyanka Patil to Sune Luus, FOUR! Sune Luus goes after the width and gets it away. Floated up, full and wide outside off, Luus goes hard at it and slices it away through backward point for a boundary.

Shreyanka Patil, the off-spinner, to start from the other end.

0.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Sune Luus, Full again, on the pads, whipped away through square leg for a single. 7 runs off the first over of the chase.

0.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Sune Luus, WIDE! Well taken by Richa Ghosh behind the stumps. Too full and angled well down the leg side, Luus fails to sweep it away.

0.5: Renuka Singh Thakur to Sune Luus, FOUR! Luus is off the mark with a boundary. Good-length delivery around off, Luus shuffles down the pitch a bit and forces the heave to the right of the mid on fielder for a boundary.

0.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Sune Luus, Oh, that's well bowled. A slower yorker, shapes back in late and dips as well. Luus looks to drive but has to adjust and smothers it down on the deck.

0.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Sune Luus, Pitched up fuller, darting back in towards the stumps. Sune Luus shows the full face of the blade and defends it to mid on.

0.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, Wolvaardt and South Africa Women are off the mark in this run chase. Back of a length again, on off, angled in, Wolvaardt tucks it away towards mid-wicket and picks up a single.

0.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, No swing there, plenty of width on offer but Laura Wolvaardt fails to put it away. Back of a length and wide outside off, Wolvaardt slaps the ball fiercely but finds Jemimah Rodrigues at point.

We are back! The umpires and the Indian players have taken their places on the field as well. It will be the skipper, Laura Wolvaardt, to open the innings for South Africa Women alongside Sune Luus. Renuka Singh Thakur will get proceedings underway with the ball. Let's play...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Bowlers pull it back in style - South Africa Women will be quite pleased with their bowling effort. It wasn’t the easiest of starts, made tougher by Sune Luus putting down Shafali Verma early on, but they bounced back well with Ayabonga Khaka and Tumi Sekhukhune pulling things back towards the end of the Powerplay. The spinners then took control through the middle overs, drying up the runs and building pressure by not offering anything loose, forcing the batters into taking risks. The death bowling was exceptional, conceding just 33 runs in the final five overs while also picking up four wickets, swinging the momentum firmly in their favour. Khaka was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/16. With that finish, their batters will feel confident about chasing this down. Stay tuned for the run chase.

From fireworks to fortitude - A bright start laid the foundation for India Women, with Shafali Verma taking the aggressive route as they raced to 46 in quick time. However, the momentum shifted just as quickly, with both openers falling in successive overs to peg them back. Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues found boundaries hard to come by initially, but once they settled in, they rotated strike smartly and stitched together a solid 71-run stand. Just when things looked steady, another couple of quick wickets dented the progress, but Kaur held firm till the end, scoring 47* off 33 to guide India past the 150-run mark, but they just did not get the finish they wanted.

A tale of ups and downs - A batting effort that ebbed and flowed, but India Women have still managed to post a competitive total on the board. South Africa Women might have taken this at the start, but with the pitch playing a touch slow, they’ll need to pace their chase smartly.

19.6: Ayabonga Khaka to Deepti Sharma, Excellent finish with the ball from South Africa Women and India Women finish with 157/7 on the board. This is bowled back of a length and angled across the left-hander. Deepti Sharma stands tall and cuts it down through the point region for a single. Five runs and a couple of wickets in the final over of the innings.

Who faces the last ball of the innings? It will be Deepti Sharma.

19.5: Ayabonga Khaka to Harmanpreet Kaur, OUT! RUN OUT! Shreyanka Patil tries hard to get the skipper back on strike for the final ball but there was never another run there. Slower one, on a length and at the stumps. Harmanpreet Kaur tugs it away through square leg for a single and doesn't look keen on the second run. However, Patil just turns and runs back for the second run before Kaur can even have a look. Nadine De Klerk throws the ball to the keeper and Sinalo Jafta whips off the bails with Patil nowhere in the frame.

19.4: Ayabonga Khaka to Shreyanka Patil, Patil tries something cheeky here but it doesn't come off. Slow and wide outside off, Shreyanka Patil shuffles across to the off side and swings across the line but the ball goes off her body to short third for a leg bye.

19.3: Ayabonga Khaka to Harmanpreet Kaur, Just a run. Slower delivery on middle and leg, clipped away in front of square leg for another run.

19.2: Ayabonga Khaka to Shreyanka Patil, A full toss on middle, dips on the batter and Shreyanka Patil slogs it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

The next batter in is Shreyanka Patil.

19.1: Ayabonga Khaka to Arundhati Reddy, OUT! CAUGHT! That's smartly bowled by Ayabonga Khaka and she picks up her third wicket of the game. A leg cutter from Khaka, bowled on a good length and around off. Arundhati Reddy leans on to power it over long off but gets more height than distance. Nadine De Klerk is in the deep and she initially just misjudges it a bit but keeps calm and takes it nicely.

Who bowls the last over? It will be Ayabonga Khaka (3-0-12-2). Can she keep India Women under 160?

18.6: Tumi Sekhukhune to Arundhati Reddy, Length ball, angled into the batter, Reddy gets on one knee and hacks it to deep mid-wicket for one.

18.5: Tumi Sekhukhune to Harmanpreet Kaur, Slower and into the pitch, Kaur swings hard at it but mistimes the ball through mid-wicket for a single.

18.4: Tumi Sekhukhune to Arundhati Reddy, A run-out chance, missed! Sekhukhune gets the wide yorker spot-on. Reddy moves to the off side and tries to hit it through covers but misses. The ball hits the keeper's pads and deflects away as the batters set off for the run. Sinalo Jafta, the keeper, runs after it and has a shy at the batting end but misses, which allows Kaur to reach home safely. Given as leg byes and 150 is up for India as well.

18.3: Tumi Sekhukhune to Harmanpreet Kaur, Back of a length, slower too, angled into the batter. Harmanpreet Kaur gets her hands out in front and heaves it on the bounce to deep square leg for just another single.

18.2: Tumi Sekhukhune to Arundhati Reddy, Fuller this time, on middle, chipped just over the leaping bowler and down to long off for a single.

18.1: Tumi Sekhukhune to Arundhati Reddy, Sliding down leg. Good length on middle, nips back in and skids through. Reddy looks to pull but the length isn't quite there and she gets hit on the thighs.

17.6: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! Fortunate runs but Harmanpreet Kaur will take it with both hands. Flighted ball, outside off, not all that full and Kaur goes after it. She gets undone in flight but gets a thick outside edge that runs away fien of the short third fielder for a boundary. 

17.5: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Arundhati Reddy, Full again, on off and middle, swept away through square leg for a single.

17.4: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Arundhati Reddy, Tossed up again, fuller this time and Reddy pushes it straight to cover yet again.

17.3: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Arundhati Reddy, Flighted ball, slower and shorter, outside off. Arundhati Reddy reaches out and taps it straight to cover.

India Women lose half their side now. Arundhati Reddy comes out to the middle now. Once again, one of the zing bails is not working. The issue has been resolved.

17.2: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Kashvee Gautam, OUT! CASTLED! Oh, that's a great comeback delivery from Nonkululeko Mlaba. This is bowled quicker and flatter, a tad shorter as well and on middle. Kashvee Gautam rocks back to pull, but the ball skids through and beats the bat, going on to rattle the stumps behind. So, six and out for Gautam and India Women are now 142/5 in the 18th over.

17.1: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Kashvee Gautam, SIX! That sounded so sweet off the bat. Tossed up around middle, angling in as well. Kashvee Gautam sits down and slog sweep it with the angle, nailing it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

16.6: Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! There to be hit and put away by Kaur. Another full toss, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur hits through the line and thumps it over mid off for a boundary.

16.5: Nadine De Klerk to Kashvee Gautam, Oh, watch the spin. Full and wide, Gautam cue-ends the ball into the turf and the ball pops up between point and backward point. Ayabonga Khaka at the latter region moves to her right but the backspin on the ball takes her by surprise. She does get a hand on it and it will just be a single.

16.4: Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, On a fuller length and outside off, Harman goes deep in the crease and hammers it to deep extra cover for just a single.

16.3: Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, A low full toss now, around off, smacked away wide to the right of sweeper cover. Annerie Dercksen does well to run around and dive in to save a couple of runs for her side.

16.2: Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, Right on the money! Nadine gets the slower yorker right in the blockhole, around the fifth stump line. Kaur fails to squeeze it away.

Slight halt! It looks like something has gone into the right eye of Harmanpreet Kaur. The physio comes running out to check on her. She is applying a towel to the concerned eye, and it is working. Kaur is ready to go again.

16.1: Nadine De Klerk to Kashvee Gautam, Full toss on middle, dips a touch as well. Gautam hangs back and is taken aback as she swipes it across to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Nadine De Klerk comes back into the attack now. 

15.6: Ayabonga Khaka to Kashvee Gautam, Another slower one, on a good length and Kashvee heaves it off the top edge of the bat towards the vacant mid on region for just a single.

15.5: Ayabonga Khaka to Kashvee Gautam, Full, on off, Gautam is a bit forward and goes after the ball, but ends up jamming it back to the bowler.

15.4: Ayabonga Khaka to Harmanpreet Kaur, Dug in shorter on leg, nudged away off the hips and behind square leg for another single.

15.3: Ayabonga Khaka to Kashvee Gautam, A slower ball, dips on the batter, Gautam leans on and pushes it through mid on for one.

15.2: Ayabonga Khaka to Kashvee Gautam, Length ball, attacking the stumps, pushed back to the bowler.

South Africa Women are pulling things back again. Kashvee Gautam walks out to bat now.

15.1: Ayabonga Khaka to Richa Ghosh, OUT! CAUGHT! Struck well, but just not well enough and South Africa Women pick up a couple of quick wickets. Fuller in length, darted into the pads. Richa Ghosh stays put and hoicks it away towards deep mid-wicket. Anneke Bosch in the deep, settles herself on the edge of the boundary ropes and takes a fine catch. A huge wicket this, in the context of this game.

Ayabonga Khaka returns to the attack as well.

14.6: Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, Much fuller and on middle, Richa Ghosh eases it down to long on for one.

14.5: Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, MISFIELD AND FOUR! Short of a length and on middle, Richa Ghosh stays back and heaves it away wide of deep square leg. Tazmin Brits moves to her left but overruns it and then slips, letting the ball through for a boundary.

14.4: Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, Good length and around off, Richa Ghosh stabs it out to the off side.

14.3: Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, Low full toss, on off, Richa Ghosh drives it to mid off.

Time for Richa Ghosh? Yes, indeed. She walks out to bat at number 5.

14.2: Tumi Sekhukhune to Jemimah Rodrigues, OUT! CAUGHT! Tumi Sekhukhune breaks the threatening stand. She follows the batter, serves this full and around leg. Jemimah Rodrigues goes inside out to loft it over covers but gets a bit tucked up for room. She ends up hitting it with the inside half of the bat and much straighter towards long off. Sune Luus comes charging in from the ropes and takes a fantastic diving catch. India Women are 119/3 now.

14.1: Tumi Sekhukhune to Jemimah Rodrigues, Hard length and on middle, angling in, Jemimah Rodrigues uses her feet to clip it away but gets an inside edge onto her pads.

Tumi Sekhukhune is now back into the attack.

13.6: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, Another short delivery, on middle, Jemimah Rodrigues punches it down to long on for one.

13.5: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR! Lovely shot! Slower through the air, full and around off. Jemimah Rodrigues goes inside out, extends her amrs and carves it over extra covers for a boundary.

13.4: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR LEG BYES! Bonus runs! Darts this one full but down the leg side. Jemimah Rodrigues goes down for the sweep but misses. It brushes the pads and goes between the legs of the keeper to the fence behind for a boundary.

13.3: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, Floated, full and on middle, Harmanpreet Kaur lofts it down to long on for a run.

13.2: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, Pushed through quicker, short and on off, skids through a bit. Harmanpreet Kaur tries to cut it away but misses.

13.1: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, Shorter in length, on off, Jemimah Rodrigues moves back and swats it to long on for a single.

Nonkululeko Mlaba (2-0-12-0) is back on. 

12.6: Chloe Tryon to Harmanpreet Kaur, Flatter delivery, shortish and down the leg side again. Harmanpreet Kaur fails to flick it away. It is not given as a wide and Kaur is not happy with the call.

12.5: Chloe Tryon to Jemimah Rodrigues, Dragged back, on leg, Jemimah Rodrigues flicks it to deep square leg for one.

12.4: Chloe Tryon to Jemimah Rodrigues, SIX! Clean strike! Fighted delivery, full and on off. Jemimah Rodrigues knows long off is up in the circle. She hits it through the line with a good follow-through, launching it over the long off fence for a biggie.

12.3: Chloe Tryon to Harmanpreet Kaur, Short and around leg, Harmanpreet Kaur nudges it towards short fine for a run.

12.2: Chloe Tryon to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! Gets it through! Tossed up, full and around off. Harmanpreet Kaur backs away a bit to access the off side and smacks it perfectly between extra cover and mid off for a boundary. 100 UP FOR INDIA WOMEN.

12.1: Chloe Tryon to Jemimah Rodrigues, Floated, full and on off, Jemimah Rodrigues drags it down to long on for a single.

11.6: Nadine De Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, Length again, on middle, Jemimah Rodrigues pats it towards long on for one. 15 runs off the over!

11.5: Nadine De Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, Good length and around leg, Jemimah Rodrigues tucks it with soft hands through square leg and comes back for the second run. She has to put in a dive and makes her ground safely.

11.4: Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full again and on middle, Harmanpreet Kaur drills it to long on for one.

11.3: Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! Fine shot! Pitched up and just around off, Harmanpreet Kaur gets right underneath it and lobs it over mid off for a boundary.

11.2: Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, SIX! Nicely done! An off-cutter, full but down the leg side. Harmanpreet Kaur goes down to paddle it away with fine leg up in the circle. It goes off the top edge and flies towards the fine leg fence. The umpires want to check whether it is a six or a four. After a few replays from different angles, the third umpire is convinced that the ball hits the cushions on the full for a biggie.

11.1: Nadine De Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, Hard length and on middle, Jemimah Rodrigues punches it down to long on for a single.

10.6: Chloe Tryon to Harmanpreet Kaur, Quicker one, full and angling into leg. Harmanpreet Kaur goes down for the sweep but misses as the ball goes off her pads towards short fine.

10.5: Chloe Tryon to Jemimah Rodrigues, Looped up, full and on middle, Jemimah Rodrigues gets forward and drives it to long on for one more.

10.4: Chloe Tryon to Harmanpreet Kaur, Short and on middle, Harmanpreet Kaur pulls it to deep square leg for one.

10.3: Chloe Tryon to Jemimah Rodrigues, Shout for LBW, but turned down! Tossed up, full and on off, turns in. Jemimah Rodrigues steps across to work it away but it looks like she misses it. The ball hits the front pad and lobs to the leg side for a run. Given as runs.

10.2: Chloe Tryon to Harmanpreet Kaur, Slows it up, full and around off. Harmanpreet Kaur opens the bat face and steers it towards short third for a quick single.

10.1: Chloe Tryon to Jemimah Rodrigues, Floated, full and on leg, Jemimah Rodrigues chips it towards square leg for a single.

9.6: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, Bowled short over middle and leg, Jemi rocks back and swats it down to long on for one. India Women are 75/2 at the halfway stage.

9.5: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, Cleverly bowled by Mlaba. Rodrigues is early to set up for the reverse sweep and Mlaba slows it up, bowling it full and down leg. Rodrigues ends up just angling it to short third.

9.4: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, Slow and short, over middle, Harmanpreet Kaur lines it up nice and early but hits the pull straight to deep square leg for a single.

One of the floodlight towers has stopped working. The umpires take this opportunity and call for DRINKS. Shafali Verma looked dangerous as long as she was at the crease, but since the two openers departed, the scoring rate has dipped. However, two of the most experienced players are at the crease and will look to build up a good platform for a big total. Laura Wolvaardt has rotated her bowlers pretty well, not letting the batters settle, and boundary hitting has looked difficult with the pitch showing signs of slowing down. The lights are back on, and we are ready to resume again.

9.3: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! That's the pressure-release ball Kaur is looking for. A half-tracker down the leg side, Harmanpreet Kaur gets inside the line and pulls it wide of short fine leg for a boundary, her first of the game.

9.2: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, Tossed up around off, Harman skips down the track and doesn't quite get to the pitch of the ball, driving it to the left of mid off. The fielder does well to stop it.

9.1: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, Oh, that's a peach of a delivery! Mlaba slows it up and lands the ball on a fullish length around off, Kaur looks to stay put and defend but the ball grips nd turns away past the outside edge with some extra bounce. Hang on, there's a check for something and the third umpire is called in. The umpire review is for a stumping and that's good presence of mind from the keeper. Sinalo Jafta dislodges the bails and replays show that Kaur had raised her back leg for a second. But she did land it before the bails lit up. NOT OUT.

Nonkululeko Mlaba is back on.

8.6: Annerie Dercksen to Jemimah Rodrigues, A misfield now and that allows the batters to pinch an extra run. Length ball outside off, punched away to the right of point, where the fielder dives and lets the ball through with a half stop. The batters pick up two runs.

8.6: Annerie Dercksen to Jemimah Rodrigues, WIDE! A bit short again, angled down the leg side for a wide.

8.5: Annerie Dercksen to Jemimah Rodrigues, Oh, in the air for a bit, falls well short. Back of a length and outside off, Annerie Dercksen bowls a heavy ball and Rodrigues gets rushed off the deck. She tries to pull but shanks the ball off the top edge and in front of mid off.

8.4: Annerie Dercksen to Jemimah Rodrigues, That's skid through nicely to the keeper. Good length, wide outside off, Rodrigues waits back and reaches out to play it late but gets beaten for pace as the ball zips past the outside edge.

8.3: Annerie Dercksen to Harmanpreet Kaur, Good-looking shot for one. A length ball in the channel, Harman gets her front leg out in front and punches it on the up to deep cover.

8.2: Annerie Dercksen to Jemimah Rodrigues, Back of a length, into the pitch and angled into the batter. Rodrigues nudges it around the corner on the leg side for a single.

8.1: Annerie Dercksen to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR! There it is, finally a change. Good-length delivery, banged into the deck but pushed wide outside off. Rodrigues reaches out to cut and cue ends it fine of the fielder at short third for a boundary.

Another change in bowling. Annerie Dercksen has been introduced into the attack now.

7.6: Nadine De Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, No dots, no boundaries, just singles every ball in the last two overs. Good length on middle, this one skids through, Rodrigues stays back and punches it back past the non-striker to long on for one. Harmanpreet Kaur and Nadine De Klerk nearly run into each other as the bowler tries to dive to her right and stop the ball.

One of the zing bails is not working. The umpires call for a replacement and check that it is working fine. We are good to go again.

7.5: Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, Kaur will feel she should have put it away. Fraction shorter, down leg, Kaur pulls it to the left of short fine leg but the fielder makes a sharp stop and keeps it down to a single.

7.4: Nadine De Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, Makes that ten singles in the last 10 balls. Shorter and on leg stump, worked away a touch uppishly off the hips and through backward square leg for a run.

7.3: Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, Nice and full, on off, shaping away. Kaur reaches out and drives it to the left of cover fielder for a ninth single in a row.

7.2: Nadine De Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, Full again, on the pads, tickled down the short fine leg for just one more.

7.1: Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, Begins on a fullish length, does De Klerk, bowling it on off. Kaur taps it through mid off and turns the strike over.

Nadine De Klerk replaces Ayabonga Khaka.

6.6: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, A bit of a drag-down from Mlaba, but it results in just a single, 6 singles in the over. On middle and leg, angling in, Kaur goes deep in the crease and smacks it across to deep square leg.

6.5: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, Fuller this time, floated up outside off, caressed with an open face of the blade and through cover-point for yet another single.

6.4: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, That's proactive running. Dragged length on off, Harmanpreet Kaur dabs it down to short third and gets across to the other end pretty quickly.

6.3: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, Short again, slightly outside off, Rodrigues cuts it in front of square on the off side for one more run.

6.2: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, On the shorter side, around off, Kaur rocks back, gets into a side-on stance and glides it through point for a single. 50 UP FOR INDIA WOMEN.

6.1: Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, Nicely flighted, full and on middle, Rodrigues leans on and works it into the gap at mid-wicket for a single.

India Women started well in the first four overs, but South Africa Women pulled things back in the next two, getting rid of both the openers. Here is Nonkululeko Mlaba to bowl now.

5.6: Ayabonga Khaka to Harmanpreet Kaur, Good-length delivery on off and middle, Kaur gets behind the line of the ball to block. A wicket and just two runs off it as India Women end the Powerplay at 48/2.

Both the openers are gone now for India Women. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur comes out to the middle now.

5.5: Ayabonga Khaka to Smriti Mandhana, OUT! CAUGHT! Dot, dot, and wicket! Just like what happened in the previous over and South Africa Women have pulled things back brilliantly here. Ayabonga Khaka goes full and wide outside the off stump, Smriti Mandhana is drawn into the drive but throws her hands at it. The ball goes off the toe end of the bat and uppishly to the right of cover, where Laura Wolvaardt clings onto the ball with both hands.

5.4: Ayabonga Khaka to Smriti Mandhana, Similar line and length to the previous delivery, just fractionally shorter. Smriti Mandhana watchfully blocks it in front of covers.

5.3: Ayabonga Khaka to Smriti Mandhana, On a good length, around the top of off, Mandhana stays upright and defends it into the off side.

5.2: Ayabonga Khaka to Jemimah Rodrigues, Risky single but Jemimah Rodrigues scampers through nicely. Pitched up on middle, Rodrigues leans on and clips it straight to mid on for a run.

5.1: Ayabonga Khaka to Smriti Mandhana, Shortish length on leg stump, Mandhana swivels and pulls it down to long leg for a single.

Jemimah Rodrigues walks in at number 3 for India. Also, Ayabonga Khaka is brought back into the attack.

4.6: Tumi Sekhukhune to Shafali Verma, OUT! TAKEN! Shafali Verma's luck finally runs out. Tumi Sekhukhune bangs this into the pitch, on middle, takes pace off. Verma looks to heave it across the line but goes through the shot early. It flies off the top edge straight towards deep mid-wicket, where Tazmin Brits takes a good catch. End of a quick-fire knock from Shafali, and India Women are 46/1.

4.5: Tumi Sekhukhune to Shafali Verma, Back of a length and on off, Shafali Verma pats it down towards short third.

4.4: Tumi Sekhukhune to Shafali Verma, NOT OUT! A bit of a lucky escape for Shafali Verma. Fuller delivery, on middle, angling in. Shafali Verma goes down for the sweep but misses. The ball lobs up off her pads towards short fine, where the fielder takes the catch. South Africa Women think that this is a wicket, but gets nothing from the umpire.

Has that come off the pads or the bat? The bowler and the fielders look a bit perplexed but the umpire is unmoved. Replays do indicate later that it came off the pads. Good decision from the on-field umpire.

4.3: Tumi Sekhukhune to Shafali Verma, Uppish but safe! Hard-length delivery, on middle, Shafali Verma once again looks to hit it downtown but the ball hits her high on the bat. It goes up in the air and lands over the mid off fielder. Two taken.

4.2: Tumi Sekhukhune to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Bread and butter for Shafali Verma! Much fuller and on middle and off. Verma takes a step to the leg side to make some room, hits through the line and lifts it over mid off for another boundary.

4.1: Tumi Sekhukhune to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Excellent shot! Fuller in length and angling into the leg side. Shafali Verma gets down on one knee and slog sweeps it over backward square leg for a boundary.

3.6: Chloe Tryon to Smriti Mandhana, Another short delivery, outside off, Smriti Mandhana cuts it away to point.

3.5: Chloe Tryon to Smriti Mandhana, Quicker and shorter, on off, Smriti Mandhana stabs it out to the off side.

3.4: Chloe Tryon to Smriti Mandhana, SIX! Short and punished! Chloe Tryon bowls a half-tracker, on middle, begging to be put away. Smriti Mandhana opens up her stance and whacks it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

3.3: Chloe Tryon to Smriti Mandhana, Drops it short and around off, Smriti Mandhana punches it towards cover.

3.2: Chloe Tryon to Smriti Mandhana, Flighted, full and on leg, angles in, Smriti Mandhana misses her flick and gets hit on the pads.

3.1: Chloe Tryon to Shafali Verma, Floated, short and on middle, angles in, Shafali Verma moves back and heaves it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for a single.

2.6: Tumi Sekhukhune to Smriti Mandhana, Overpitched and on the pads, Smriti Mandhana flicks it towards deep mid-wicket and calls for the second run. She has to hurry a bit, but the throw does not have enough power to trouble her.

2.5: Tumi Sekhukhune to Shafali Verma, Goes fuller and on middle, angling in, Shafali Verma lobs it safely towards long on for a run.

2.4: Tumi Sekhukhune to Shafali Verma, Short of a length and on off, moves away a bit, Shafali Verma stays back and dabs it to short third.

2.3: Tumi Sekhukhune to Shafali Verma, Sekhukhune pulls her length back a bit, on off, Shafali Verma drives it on the up towards cover.

2.2: Tumi Sekhukhune to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Put away! Pitched up and on middle, angling into the pads. Shafali Verma picks it up nicely and swipes it away to the deep square leg fence for a boundary.

2.1: Tumi Sekhukhune to Smriti Mandhana, A low full toss, on middle, Smriti Mandhana tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

An early change in the bowling as Tumi Sekhukhune comes in to replace Sune Luus.

1.6: Ayabonga Khaka to Shafali Verma, BEATEN! Touch fuller and in the channel outside off, holds its line. Shafali Verma looks to drive it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.

1.5: Ayabonga Khaka to Smriti Mandhana, Bangs this into the pitch, on middle and leg, Smriti Mandhana lifts her front leg up and pulls it to deep square leg for one.

1.4: Ayabonga Khaka to Shafali Verma, On a length and on middle, Shafali Verma flicks it through mid-wicket for a run.

1.3: Ayabonga Khaka to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Salt to the wounds! Back of a length but angling down the leg side. Shafali Verma punishes it by helping it wide of the short fine fielder for a boundary.

1.2: Ayabonga Khaka to Shafali Verma, DROPPED! A big moment in the game already! Short of a length and on middle, Shafali Verma looks to pull it away but the ball gets big on her. It takes the top edge and flies towards mid on, where Sune Luus fails to pick it up. She moves forward and dives to her left but fails to grab it.

1.1: Ayabonga Khaka to Smriti Mandhana, Ayabonga Khaka begins with a fuller delivery, on off, Smriti Mandhana pushes it through covers for a single.

A quick start for India. It will be Ayabonga Khaka to bowl from the other end.

0.6: Sune Luus to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Up and over! Gives this one some more air, full and around off. Shafali Verma goes inside out, extends her arms and lofts it over extra covers for a boundary. 14 runs off the first over.

0.5: Sune Luus to Shafali Verma, Slows it up, shortish and on middle, Shafali Verma guides it off the outer half of the bat to point.

0.4: Sune Luus to Shafali Verma, SIX! BANG! Top shot from Shafali Verma. Loopy delivery, full and on off again. Verma hits it through the line and dispatches it over the long off fence for the first biggie of the game.

0.3: Sune Luus to Shafali Verma, Sloppy! Flighted, full and on off, Shafali Verma gets under it and drills it hard and aerially towards mid off. It bounces in front of the fielder, who lets it through, allowing a couple of runs.

0.2: Sune Luus to Smriti Mandhana, Tossed up, full and on off, Smriti Mandhana gets a good stride out and drives it with a straight bat to long off for a run.

0.1: Sune Luus to Shafali Verma, India Women are underway! Sune Luus starts with a floated delivery, short and outside off. Shafali Verma reaches out and stabs it towards cover-point for a single.

Done and dusted with the pre-match proceedings, and it's time to play. The umpires are out in the middle and so are the players of South Africa Women. The dynamic duo of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma will be the opening pair for India Women. The Proteas are set to open the bowling with a spinner and it is the former skipper and off-spinner, Sune Luus, who will take the new ball. Let's go...

We are just minutes away from the start of the game, but first, the two sets of players walk out to the middle, along with their mascots and lineup for their respective national anthems. It will be the Indian national anthem first, followed by the national anthem of South Africa.

PITCH REPORT - Jon Kent is pitchside. He says that there is a nice breeze coming along from the sea, and mentions that the Eastern side is where the shorter boundary is located. Khaya Zondo joins him and says that it is a dry pitch but it will play nicely. The duo further mentions that the only slight issue might be that of a bit of weave on the deck, and the spinners will come into the game.

India Women (Playing XI) - Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Kashvee Gautam, Shreyanka Patil, Sree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur.

South Africa Women (Playing XI) - Laura Wolvaardt (C), Sune Luus, Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Chloe Tryon, Nadine De Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (WK), Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba.