The Hagley Oval of Christchurch witnessed a nail-biting contest between South Africa and India. The match was decided on the very last ball when Mignon du Preez held her nerve to score the final run of what turned out to be the highest ever run chase in ODIs by the Proteas women. The defeat also mean that Team India’s road to the semifinals were now closed as the Windies surpassed them in the points table by a point. Mithali Raj and her brigade ended their campaign at the 5th spot with 3 wins in 7 games. The Women In Blue went through a lot of highs and lows yet their mission to lift the World Cup got crushed by the Proteas juggernaut.
INDW VS RSAW: Verma-Mandhana-Raj hit fifties, SA fightback in last 10 overs
In a do-or-die match, the Women In Blue went all guns blazing in the start after they opted to bat first. Openers Smiriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma attacked the pacers upfront as India were 68-0 at the end of the powerplay. Verma departed soon after her blitz fifty, and the Proteas also dismissed Yastika Bhatia in quick succession. Skipper Mithali Raj and well-set Smriti Mandhana played sensibly to put up an 80 run stand.
India was on track to post a mammoth total on board but Shabnim Ismail and Masabata Klaas pressed the speed breaks to derail India’s middle-order in the last 10 overs. A resilient knock of 48 from Harmanpreet Kaur ensured that the Women In Blue finished at 274-7 at the end of 50 overs.
INDW vs RSAW: Du Preez gritty 52* helps SA pip IND in a last-ball thriller
For the first time in the last 5 World Cups, Team India were missing the services of seasoned campaigner Jhulan Goswami. After a run-out dismissed Proteas opener, Lizelle Lee, early, Laura Wolvaardt fought fiercely alongside Lara Goodall. The 125 run partnership was finally broken by Harmanpreet Kaur and a chance to bounce back came in the way of Team India. With few wickets and a flurry of runs, the match is heading towards a close contest.
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In the 45th over, Smriti Mandhana dropped a sitter as du Preez got another life in the middle. A fiery cameo from Chloe Tryon, propelled Proteas were 268-6 at the end of the penultimate over. 7 runs were needed in 6 balls, and all eyes were on Deepti Sharma on whether she could take her team home and keep the hopes for the knockouts alive. The last over saw everything – from a run-out to a no-ball. It was the valiant knock from du Preez who stayed tilled the end to take South Africa over the line in the last delivery.
“Proud of the girls for coming so far” said skipper Mithali Raj
Another World Cup campaign ending on a heartbreaking note, the Women In Blue will leave New Zealand with lots of positives and the fire to give it all once again in the next WC. This World Cup might have also been the last time that cricket’s biggest stage saw two of its greatest stalwarts Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami take on the field. It might be a disappointing day for Team India and fans, but one must not lose hope as the best is yet to come.
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As the round-robin stage comes to an end, the race to the finals is now between 4 teams, the so-far unbeaten Australia, reigning champions England, South Africa, and West Indies. Australia will lock horns with the Caribbean side in Wellington in the 1st semi-final. England will face Proteas in the 2nd semi-final in Christchurch.
Brief Scores
India 274/7 in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 71, Mithali Raj 68, Shafali Verma 53; Shabnim Ismail 2-42, Masabata Klaas 2-38)) lost to South Africa 275/7 in 50 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 80, Mignon du Preez 52*, Harmanpreet Kaur 2-42, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2-62) by 3 wickets